🛰️ Spacecraft & Satellite Systems Engineer

Hassan Ali

M.Sc. Satellite Technology · JMU Würzburg · CubeSat Operations · ADCS · RF Communications

📍 Würzburg, Germany  |  Open to Relocation

ADCS / AOCS EPS & Thermal RF Link Simulation Keysight SystemVue MATLAB NASA GMAT ESA SPENVIS IEEE Author
Spacecraft Engineer
Based in Germany

I am a spacecraft and satellite systems engineer with an M.Sc. in Satellite Technology from Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (2025) and a B.Sc. in Space Science from the Institute of Space Technology Islamabad (2018). I have been living and working in Germany since 2020, hold a valid residence permit, and am fully entitled to work without restrictions.

My work sits at the intersection of satellite subsystem engineering, ground segment operations, and RF communication systems — from ADCS actuator design and EPS budgeting to end-to-end link simulation and orbital performance monitoring.

I have published research in IEEE journals, presented at international conferences across four continents, and received multiple gold medals for research excellence.

5+
IEEE Publications
8+
Satellite Projects
3
Gold Medals
4
Continents – Conferences
Core Skills
🛰️

Satellite Subsystems

ADCS / AOCS Magnetorquers Detumbling EPS Power Budgeting Thermal Control Solar Array Sizing
📡

RF & Communications

Link Budget Analysis Doppler Modelling GMSK / BPSK BER Analysis Beamforming Ka/K-band Keysight SystemVue
🌍

Orbital & Mission Analysis

NASA GMAT MATLAB ESA SPENVIS Orbital Perturbations Contact Windows Slant Range
💻

Programming & Tools

Python MATLAB C/C++ GNU Radio PlutoSDR Proteus SketchUp
📝

Documentation & Research

IEEE Publication Technical Reporting Flight Procedures Conference Presentation LaTeX
🤝

Soft Skills & Languages

English – C1 German – A2 Urdu/Punjabi – Native Team Collaboration Agile Methodology
Work Experience
🔬
Sep 2024 – Aug 2025 · Cottbus, Germany

Master's Thesis Researcher – RF Communication Systems for CubeSats

Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU)
  • Developed reconfigurable Ka/K-band RF simulation framework for UWE-5 CubeSat in Keysight SystemVue
  • Monitored satellite flyover parameters (Doppler shift, slant range, elevation) across ground station contact windows
  • Performed uplink/downlink link budget optimisation; cross-validated SystemVue results against MATLAB baseline
  • Implemented GMSK modulation and BER performance analysis under realistic RF impairment conditions
🛸
Jul – Aug 2018 · Ankara, Turkey

Trainee – Student Small Satellite Design Project

APSCO Summer Camp, Middle East Technical University (METU)
  • Completed 3-week intensive CubeSat development programme (flight model stage)
  • Trained in subsystem integration, mission operations flow, and ground station communication testing
  • Worked in multicultural team with students and faculty from APSCO member states
⚙️
Aug – Sep 2018 · Islamabad, Pakistan

Intern – Attitude Control & Magnetorquer Design

Space Systems Lab, Institute of Space Technology (IST)
  • Designed and thermally characterised PCB printed magnetorquers for nanosatellite ADCS
  • Designed Helmholtz coil test rig for pre-launch ADCS hardware calibration
  • Published findings in IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems and IEEE JMASS
🌌
Aug – Sep 2017 · Islamabad, Pakistan

Intern – Space Environment & Mission Analysis

Space Systems Lab, Institute of Space Technology (IST)
  • Analysed radiation and particle flux environments for ICUBE-1 and ICUBE-Q CubeSat missions using ESA SPENVIS
  • Evaluated single-event effect risk and shielding requirements to support operational mission planning
Key Projects
📡

Dynamic Link Simulation – UWE-5 CubeSat Mission

M.Sc. Thesis · RF Communications

End-to-end Ka/K-band (20–40 GHz) communication system simulation for the UWE-5 CubeSat. Designed six up/downconverter architectures, implemented GMSK modulation, integrated MATLAB orbital data, and validated BER and received power across contact windows for two ground stations.

Keysight SystemVueMATLAB GMSKLink Budget Doppler ModellingBeamforming
🧲

Magnetorquer Optimization for Nanosatellites (FloatSat)

ADCS · IEEE Published

Designed and optimised PCB printed magnetorquer actuators for nanosatellite attitude stabilisation and detumbling. Developed parametric torque-efficiency models, built Helmholtz coil test rig for hardware validation, and integrated actuator into ADCS simulations.

