Project Scientist

Join the European Space Agency’s Science Programme

The European Space Agency (ESA) maintains a world-leading Science Programme with missions in heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics and fundamental physics. Its mission is to empower Europe to lead space science.

The Office of Science Engagement and Oversight (SCI-E) oversees the scientific content of the Science Programme and provides scientific expertise to Science missions, across all phases, from studies to operations and beyond. The Office also manages engagement, communication and education efforts for the Directorate of Science, with the aim of ensuring that external stakeholders are informed, engaged and inspired.

The CHEOPS Project Scientist (PS) interfaces and engages with the ESA astronomical community and the public to keep the mission and its science prominent and visible. In close collaboration with the CHEOPS Principal Investigator and Science Team, the CHEOPS PS ensures that the maximum scientific return from the mission is maintained as a target throughout all phases, keeping within the technical, financial, programmatic and safety constraints.

The CHEOPS PS also forms a team working closely with the ESA Exoplanet Team, PLATO PS, and Ariel PS (ESA’s other exoplanet-science missions), in which they engage with and prepare the community for the science from these missions and implement activities that increase the scientific value of these missions with the stakeholders. The CHEOPS PS may actively pursue personal scientific research, participate in the ESA Science Faculty, and support outreach and educational activities.

You will initially be assigned to be the Project Scientist for CHEOPS mission, during which time you will interface and engage with the ESA astronomical community and the public to keep the mission and its science prominent and visible. In close collaboration with the CHEOPS PI, you will ensure that the maximum scientific return from the mission is maintained as a target throughout all phases, keeping within the technical, financial, programmatic and safety constraints.

In this role you will report to the Head of the Astrophysics Missions Section in SCI-E. You will also be assigned the role of CHEOPS Mission Representative. In this role, you will have delegated responsibility for all aspects of the ESA contribution to CHEOPS until the end of the mission post-operations phase. Your main interfaces will include the CHEOPS Mission Consortium, its PI and Mission Manager, the ESA Mission Operations Representative and the PRODEX office. You should also expect to support other activities in the Astronomy Missions Section, such as conducting studies on future missions, as needed.

Duties

• Collaborating on the mission’s overall strategic planning and programmatic concepts with the Principal Investigator (PI), CHEOPS Science Team (CST) Chair, and Project Science Office (PSO)
• Coordinating with Consortium Mission Manager and Mission Representative on milestones and operations
• Informing the ESA Science programme strategies through reports and materials provided to Management, Directorate, the AWG/SSEWG, SSAC, and SPC
• Liaising with the consortium on the monitoring instrument performance and health
• Supporting the mission extension process via science input and interfacing with all stakeholders
• Managing the Guest Observers programme
• Actively taking part in weekly Project Science Office meetings
• Liaising with the Project Science Office on observation implementation
• Ensuring the permanence and accessibility of CHEOPS mission data
• Contributing to SCI-E activities as fitting (e.g., Proposal Handling Tools synergies, etc.) for the CHEOPS activities under ESA responsibility
• Preparing and implementing project, budget and contractual plans, in close collaboration with the CHEOPS Mission Consortium, its PI and Mission Manager, the ESA Mission Operations Representative and the PRODEX office
• Liaising with relevant programmatic, controlling, technical and scientific interfaces, ensuring the scientific productivity of the mission while exploiting the synergies with other Exoplanet missions
• Reporting to the Member States on all matters related to the mission's exploitation phase

Project Scientists are expected to actively pursue personal scientific research and participate in the Science Faculty.

Technical competencies

• Active research career
• Experience in coordinating the scientific community and managing multiple interfaces at the international level
• Knowledge and experience in scientific space missions and payloads
• Experience in promoting science to the wider scientific community and general public
• Knowledge of the latest developments in research and facilities in the relevant field

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

• A PhD in Astronomy, Astrophysics or other relevant domain is required for this post.

Additional requirements

• Knowledge of the current status of exoplanet science and a good understanding of the next steps in this field
• Experience in the management of scientific teams
• Experience in managing industrial contracts
• International work experience
• A good understanding of the European and worldwide space science context, including the programmatic context

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.

If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at contact.human.resources@esa.int.

Important Information and Disclaimer

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

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. According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA 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.