Exploration Studies System Engineer

Exploration Studies System Engineer at ESA

Description

System Engineer in the ExPeRT Team, Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration Programmes (D/HRE).

The Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration Programmes is a programme directorate within the ESA matrix structure. Through a partnership between humans and robots, D/HRE is dedicated to exploring destinations in space where humans are already living and working – or will live and work in the future – for the purpose of scientific research, economic development, international cooperation and public inspiration.

The ExPeRT Team plans and implements to schedule and budget preparatory mission concepts, system studies and technology development activities funded by the E3P for all ESA exploration destinations, including LEO, cis-lunar space, the Moon and Mars.

You will be assigned to one or more early-phase mission concept and demonstration studies for missions to the Moon.

You will report functionally to the Moon Exploration Study Lead; however, you may also be assigned to exploration studies for LEO and other Moon missions.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• study manager/technical officer duties for assigned early-phase studies for missions to the Moon (surface and orbiters), including preparation, organisation and oversight of both ESA internal study work, Concurrent Design Facility (CDF) studies and industrial pre-Phase A or Phase A/B1 studies;
• maintaining and implementing the roadmap for lunar night survival for all aspects relevant to thermal control systems and power systems;
• systems engineering support to early-phase studies in which you are not the technical officer/study manager;
• reporting on study status to the relevant Exploration Study Lead.

Specific technical officer/study manager duties include:

• management of the early-phase exploration study definition process and reviews for future projects and demonstrations;
• preparation and oversight of the engineering and systems documentation of the ITT, such as the statement of work MRD and the mission description document, and all applicable and reference documentation;
• management of inputs from and collaboration with supporting directorates;
• supervision, provision of support and functional management of the tasks of junior systems engineers, young graduate trainees, payload engineers and support engineers within the project;
• management of the industrial contractors, ensuring the smooth running of the studies and the timely delivery and completeness of all deliverables;
• coordination with the D/HRE Science Offices on their provision of science inputs for studies, such as science traceability matrices and science requirements documentation for the definition of payloads.

General systems engineering study support duties include:

• defining, analysing and maintaining spacecraft requirements and requirements documents;
• support of mission architecture trades;
• developing and maintaining study tools in your area of responsibility, coordinating with the Software and Artificial Intelligence Team for the integration of AI functionalities;
• supervision and provision of support to the functional analysis process, including model-based systems engineering;
• monitoring, supporting and liaising with the Study Scientist and Payload Engineer on their provision of the payload description document (PDD) and payload-related requirements documentation;
• supervision and provision of support to the RAMS and FDIR process, including maintenance of the space elements’ redundancy concepts;
• monitoring and supporting all aspects of the mission analysis, ground segment and operations as they relate to the space elements;
• monitoring and supporting all aspects of the environmental analysis as it relates to the space elements;
• assisting the Technology Development Team in defining, monitoring and controlling all critical technology development activities for a given study;
• identifying and coordinating the required support from the Directorates of Operations and Technology, Engineering and Quality relating to the above tasks, keeping in mind the cost constraints of the study;
• monitoring industry’s provision of technical documentation to ESA and consolidating across parallel contracts;
• in the execution of these tasks, interfacing directly with the Industrial Study Technical Team in accordance with the communication rules set out by the Study Manager;
• provision of support to internal and external reviews and meetings, leading technical meetings and workshops as agreed by the Study Manager;
• support of CDF studies in the role of Customer Study Manager or Customer Systems Engineer;
• supervision, support and functional management of the tasks of junior systems engineers and support engineers within the project.

Technical competencies

• Knowledge of relevant technical domains
• Multi-disciplinary knowledge of engineering disciplines for space
• Space technology development and PA standards
• Ability to define roadmaps for Space Exploration
• Systems engineering

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

A master’s degree in a relevant domain is required for this post.

Additional requirements

A background, knowledge or experience in the following areas would be an asset:

• Exploration missions;
• Moon and LEO missions;
• Thermal control systems;
• Power systems;
• Mission implementation/project development phases (B2/C/D);
• Technology development and maturation.

You should be able to demonstrate at least five years of experience, including work in industry and on early phases (from concurrent engineering to Phase A/B1).

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness

ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.

At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at contact.human.resources@esa.int.

Important Information and Disclaimer

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.

During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. 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.

The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.

Nationality and Languages

Please note that 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, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates.

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.