Copernicus LSTM Satellite Engineering and AIV Manager

Satellite Engineering and AIV Manager in the Copernicus Land Surface Temperature Monitoring (LSTM) Project, within the Copernicus Space Segment Programme in the Earth Observation Projects Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.

We are recruiting a Satellite Engineering and AIV Manager for the Copernicus Land Surface Temperature Monitoring (LSTM) mission, which is currently in Phase D.

• Location: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
• Type of appointment: 4 years, extendable to indefinite
• Grade band: A2 - A4; if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the master’s degree, the position may be filled at A1 level.

You will report to the LSTM Project Manager for all technical, programmatic and financial matters and you will work within the LSTM Project team. You will interface with and receive support from other project engineers, and will also receive specialised technical support from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

The assignment covers activities relating to Phases B2/C/D/E1 for prototype and recurrent satellite(s), including storage, where applicable.

Duties

Your principal tasks and responsibilities will include:

• being responsible for satellite engineering (including classic engineering disciplines) and AIV aspects of the space segment, ensuring full consistency with system requirements and operational interfaces;
• consolidating and maintaining the satellite requirements, as well as the design, development, test and verification;
• monitoring the industrial work associated with satellite and ground support equipment procurement, ensuring full compliance with technical and programmatic requirements;
• defining, implementing and monitoring AIT/AIV activities of the satellite(s), platform(s), subsystems and units;
• consolidating and maintaining internal/external satellite interfaces and technical engineering budgets;
• being technically responsible for the design and procurement of spacecraft subsystems, including structure, thermal, propulsion, mechanisms, power (generation and storage) and avionics (AOCS, data handling and communications);
• supporting the LSTM System Section for all aspects related to onboard software development and validation;
• being responsible for defining, with the launcher authority, all interfaces between launcher and satellite;
• managing launch campaign preparation activities and execution;
• ensuring satellite in-orbit verification, contributing to overall mission system commissioning;
• leading, managing and motivating the Section engineering team;
• liaising closely with other project sections, providing engineering support and ensuring a consistent approach to the satellite and payload procurement, verification, launch- and in-orbit operations preparation and overall satellite performance;
• being responsible for anomaly handling and coordinating, with other Project sections, the handling of NRBs, the NCR process, RFD/W, etc.;
• coordinating and managing the necessary specialist technical support from other directorates;
• coordinating the Common Platform development together with the CRISTAL mission;
• coordinating with the Satellite Engineering and AIV Managers of the other Copernicus missions and the Copernicus Technical Coordinator to ensure a harmonised approach to the understanding, management and implementation of common engineering requirements and procurements;
• regularly reporting to the Project Manager on all aspects of satellite development, identifying risks and problem areas, and proposing mitigation actions;
• supporting the general project reporting tasks (monthly, QSR/QIR) and other Department-level support activities as required.

You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

Technical competencies

• Experience in spacecraft design, development, and assembly, integration and verification/testing
• Experience in the management and monitoring of industrial activities, including participation in reviews
• Experience in satellite early operations (launch and early orbit phase and in-orbit commissioning)
• Knowledge of all phases of the software development lifecycle
• Experience in performance evaluation at mission and spacecraft level

Behavioural competencies

• Result Orientation
• Operational Efficiency
• Fostering Cooperation
• Relationship Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Forward Thinking

Education and professional experience

A master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline is required for this post together with four years of relevant professional experience. Alternatively, candidates with a bachelor’s degree and an additional four years of relevant professional experience may be considered.

Additional requirements

You will lead a section of engineers and liaise closely with other project sections and other relevant Copernicus entities.

You will be supported by a team of engineers distributed across the Copernicus Space Component and will receive specialised engineering support from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

You must also:

• have proven experience of leading, motivating and developing a team in a project;
• provide strategic direction to the individuals and teams within the project and relate team objectives to the overall and evolving organisational goals and context;
• drive performance and foster cooperation within and across teams throughout the organisation
• have demonstrated excellent leadership, relationship management, and oral and written communication skills;
• have a proven track record of representing the Agency’s interests to external interfaces;
• have excellent cognitive, analytical, delegation, planning and organisational skills;
• anticipate problems, solve complex issues and relate situations to their context;
• reach solution-oriented, pragmatic and timely decisions to a high standard and with integrity as well as supporting others (team members, upper management, other stakeholders) in this process.

Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.

Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.

Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.

Nationality and Languages

Applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.