Head of Altimetry Missions Development Division and Ocean Altimetry Programme Manager

EUMETSAT; Darmstadt; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

High salary up to €10,000 net (after税)

Flexible working time

Full medical coverage for employee and

30 days annual leave + public holidays

Training and relocation support

Job summary

EUMETSAT in Darmstadt, Germany, seeks an experienced engineering leader to head the Altimetry Missions Development Division. You will oversee staff and guide end‑to‑end development for ocean altimetry missions in collaboration with ESA and Copernicus partners.

Your role emphasizes planning, risk assessment, and reporting to the Copernicus Programme Office, with frequent engagement to advisory bodies. English required; relocation support available.

Qualifications

• Experience leading development projects for Earth observation satellite systems.
• Ability to manage diverse teams and keep critical skills up to date.
• Strong analytical and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Altimetry Mission Development (ALT) Division and staff.
• Plan and guide designs for Sentinel 3NG Topo and Sentinel 6NG with ESA.
• Improve development and system engineering approaches for altimetry missions.
• Provide planning, risk assessment, and management information for division.
• Deliver reporting to the Copernicus Programme Office and PRD PMO.

Skills

Engineering management

People management

Stakeholder communication

System engineering focus

Project management

Education

University degree in engineering or related discipline

Job description

EUMETSAT is Europe's meteorological satellite agency - monitoring the weather and climate from space - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

At EUMETSAT, you can make a world of difference and be a part of something that makes a positive impact on society. You will be at the cutting edge of satellite technology, with a meaningful role in an organisation focused on space-based observations of the Earth's weather and climate.

Background

The Altimetry Missions Development Division (ALT) at EUMETSAT is responsible for the preparation and development phases of Ocean Altimetry Missions and Programmes. The scope of the division implements the future EUMETSAT Altimetry Programme. The Altimetry Programme encompasses the development and operations preparation of the Copernicus Sentinel-3 Next Generation Topography and the Sentinel-6 Next Generation missions. Members of the Altimetry Division work closely with the Copernicus Mission Development Division, the Copernicus Programme and Service Management Office as well as the PRD Programme Management Office (PMO) and the New Programmes and Services (NPS) division and in collaboration with our partners (ESA, CNES, NASA, NOAA) and our stakeholders.

Reporting to the Director of Programme Preparation and Development (D/PRD), the Head of Altimetry Missions Development Division and Altimetry Programme Manager manages the portfolio of EUMETSAT mission development activities in the field of ocean altimetry, focusing on system and ground segment development, integration and validation.

What you'll be doing

• Manage the Altimetry Mission Development (ALT) Division, including management of the staff members within the division, relevant cross departmental matrix support arrangements and contracted service support;
• Plan and manage EUMETSAT's contributions to the design and development of the next generation Copernicus multi-orbit ocean altimetry missions Sentinel 3NG Topo and Sentinel 6NG, in cooperation with ESA;
• Identify opportunities for improving development and system engineering approaches in the context of the Altimetry missions together with the New Programmes and Services (NPS) division and foster their implementation;
• Provide planning, indicators, assessment of risks and other management information for integration at divisional management level;
• Deliver reporting and planning information to the EUMETSAT Copernicus Programme Office (CPO) and the PRD PMO, as required;
• Prepare documents and make presentations at meetings of the EUMETSAT Council and advisory bodies.

What we offer

• Excellent salary, of up to Euro 10,000 NET (after income tax) based on skills and experience
• Flexible working time including additional flexi-leave
• Full medical coverage for employee and family
• 30 days of annual leave + 14.5 days public holidays
• Training and development support
• Relocation allowance and support (if applicable)

Requirements

Qualifications

A University degree in a relevant discipline or comparable qualifications in an engineering field is required.

Skills and Experience

• In depth knowledge and practice of engineering, development, integration and testing of end-to-end satellite systems, based on relevant standards, with focus on system and ground segment development
• Successful experience of management of development projects for Earth observation satellite systems, including system and/or ground segment developments, preferably in the field of ocean altimetry;
• Extensive people management experience, including proven ability to lead and motivate teams in challenging situations, develop staff and keep business critical skills up to date;
• Proven ability to analyse, synthesise and communicate complex issues, verbally and in writing;
• Strong interpersonal, influencing and communications skills with internal and external stakeholders.

Languages

Candidates must be able to work effectively in English.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN ENGLISH. WE WILL BE UNABLE TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED IN OTHER LANGUAGES.

EUMETSAT is an international organisation employing staff from across all 30 member states and this role is being advertised on multiple international job boards, but please note that this role would be based in Darmstadt, Germany and would require international applicants to relocate if successful.

More about us

EUMETSAT's role is to establish and operate meteorological satellites to monitor the weather and climate from space - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This information is supplied to the National Meteorological Services of the organisation's Member and Cooperating States in Europe, as well as other users worldwide.

EUMETSAT also operates several Copernicus missions on behalf of the European Union and provide data services to the Copernicus marine and atmospheric services and their users.

As an intergovernmental European Organisation, EUMETSAT can recruit nationals only from the 30 Member States

(Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom).