Copernicus S1 NG and ROSE-L Lead SAR Back-end Payload Engineer

Lead SAR Back-end Payload Engineer (Copernicus Sentinel-1 Next Generation and ROSE-L)

Lead SAR Backend Payload Engineer for the Copernicus Sentinel-1 Next Generation (S1 NG) and ROSE-L missions.

You will report to the S1 NG and ROSE-L Payload Managers for all technical and programmatic matters and will work within the relevant project teams.

For both projects, you will be responsible for the procurement and timely delivery of the backend payload elements of the synthetic aperture radar during Phase B2/C/D/E1.

You will work in close cooperation with other engineers, and will coordinate specialised technical support from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality (D/TEC).

Duties

Under the supervision of the Payload Managers, you will be technically responsible for the delivery of backend payload elements of the overall instrument.

Your responsibilities will include the supervision of the design, development, manufacturing, testing and characterisation of the backend payload subsystem within the Sentinel-1 NG and ROSE-L projects.

As part of the project teams, you will also cooperate on the other elements of the system, supported as required by experts from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality in the relevant engineering domains.

Your main tasks and responsibilities will include:

• Leading the backend payload requirements and specifications, technical budgets, design drivers, internal and external payload interfaces, spacecraft-level payload performance and operational concepts, including their consistency with the mission requirements, specifications and technical budgets;
• Contributing to the management of the industrial activities by leading the specification, design, procurement, development and verification/acceptance of backend payload hardware and software, including coordination across functional teams, end-user organisations and operators throughout the project lifetime, from ITT to flight commissioning;
• Delegated responsibility from project or payload management for programmatic aspects, including acting as Deputy to the Payload Manager as necessary;
• Monitoring the industrial progress and design evolution at payload and equipment levels, ensuring it remains consistent with the technical and programmatic requirements;
• Monitoring payload competitiveness/roadmaps as necessary;
• Monitoring industrial verification activities to ensure proper verification, including resolving non-conformances, and supporting the assessment of deviations and waivers;
• Providing regular reporting to project management and identifying technical risk areas, proposing and monitoring mitigation measures;
• Contributing to the management of the schedule and proposing schedule risk mitigation actions;
• Coordinating the payload AIV activities and supporting the spacecraft AIV activities, the preparation of the launch campaign and the in-orbit commissioning of the instrument;
• Potentially supporting interactions with delegations and partners as required;
• Leading a team of engineers and specialised engineering support from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality and the Directorate of Operations.

Technical competencies

• Multidisciplinary technical knowledge of and experience in your area of responsibility, particularly in relation to backend electronic subsystems
• Knowledge and experience of the design, development, integration, verification, characterisation and testing of synthetic aperture radar space-borne instruments
• Experience of managing technical interfaces between subsystems in an ESA project team environment and/or within the industrial consortium
• Knowledge and experience of project risk management processes
• Knowledge and experience of space system development and product assurance (PA) standards
• Knowledge of industrial costs and schedule aspects

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, complemented by an additional four (4) years of relevant professional experience, can be considered.

Additional requirements

Extensive knowledge of electronic system architectures and their breakdown into hardware, firmware and software items, and of the interactions among them, is considered an asset.

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.

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

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, 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.