ADCSPCB Design Helmholtz CoilThermal Analysis IEEE Published
☄️

Small Satellite Mission to Asteroid Apophis

EPS · Thermal · Structural

Led EPS and Thermal/Structural subsystem design for a long-duration asteroid flyby mission. Produced power budget, solar array sizing model, and thermal control strategy. Assessed structural endurance and component qualification for deep-space environment.

EPSThermal Control Power BudgetSolar Array Mission Design
🌍

3U Remote Sensing CubeSat Mission

Mission Design · Orbital Analysis

Designed a complete 3U CubeSat Earth observation mission. Modelled power and structural subsystems under CubeSat constraints and verified through full mission simulation in NASA GMAT, including trade-off studies for subsystem sizing and mission lifetime.

NASA GMATEPS Orbital SimulationMission Lifetime Trade-off Analysis
📻

Wireless Telemetry via PlutoSDR & GNU Radio

RF · Ground Communications

Implemented and validated a BPSK-based wireless telemetry link between ADALM-Pluto SDR modules using GNU Radio Companion. Analysed link performance, investigated QPSK implementation challenges, and proposed filter optimisation improvements.

PlutoSDRGNU Radio BPSKTelemetry Link Analysis
☢️

Space Environment Analysis – 3U CubeSat

Radiation · Mission Lifetime

Performed radiation dose and particle flux modelling using ESA SPENVIS for shielding design and operational lifetime estimation. Contributed to single-event effect mitigation strategy and system lifetime prediction for a 3U CubeSat in LEO.

ESA SPENVISRadiation Shielding SEE AnalysisLEO Mission Lifetime
🚀

AI4SAT5G – VLEO Satellite Propulsion

Propulsion · 5G Integration

Designed propulsion subsystem for VLEO satellites within the AI4SAT5G (CubeSat integration into 5G networks) project. Conducted ΔV budgeting and orbit maintenance trade-off analysis; recommended ENPULSION NANO electric propulsion for long-duration operations.

PropulsionΔV Budget VLEO5G Integration Electric Propulsion
🪐

Orbital Perturbation Analysis – MATLAB

Orbital Mechanics

Simulated orbital perturbations — atmospheric drag, Earth oblateness (J2), and solar radiation pressure — using Gaussian Variation of Parameters in MATLAB. Assessed long-term orbital stability and satellite lifetime for CubeSat-class missions in LEO.

MATLABJ2 Perturbations Drag AnalysisOrbital Stability LEO
Publications & Conferences
IEEE Journal · 2019

Optimized Design and Thermal Analysis of Printed Magnetorquer for Attitude Control of Reconfigurable Nanosatellites

IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems
IEEE Journal · 2020

Design and Analysis of a Rectangular PCB Printed Magnetorquer for Nanosatellites

IEEE Journal on Miniaturization for Air and Space Systems
IEEE Journal · 2022

Parametric Optimization and Analysis of Power Efficient Magnetorquer Rod Actuator for Nanosatellite

IEEE Journal on Miniaturization for Air and Space Systems
Conference · AIAA/USU 2018 · Logan, USA

Analysis and Design of Integrated Magnetorquer Coils for Attitude Control of Nanosatellites

32nd Annual AIAA/USU SmallSat Conference
Conference · IAA/IAF 2023

Power Optimization and Thermal Analysis of Printed Coils, Compact Coils, and Magnetic Rods for CubeSat Attitude Control

32nd IAA Symposium on Small Satellite Missions · International Astronautical Federation
Education
Master of Science

Satellite Technology – Advanced Space Systems

Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Germany
Dec 2020 – Nov 2025
Thesis: Dynamic Link Simulation for the UWE-5 CubeSat Mission
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Marco Schmidt
Bachelor of Science

Space Science

Institute of Space Technology (IST), Islamabad, Pakistan
Oct 2014 – Sep 2018
Thesis: Design of Attitude Control System for Nanosatellite
🥇 Vice Chancellor's Gold Medal – Best FYP
Honors & Awards
🥇

Vice Chancellor's Gold Medal

Best Final Year Project in Department · IST Islamabad · 2018

🥇

Best Research Paper Gold Medal

Outstanding Research Performance · IST Islamabad · 2018

🥈

2nd Position – SRPC 2018

Student Research Paper Conference · University Level

🎓

Merit Scholarship

M.Sc. Space Engineering · University of Pisa, Italy · 2020

🌍

International Conferences

Presented research in USA, Malaysia, China & France

Get In Touch
Contact

I am actively seeking spacecraft operations, satellite systems, and ground segment engineering roles in Germany and Europe. Feel free to reach out.