Copernicus LSTM Lead Space Segment Engineer

European Space Agency - ESA; Noordwijk; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

European Space Agency (ESA) is seeking a Copernicus LSTM Lead Space Segment Engineer in Noordwijk, NL. You will lead space segment development for the Land Surface Temperature Monitoring mission, coordinating with industrial partners and project management to ensure delivery through C/D phases.

The role requires a master’s degree and years of spacecraft design, integration and verification experience, with strong risk management and international collaboration.

Qualifications

• A master’s degree in a relevant domain is required, together with four years of relevant professional experience.
• Alternative: a bachelor’s degree with four additional years of relevant professional experience may be considered.
• Experience in spacecraft design, development, integration, verification and testing, notably during project Phases C/D.
• Experience with launch campaigns, LEOP and commissioning definition and execution.
• Experience coordinating technical interfaces between subsystems in ESA or industry projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the specification, design, procurement, development and verification/acceptance of spacecraft, platform and equipment hardware.
• Monitor industrial progress and design evolution to align with technical and programmatic requirements.
• Coordinate verification activities and resolve non-conformances; support deviations and waivers.
• Coordinate with PA and AIT during integration and testing activities.
• Contribute to autonomy, operability concepts and FDIR definitions when requested.
• Support launch campaign preparation and platform in-orbit operations through commissioning.
• Contribute to payload specification, design, procurement, development and verification/acceptance.
• Provide regular reporting to project management and identify technical risk areas with mitigation plans.
• Monitor satellite schedules to minimise technical and schedule risks.

Skills

Satellite engineering

PA standards

Risk management

Project coordination

Verification & testing

Education

Master’s degree in a relevant domain

Bachelor’s degree with 4 additional years of experience

Tools

Project management tools

Job description

Copernicus LSTM Lead Space Segment Engineer

Job Requisition ID: 20896

Date Posted: 17 September 2026

Closing Date: 8 October 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication: Internal & External

Type of Appointment (learn more): 4 years, extendable to indefinite

Directorate: Earth Observation Programmes

Workplace:

Noordwijk, NL

Grade Band (learn more): A2 - A4

Location

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

Lead Space Segment Engineer for the Copernicus Land Surface Temperature Monitoring (LSTM) mission in the Earth Observation Projects Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes (D/EOP). LSTM is one of the Copernicus Expansion missions developed jointly by ESA and the European Commission to provide high-resolution thermal infrared observations for the monitoring of land surface temperature. The mission supports sustainable agriculture and water resource management through the provision of frequent and accurate measurements of evapotranspiration and related land surface parameters. Both PFM and FM2 satellites are currently in Phase D. Integration, verification and qualification activities are ongoing at platform, instrument and satellite level. As part of the ESA project team, you will support the execution and monitoring of the LSTM space segment development, with a particular focus on satellite engineering, industrial coordination, verification activities and technical risk management throughout the development, qualification, launch and commissioning phases. You will act as Deputy Spacecraft Manager with related delegated responsibility for relevant project management aspects. You will report to the LSTM Satellite Engineering and AIV Manager and will work within the LSTM Project Team in close coordination with specialists from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality (D/TEC), the Directorate of Operations (D/OPS) and industrial partners.

Duties

• contributing to the management of the industrial activities by leading the specification, design, procurement, development and verification/acceptance of spacecraft, platform and equipment hardware throughout the project lifetime, from ITT to flight commissioning;
• monitoring the industrial progress and design evolution at spacecraft, platform and equipment levels, ensuring it remains consistent with the technical requirements, including internal and external interfaces, and programmatic requirements;
• monitoring industrial verification activities to ensure proper verification, including resolving non-conformances, and supporting the assessment of deviations and waivers;
• coordinating with PA and AIT during integration and testing activities for the resolution of activity deviations;
• contributing to the autonomy and operability concept and supporting the FDIR definition when requested;
• supporting launch campaign preparation and execution and platform in-orbit operations until the end of commissioning;
• contributing to the payload specification, design, procurement, development and verification/acceptance when requested;
• providing regular reporting to project management and identifying technical risk areas, proposing and monitoring mitigation measures;
• monitoring the satellite schedule, ensuring coherence between the overall planning and the platform and instrument development and verification activities, with the objective of continuously minimising technical and schedule risks;
• monitoring the industrial preparation for launch and coordinating in-flight spacecraft commissioning and verification activities in collaboration with project and ground teams;
• coordinating various project engineering domains to cover the procurement of the hardware under your responsibility;
• acting as Deputy LSTM Spacecraft Manager, with delegated responsibility for relevant project management aspects;
• potentially supporting interactions with delegations and partners as required;
• coordinating specialised engineering support from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering, Quality and the Directorate of Operations;
• ensuring coordination between Copernicus missions where applicable.

Your duties may also include supporting other activities within your field of competence in the Earth Observation Projects Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.

Technical competencies

• Multidisciplinary knowledge and experience of your area of responsibility, in particular regarding space segment engineering, including related PA standards
• Knowledge and experience in spacecraft design, development, integration, verification and testing, in particular during project Phases C/D
• Knowledge and experience in spacecraft launch campaign, LEOP and commissioning definition and execution
• Experience of managing technical interfaces between subsystems in an ESA project team environment and/or within an industrial consortium
• Knowledge and experience of complex project schedule and risk management processes
• Experience working in a project environment on the procurement and monitoring of industrial activities

Behavioural competencies

• Result Orientation
• Operational Efficiency
• Fostering Cooperation
• Relationship Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Forward Thinking
• For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education And Professional Experience

A master’s degree in a relevant domain is required for this post, together with, in principle, four years of relevant professional experience. Alternatively, candidates with a bachelor’s degree, complemented by an additional four years of relevant professional experience, may be considered.

Additional Requirements

• Good communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to summarise complex information.
• The ability to work effectively in an international team environment;
• The ability to anticipate problems, resolve complex issues and relate situations to their context.
• The ability to make solution-oriented, pragmatic and timely decisions of a high standard and with integrity, as well as to support others, such as team members, management and other stakeholders, in this process.

International experience, including experience gained outside your home country, would be an asset, as would experience across a range of functional areas relevant to ESA activities.

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, 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.