Postdoctoral / Senior Postdoctoral Researcher Wireless Sensing and Localisation/ UAV networks

Postdoctoral / Senior Postdoctoral Researcher– Wireless Sensing and Localisation/ UAV networks

About Tyndall
Tyndall National Institute is an international leader in semiconductors, photonics and deep-tech research and innovation. As a leading collaborative European research institute, Tyndall is a key actor and hosting partner in the delivery of the ‘Chips for Europe Initiative’ (EU Chips Act).

Tyndall is Ireland’s leading research and innovation organisation and it is the national focal point for excellence in deep-tech research, development and graduate training at the convergence of nanotechnology, microelectronics, photonics, electronics and AI. Tyndall is recognised as an international research leader in semiconductor, chip and digital technologies, particularly as applied to the fields of Information & Communications, Health & Life Sciences, Agritech & Food Security, Energy and Climate Mitigation, emerging fields such as quantum, and novel computing paradigms.

The Institute’s key objective is to see frontier research activities having a significant impact on economic development and societal challenges in Ireland, Europe and beyond. Central to Tyndall’s mission is delivering economic impact through research excellence in partnership with industry and academia. With an annual turnover of more than €50m, the Institute has a community of over 600 researchers, engineers, support staff, postgraduate students, interns and industry researchers-in-residence.

With significant committed Irish government support, Tyndall will grow to be 1,000 people by 2030, with approximately 750 researchers, including 250 PhD students. A new 17,000 m2 research building is under development adjacent to the Cork headquarters and there are developing plans to expand Tyndall’s existing Dublin research labs and to establish other research sites within Ireland.

Tyndall’s expansion is also supported by recent national and EU funding wins for significant (M€10’s) additional research equipment across a range of areas such as semiconductor processing, microscopy, quantum technologies, heterogeneous integration, ultra-high speed optical communications and RF through THz characterisation.

About the Team
Tyndall’s Wireless Communications Laboratory is based in  Dublin, with outdoor test facilities located in parks and wildlife areas nearby. The post offers a superb opportunity for an ambitious individual to work collaboratively on exciting, cutting-edge science at the interface between academia, industry and across multiple teams. To support their research, the successful candidate will have access to fully equipped facilities which include:

• Heavy-duty UAV platforms and dedicated test sites
• An inventory of SDRs including USRPs, RF test equipment, anechoic chambers, antenna fabrication capabilities
• Advanced simulation software and dedicated compute clusters

About the Role
The Tyndall National Institute Wireless Communications Laboratory is recruiting a Senior Postdoctoral Researcher in Wireless Sensing and Localisation  for UAV and non-terrestrial networks within the Research Ireland ARC-HUB project TEMPEST. The researcher will play a leading role in the development of intelligent, AI-driven signal detection, classification, and localisation algorithms for RF spectrum monitoring, for  commercial, public safety, and security-relevant wireless networks. A particular focus of this research will be on the use of signal localisation for geopositioning in GPS/GNSS-denied environments. These algorithms will be deployed on SDR hardware and experimentally verified in field trials with stakeholder partners across Dublin and beyond.
As part of this it is expected that follow-up opportunities within the lab will be available  to support the research and career ambitions of the successful candidate.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and evaluate spectrum-sensing pipelines for wideband RF monitoring, including channelisation, detection thresholds, and performance trade-offs under interference and multipath.
• Create algorithms for emitter characterisation and identification, including modulation recognition and RF fingerprinting where appropriate.
• Design and execute field-test methodologies for localisation performance, including ground truth collection, calibration, and uncertainty reporting.
• Implement and validate algorithms using programming languages such as C++, Julia, Python and MATLAB.
• Deploy the created algorithms on programmable software-defined radios and verify their performance in real-world trials involving ground transmitters and UAVs.
• Disseminate research achievements through publications in keyjournals and at conferences.
• Participate in Education and Public Engagement activities, as required.
• Co-supervise and mentor postgraduate students as required.
• Ensure all activities are compliant with the Tyndall Quality Management system.
• Ensure all activities are compliant with the required Health and Safety standards.
• Carry out any additional duties as may be reasonably required within the general scope and level of the post.

Essential Criteria

• PhD degree or equivalent in Computer Science, Wireless Communications, Electrical/Electronic Engineering or a related discipline
• Evident, Good knowledge of cellular communication systems at the physical (PHY) and MAC layers
• Familiarity with algorithms for RF signal processing and localisation, including energy/cyclostationary detection, matched filtering, time–frequency analysis, modulation classification, AoA/TDoA/FDoA localisation, and multi-sensor tracking using EKF/UKF or particle filters.
• Demonstrated proficiency with embedded systems and software-defined radios.  
• Familiarity in mathematical modelling tools such as C++/Python/MATLAB/Julia.
• Good publication record in IEEE or ACM journals and conference publications.

Desirable Criteria

• 6 years post-PhD experience in industry or academia.
• Experience in the field of UAVs, aerial communication systems, or non-terrestrial wireless networks.
• Demonstrated experience with prototyping and testing RF or wireless systems in real-world conditions.
• Familiarity with RF spectrum monitoring, signal classification, localisation, or geopositioning methods.
• Experience with software-defined radios, embedded systems, and experimental wireless platforms.
• Ability to engage in the wider research activities of the research group.
• Experience with academic-industry collaboration, with a record of prior industry projects

Terms of Employment
Contract Category: Full-Time
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Contract Duration: Approximately 24 months

For any informal queries, please contact Dr. Boris Galkin or Dr Lester Ho.

Appointment will be on the UCC Postdoctoral Researcher Scale (€46,805 - €53,391 per annum) Senior Postdoctoral Researcher Salary Scale (€54,850 - €59,654 per annum) based on qualification and experience. Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with public sector pay policy.

Closing date for application is 1pm on 15th May 2026.

Application Instructions
Please make sure to attach an up-to-date CV/Resume AND a brief motivation letter outlining how you meet the ‘Essential Criteria’ for this role.

Please note that Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.
Please note that an appointment to posts advertised will be dependent on university approval, together with the terms of the employment control framework for the higher education sector.

Tyndall National Institute does not require the assistance of recruitment agencies.
Tyndall National Institute at University College, Cork is an Equal Opportunities Employer.