11 MSCA Doctoral Candidates for SPARE Project– Responsible Space46 Views

Introduction: A Unique PhD Route into Responsible Space Engineering

The call for MSCA Doctoral Candidates in Engineering for the SPARE project offers an exceptional pathway for early-career engineers who want to shape the future of space in a responsible way. These positions combine high-level research with industrial exposure, since the network is led by Thales Alenia Space and includes multiple academic and industrial partners in France, Spain, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom. In this article, you will find a clear overview of the programme, eligibility, funding, application process, and practical tips to strengthen your application as an aspiring MSCA doctoral candidate in responsible space engineering.

Funded under the Horizon Europe – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks, this programme recruits 11 PhD candidates across several European countries to work on cutting-edge topics such as in-space manufacturing, spectrum management, secure communications, eco-design, and space situational awareness.

Why the SPARE MSCA Doctoral Network Matters

The SPARE (Responsible Space) project starts from a simple reality: satellites and orbital infrastructure now underpin communications, navigation, climate monitoring and many emerging technologies. As activity in low Earth orbit grows, Europe must respond to challenges such as orbital debris,

Therefore, SPARE aims to:

• • Foster sustainable and responsible growth in space, from design to de-orbiting.
  • Train engineers who understand technology, regulation, economics and environmental impact.
  • Build a new generation of specialists able to design space systems that are robust, secure, and climate-conscious.

Moreover, this network follows the MSCA philosophy of international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral training, meaning that each doctoral candidate benefits from:

• • Joint supervision between industry and academia.
  • Cross-country mobility and secondments to partner institutions.
  • Structured training in both technical and transferable skills.

For ambitious engineers, this combination of research depth and professional exposure makes SPARE a particularly attractive PhD route.

Eligibility: Who Should Apply for These 11 MSCA Doctoral Positions?

According to the EURAXESS job offer, SPARE is recruiting 11 Doctoral Candidates with an engineering background for an equivalent number of projects. While each position (DC1–DC11) has specific technical requirements, some general criteria apply across the network:

Academic and Professional Background

• • A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in one of the relevant engineering fields is required.
  • Disciplines include aerospace, communication, electrical, electronic, mechanical and systems engineering, depending on the specific doctoral project.
  • Candidates must not already hold a PhD at the time of recruitment,
    in line with MSCA Doctoral Networks rules.

MSCA Mobility Rule

As with all MSCA Doctoral Networks, applicants must respect the mobility rule. In practice, this means you must not have lived or carried out your main activity (work or studies) for more than 12 months in the country of the recruiting institution during the 36 months prior to your recruitment date.

Language and Soft Skills

• • A good command of English is required, as it is the main working language across the consortium.
  • Strong analytical skills, curiosity about space systems, and readiness for international mobility are essential.

Because each DC position is slightly different, you should carefully read the SPARE_Engineerings Posts brochure attached to the EURAXESS listing to match your profile with the most suitable project.

Key Features, Research Topics and Funding

Diverse Research Topics in Responsible Space

The 11 MSCA Doctoral Candidates in Engineering for the SPARE project will work on a coordinated set of projects that span the full lifecycle of space systems. The brochure lists topics such as:

• • Digital twins for in-space assembly and manufacturing (ISAM) of large structures (DC1).
  • Large deployable antennas and de-orbiting sails for
    multi-mission constellations (DC2).
  • Space-based data centres, exploring thermal, mechanical and computing challenges in orbit (DC3).
  • Distributed spectrum sensing and spectrum sharing between mobile and satellite services (DC4–DC6).
  • Physical-layer security and directional modulation for secure satellite links (DC7).
  • Space situational awareness, distributed sensing and PNT using LEO signals of opportunity (DC8–DC9).
  • Eco-design and clean-space methodologies for system engineering (DC10).
  • Dimensioning of multi-mission ground segments (DC11).

Together, these topics give candidates a unique opportunity to work on space sustainability, autonomy, security and ground-segment design within a single integrated network.

Funding: MSCA Doctoral Network Conditions

SPARE is funded through Horizon Europe – MSCA Doctoral Networks, under grant agreement 101227584. Therefore, the financial package follows MSCA DN standards:

• • Full-time employment contracts for each doctoral candidate, usually around 36 months, as illustrated by several DC recruitment plans in the brochure.
  • A living allowance (currently €4,010 per month at unit-cost level, adjusted by a country correction coefficient).
  • A mobility allowance of €710 per month, plus a family allowance of €660 per month when eligible.
  • Additional funding to cover research, training, networking, management and indirect costs at institutional level.