LEO-PNT Lead end-to-end Performance Engineer

In the Directorate of Navigation, the LEO-PNT Lead end-to-end Performance Engineer will work in the Celeste System Unit, Celeste Programme, Future Navigation Department, supporting ESA’s contribution to the establishment of a European Low Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation and Timing (LEO-PNT) capability as part of a multilayer system-of-systems PNT architecture.

Celeste is Component 1 LEO-PNT within the FutureNAV programme. It represents the ESA contribution to the establishment of a European Low Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation and Timing capability and aims to complement existing GNSS services by leveraging a constellation of LEO satellites to deliver enhanced resilience, improved accuracy and innovative features for emerging applications.

The Celeste team is responsible for the following activities:

• the implementation of the Celeste In-Orbit Demonstrator (IOD) phase, with two ongoing industrial contracts, each of them implementing an end-to-end system, including launch services, operations and service demonstration, showcasing the feasibility and benefits of using low-Earth orbits, novel signals and frequency bands;
• the implementation of the Celeste In-Orbit Preparatory (IOP) phase to prepare for a future LEO-PNT operational system for the European Union and to unlock global commercial opportunities, driving innovation and reinforcing European leadership in emerging PNT markets, including the development and qualification of pre-operational products and building blocks, their industrialisation, including mature and qualified technologies, and the creation of the Celeste in-orbit validation end-to-end system;
• the associated system engineering, technology development, ground segment, launch services, operations, in-orbit demonstration, industrialisation and system in-orbit validation activities;
• the associated coordination activities with the EU in preparation of an EU LEO-PNT operational system;
• the contribution to LEO-PNT interoperability and compatibility with GNSS and other LEO-PNT systems in collaboration with international stakeholders.

Description

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• manage the end-to-end Celeste and LEO-PNT system performance requirements, including allocation to subsystems, performance budgets and performance model, in line with mission requirements and the actual space segment design;
• lead a team of engineers and specialised engineering support from the ESA Technology, Engineering and Quality Directorate;
• ensure the availability, quality and maintenance of ESA system performance tools and simulations in coordination with TEC teams;
• when relevant, interface with the mission responsible for the maintenance and evolution of mission requirements;
• contribute to the end-to-end system architecture and operations concept, in line with mission requirements and space segment design as far as performance aspects are concerned;
• contribute to the end-to-end system performance verification programme, including data processing, flight calibration and characterization, and be responsible for the verification and validation of performance requirements at the space segment and ground segment levels, pre-flight and during in-flight commissioning;
• as necessary, interface with ground segment teams and other partners, such as calibration and validation teams, in order to coordinate pre-flight and in-flight commissioning performance verification activities;
• coordinate the cross-verification of instrument or payload data with simulator data, and support anomaly investigations;
• process and analyse the auxiliary data required for product generation;
• support project management for the technical interface between ESA and partner organisations, if relevant;
• provide regular reporting to Project Management on all aspects of responsibility, identifying risks and problem areas and proposing mitigation actions, where appropriate;
• may have delegated responsibility from project management on programme-related aspects;
• may support interactions with delegations and partners as required.

Technical competencies

• Knowledge and experience in the system engineering domain
• Knowledge and experience in satellite navigation systems
• Knowledge and experience in LEO-PNT specific performance aspects, e.g. onboard orbit determination and time synchronization, payload calibrations, ground monitoring, etc.
• Knowledge and experience in managing industrial activities in space domains
• Knowledge of system validation and verification processes
• Knowledge of system performance assessment

Behavioural competencies

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

Education and professional experience

A master’s degree in engineering or a related field 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

• a strong result orientation with the ability to set priorities and present practical solutions both orally and in writing;
• demonstrated planning and organisational skills.

The following are considered assets:

• experience in LEO-PNT systems and/or GNSS systems;
• strong communication and relationship management skills in an international context, outside your home country.

Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations and eligible to acquire the security clearance by their national security administrations.

Successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, 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.

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, Canada, 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.