Lead Payload Engineer

EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY; Kourou; Sur place; EUR 60 000 - 90 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

An international space research organization in Kourou is seeking a skilled engineer to manage the development of a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instrument for its upcoming mission to Venus. The ideal candidate will ensure timely delivery and compliance with scientific objectives while managing procurement processes. A master's degree in relevant fields and experience in space payload engineering are essential. Join us in a dynamic and diverse work environment cultivating scientific advancements.

Qualifications

• Experience with space instruments in all project phases.
• Broad background in various technical disciplines in space payload engineering.
• Experience in procurement of flight hardware for space instruments.
• Prior experience in materials qualifications for specific environments is an asset.

Responsabilités

• Responsible for SAR instrument development activities.
• Support procurement of the SAR instrument, including evaluations and contract negotiations.
• Monitor and control payload definition and make adjustments as required.
• Maintain instrument interface documentation to ensure system compatibility.

Connaissances

Result Orientation

Operational Efficiency

Fostering Cooperation

Strong system engineering capabilities

Relationship Management

Continuous Improvement

Forward Thinking

Formation

Master’s degree in spacecraft systems engineering or AIT

Description du poste

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Closing Date: 2 January 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

EnVision has been selected by ESA’s Science Programme Committee as the fifth medium-class mission in the Agency’s Cosmic Vision plan, with a launch in the early 2030s from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou on an Ariane 64 launcher.

EnVision will be the first mission to investigate Venus from its inner core to its upper atmosphere, characterising the interaction between its different envelopes: its atmosphere, surface/subsurface and interior. It aims to provide a holistic view of Venus, studying the planet’s history, activity and climate.

EnVision’s science payload consists of a dual polarisation S-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR), also operating as a microwave radiometer and altimeter, which will map the surface of Venus; three optical spectrometers (VenSpec-M, VenSpec-U and VenSpec-H) designed to observe the surface and atmosphere of Venus; and the subsurface radar sounder (SRS), a high-frequency (HF) sounding radar to probe the top kilometres of the subsurface. These are complemented by a radio science investigation exploiting the spacecraft telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) system to map the planet’s gravity field and constrain its internal structure, and to measure the composition and structure of Venus’s atmosphere.

You will be responsible for the SAR instrument development activities and will report directly to the EnVision Payload Manager in the Projects Department within the Directorate of Science.

Duties

Within the Payload Team, you will be responsible for the timely development, verification and delivery of the SAR instrument, acting as the ESA focal point for the instrument, up to the end of commissioning.

Within the programme guidelines and constraints, your detailed duties will include:

• supporting the Payload Manager for the procurement of the SAR instrument: participating in the Tender Evaluation Board (TEB) evaluation, contract negotiation and, depending on the procurement approach, potentially running the contract;
• closely monitoring and controlling the progress of the payload definition, manufacturing and tests, including critical review of the instrument system and subsystems’ schedules to ensure their compatibility with the overall spacecraft schedule. This includes the active management of the schedule, with the implementation of mitigation activities in the event of delays;
• proactively managing the instrument risks;
• analysing the instrument’s requirements and resources to ensure that instruments are technically compatible with the EnVision scientific objectives, performances and overall mission design;
• controlling the overall instrument design definition and analysing the design and resource budgets to ensure their compliance with the functional and interface requirements;
• maintaining the instrument interface documentation, which define all interfaces between the instrument and the spacecraft, including ground support equipment and flight operation;
• selecting and coordinating the necessary engineering support from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality as required;
• organising interface meetings between the instrument team, ESA and the spacecraft prime contractor to ensure the clear definition of engineering interfaces and maintain consistency with the spacecraft interface and resources;
• in the event of interface requirement changes, preparing the ECRs (engineering change requests) to/from the instrument teams;
• managing the request for deviation/request for waiver (RfD/RfW) process in the event of non-compliances;
• organising the instrument reviews (preliminary design review (PDR), critical design review (CDR) and qualification review (QR) (if applicable), and Delivery Review Boards (DRBs)) for the various hardware and software deliverables as applicable;
• participating in instrument and spacecraft environmental tests’ test readiness reviews (TRRs), post-test reviews (PTRs) and hardware and facilities inspections as required;
• contributing to generic Section, Division and Department tasks, such as reporting, reviews and evaluations, as they arise.

At a later stage of the project, your duties will also include:

• reviewing the instrument user manual, which defines all the operational aspects and constraints of the instruments;
• reviewing the instrument test requirements and plans for qualification, acceptance and calibration;
• supervising the test programme implementation at instrument level;
• participating in the integration of the instrument into the spacecraft- and satellite-level testing, in close cooperation with the assembly, integration and testing (AIT) and operation teams, including the launch campaign and flight operations.

Relevant experience with space instruments in all project phases

Broad background in the various technical disciplines involved in space payload engineering

Strong system engineering capabilities

Experience in procurement of flight hardware for space instruments

Experience in management of customer-furnished items (CFIs)

Result Orientation

Operational Efficiency

Fostering Cooperation

Relationship Management

Continuous Improvement

Forward Thinking

A master’s degree, preferably in one of the following domains: spacecraft systems engineering, AIT (Assembly, Integration and Testing), electrical engineering and materials and processes, is required for this post.

Additional requirements

• Previous experience in materials qualifications for specific environments, as well as previous experience in SAR hardware and SAR procurement, is an asset.
• You shall be a team player with strong interpersonal skills.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness

ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.

At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at [e-mail].

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.

During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be 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.

The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.

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, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States. When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates and secondly to external candidates from under-represented 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.

*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.