Copernicus Sentinel-3 Next Generation Topography Lead Space Segment Engineer

Copernicus Sentinel-3 Next Generation Topography Lead Space Segment Engineer — Lead Space Segment Engineer for the Sentinel-3 Next Generation Topography (S3 NGT) mission.

• Location: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
• Type of appointment: 4 years, extendable to indefinite
• Grade band: A2–A4

Description

You will work on activities related to Phases B2/C/D/E1 of the Sentinel-3 Next Generation Topography satellites.

You will report to the corresponding Satellite Engineering and AIV Manager regarding all technical and programmatic matters and will work within the corresponding Project Team.

In particular, you will be technically responsible for the development of the space segment engineering and related subsystems, as well as the space segment assembly, integration and testing. Your responsibilities will include proactively monitoring the industrial procurement of the platform.

You will interface with other engineers working on the Project and receive specialised technical support from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality (D/TEC).

Duties

Your main tasks and responsibilities will include the following:

• contributing to the management of industrial activities by leading the specification, design, procurement, development and verification/acceptance of spacecraft, platform and equipment hardware (including ground support equipment) throughout the Project lifetime, from ITT to in-flight commissioning (Phase E1);
• monitoring industrial progress and design evolution at spacecraft, platform and equipment level, ensuring consistency with the technical and programmatic requirements;
• consolidating and maintaining the internal/external satellite interfaces and technical engineering budgets, including the definition of the interfaces with the launcher;
• monitoring industrial verification activities, including the definition and implementation of the development AIV and AIT processes, to ensure proper verification, while resolving non-conformances, and supporting the assessment of deviations and waivers;
• coordinating with PA and AIT during integration and testing activities for the resolution of deviations;
• contributing to the autonomy and operability concept and supporting the FDIR definition;
• supporting the launch campaign preparation and implementation and the platform in-orbit operations until the end of commissioning;
• providing regular reporting to project management, identifying technical risk areas, and proposing and monitoring mitigation measures;
• contributing to the management of the schedule and proposing schedule risk mitigation actions;
• monitoring the industrial preparation for launch and coordinating in-flight spacecraft commissioning and verification activities in collaboration with project and ground teams;
• coordinating with a range of project engineering domains to cover the procurement of hardware under your responsibility;
• acting as deputy to the Spacecraft Engineering Manager as required, taking responsibility for relevant tasks (technical and programmatic) and acting on their behalf when interacting with industry, and external and internal entities;
• coordinating specialised engineering support from the ESA Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality in the areas under your responsibility.

Your duties may also include supporting other activities within the Earth Observation Projects Department of the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.

Technical competencies

• Multidisciplinary technical knowledge and experience of your area of responsibility, particularly regarding space segment engineering and the related PA standards
• Knowledge and experience of spacecraft design, development, integration and verification
• Knowledge and experience of spacecraft launch campaigns, LEOP and commissioning definition and execution
• Experience of managing technical interfaces between subsystems within an ESA project team environment and/or within an industrial consortium
• Experience of working in a project environment on the procurement and monitoring of industrial activities
• Knowledge and experience of complex project schedule and risk management processes

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.

In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, 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.

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.

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.

According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the Member States.

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.