Celeste IOP Spacecraft and Production Lead

Join ESA’s Directorate of Navigation in the Celeste IOP Unit, Celeste Programme, Future Navigation Department as Celeste IOP Spacecraft and Production Lead. In this role, you will report to the Celeste IOP Implementation Manager.

Celeste is the LEO-PNT Component 1 of the FutureNAV programme. It represents 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. The component 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 in-orbit preparatory (IOP) phase aims to prepare for a future LEO-PNT operational system for the European Union and to unlock global commercial opportunities, driving innovation and strengthening 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. It also contributes to the PNT pillar of the European Resilience from Space (ERS) initiative.

As Celeste IOP Spacecraft and Production Lead, you will be responsible for managing the Celeste IOP phase industrial activities related to spacecraft design, development, integration, verification and production, including satellite platform subsystems and the industrialisation aspects of building blocks, with a particular emphasis on procurement leadership, coordination of the satellite platform and industrialisation team, and support for fulfilling programmatic objectives. The role is also intended to ensure overall consistency in the preparation of follow-on operational phases for EU LEO-PNT and commercial initiatives.

Description

In the performance of your duties, you will be supported by a team of specialists from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality and the Directorate of Operations.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• coordinating the programmatic, procurement and technical aspects of the Celeste IOP spacecraft, satellite platform subsystem design, development, integration, testing and industrialisation activities, ensuring alignment with system requirements, schedule and cost objectives;
• managing the Celeste IOP industrial activities in the areas related to satellite and building block production and industrialisation, satellite platform subsystem development and qualification, ensuring compliance with technical, schedule and programmatic constraints;
• leading the definition and implementation of the industrialisation and production strategy and associated procurement approaches for low-cost, fast-paced satellite production, including optimisation of manufacturing and integration flows, launcher accommodation and design-to-manufacture principles, in coordination with industry;
• ensuring coherence of the satellite platform and subsystem AIV, as well as the industrialisation activities performed by industry and matrix support teams, ensuring full consistency with the applicable segment and system requirements baseline, in coordination with the Celeste IOP Satellite System Lead, and the LEO-PNT System, LEO-PNT Payload, PA&S and Security teams;
• leading and coordinating the production programme, including integration logic, test flow, sequencing and verification approach at subsystem and satellite level, ensuring the availability and suitability of facilities, ground support equipment and resources in coordination with industry and support teams;
• coordinating anomalies and non-conformances resolutions (including NRBs, NCRs, RFDs and RFWs) during development, integration and testing, ensuring timely resolution while protecting schedule and hardware integrity;
• coordinating launch and in-orbit commissioning test and validation activities from a spacecraft perspective, including launch campaign activities, anomaly investigation and performance confirmation;
• leading and coordinating the spacecraft and production engineering team in a matrix environment, including objective setting, supervision, performance assessment and ensuring effective contribution to programme objectives;
• systematically capturing and implementing lessons learned from Celeste and other programmes across a variety of domains, as relevant;
• supporting project management by providing regular and ad hoc reporting on progress, risks, issues and mitigation actions within your areas of responsibility, and by contributing to technical conclusions, recommendations, and other management and programmatic aspects as required.

Technical competencies

• Knowledge and experience of product development and industrialisation
• Knowledge and experience of satellite systems engineering
• Knowledge and experience of LEO constellations
• Knowledge and experience of satellite navigation systems
• Knowledge and experience of managing industrial activities in space domains
• Knowledge and experience of project risk management

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 or scientific discipline is required for this post together with four years of relevant professional experience. Alternatively, candidates with a bachelor’s degree and an additional four years of relevant professional experience may be considered.

Additional requirements

• several years of experience in product development and industrialisation of complex technological (space) products;
• experience in spacecraft and subsystem development, integration and testing would be considered an asset;
• experience in NewSpace processes would be a distinct advantage;
• experience in LEO constellations would be considered an asset;
• the ability to organise the activities of others and ensure a motivating work environment;
• strong leadership capabilities, with proven relationship management and communication skills;
• strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills;
• 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;
• people management experience would be an asset, as would international experience, i.e. outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.

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 and 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

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.

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.