Secure Connectivity System Validation Engineer

In the Secure Connectivity System Validation Section within the Secure Connectivity Department in the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications, you will work as a Secure Connectivity System Validation Engineer.

The ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity, hereinafter referred to as Secure Connectivity, is intended to support the effective development and validation of the EU Secure Connectivity governmental infrastructure and the services provided by it, as well as the validation and demonstration of services based on the commercial infrastructure developed by the contractor(s) delivering the EU Secure Connectivity governmental infrastructure.

Reporting to the Head of the Secure Connectivity System Validation Section, you will be responsible for tasks related to system validation to support the effective qualification and validation of the overall secure connectivity system of systems.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include the following:

• Helping to manage engineering activities in line with ESA’s role of Qualification and Validation Authority of IRIS²;
• Ensuring that the IRIS² system complies with the applicable mission and system requirements (unclassified and classified) and is capable of providing hard-gov and light-gov services during its operational lifetime;
• Defining and implementing the overall system qualification and validation programme of work for the secure connectivity system;
• Following the industrial activities related to system verification and qualification of the overall IRIS² system infrastructure at segment and system level until the SQR (system qualification review) and the IOVR (in-orbit validation review);
• Monitoring the corresponding space and ground segment qualification activities, in close cooperation with the corresponding space, ground and security offices, to ensure that compliance with the mission/system baseline is correctly achieved as early as possible, and intervening in case of non-conformances with an impact on the system or mission;
• Supervising the correct preparation and implementation of the system integration and qualification programme of work to reach IOC and FOC qualification. This requires particular attention to the integration of different ground subsystems (MCC, S3C, etc.) and the end-to-end space transport network validation (space-ground compatibility) including tests with the pilot and test user terminals and validation of the critical external interfaces such as GOVSATCOM;
• Defining and ensuring implementation of the plan to achieve in-orbit validation in the IOVR demonstrating functional validation;
• Supporting the service engineering towards the SVR (service validation review) for the IOC and FOC, in close coordination with the European Commission and EUSPA;
• Coordinating closely with the relevant IPT members, in particular the System Ground Segment Officer, the Development and Validation Officer, the User Terminal, Spectrum and Signal Officer, and the Critical External Interfaces Officer;
• Defining and managing the development of the system tools required to support system qualification and validation activities and coordinating their deployment and use;
• Continuously monitoring the qualification status by reviewing design changes, new developments or changes outside the system requirements and assessing their impact on the system qualification and on the roadmap for service provision;
• Ensuring constant consolidation of the system-level statements of compliance (SOC), and providing a fast and appropriate response reaction to any anomaly/non-compliance (including OPS anomalies) by the deployment of workarounds or element fast-fixes;
• Maintaining, in close cooperation with the PA Manager, the non-conformance Correction Plan and following the corresponding non-conformance recovery or waiver approval;
• Supporting the establishing and maintaining of the IRIS² roadmap, describing the incremental implementation of the system capabilities through successive system releases;
• Providing regular reporting to project management on all aspects of competence, identifying risks and problem areas and proposing mitigation actions, where appropriate;
• Contributing to the management of the schedule and the maintenance of the overall project risk register, and proposing schedule risk mitigation actions;
• Developing and maintain an efficient interface with the Commission, EUSPA and the IRIS² concessionaire;
• Supporting the Head of Section in coordinating specialised engineering support;
• Taking on responsibility for programmatic aspects if delegated from project management.

Technical competencies

• Experience in the development, deployment and qualification of large-scale complex distributed systems with a security component
• Experience in managing and monitoring industrial activities (interfaces with industry, reviews, etc.)
• Experience in running large-scale system test campaigns (on-ground and in-orbit validation activities)
• Knowledge of satellite communication systems, preferably constellations, including interfaces, networks and protocols
• Experience with product assurance standards and their application in a project environment, including software development standards and space qualification standards

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 4 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

• Strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills.
• A strong results orientation with the ability to set priorities and present practical solutions both orally and in writing.
• The ability to manage challenging situations proactively and constructively and to be customer focused.
• Direct experience of working with a commercial telecommunications company or operator would be a distinct advantage.
• Experience in public-private partnership projects would be an asset.
• Public speaking experience and the ability to conceptualise complex ideas would be beneficial.
• Experience of working in projects with a security dimension would be beneficial.

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 & eligible to acquire the security clearance by their national security administrations.

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.