EO Future Mission End-to-end System Engineer (2 posts)

EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY; Noordwijk; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

European Space Agency (ESA) is seeking an EO Future Mission End-to-end System and Performance Engineer to shape future Earth observation missions from Phase 0/Phase A. The role involves studies, technical coordination, and collaboration with diverse ESA directorates and external user groups to translate needs into mission requirements.

You will lead and contribute to pre-Phase A studies, work on end-to-end performance simulators, and prepare technical dossiers, with a strong emphasis on systems

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering or physics and six years of relevant experience.
• Knowledge of Earth Observation (EO) spaceborne instrumentation is an asset.
• Hands-on experience in satellite integration and test is an asset.
• Experience engaging with EO user communities to translate needs into technical requirements.

Responsibilities

• Act as Study Manager for pre-Phase A and mission/architecture studies for EO missions; define and manage activities and coordinate engineers.
• Coordinate Phase A industrial activities for missions not yet approved for implementation.
• As Technical Officer, define and manage Consolidation Phase activities for the Scouts mission and ensure handover to Project Department.
• Lead or contribute to end-to-end performance simulator development and to the evaluation of industrial and scientific proposals for EO missions.
• Shape system and end-to-end performance simulator specifications in collaboration with science divisions and user groups.
• Prepare technical dossiers and assess EO developments within Europe and worldwide.

Skills

Systems engineering

Project coordination

Stakeholder management

User engagement

Education

Master’s degree in engineering or physics

Six years of relevant professional experience

Job description

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EO Future Mission End-to-end System Engineer (2 posts)

Job Requisition ID: 21165

Date Posted: 23 October 2026

Closing Date: 13 November 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication Method: Internal & External

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

Directorate: Earth Observation Programmes

Earth Observation (EO) Future Mission End-to-end System and Performance Engineer in the Mission and System Studies Section, Future Missions and Instruments Division, Future Systems and Architecture Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes (D/EOP).

Reporting to the Head of the Mission and System Studies Section in the Future Missions and Instruments Division, you will play a key role in shaping future Earth observation missions from their earliest stages. Working closely with colleagues across the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes, particularly the Earth & Mission Science Division, and with Earth observation user communities such as Scientific Mission Advisory Groups, you will combine engineering, coordination and study-management responsibilities as Study Manager or Technical Officer for the preparation of future EO missions in Phase 0 and/or Phase A. You would also conduct internal technical work and provide support to your colleagues of the Future Missions and Instruments Division.

Duties

Depending on the missions and studies assigned, your responsibilities will include some or all of the following:

• acting as Study Manager for pre-Phase A and mission/architecture studies for future EO missions, including Earth Explorers, Missions of Opportunity, Copernicus and meteorological missions. You will define, negotiate, initiate and manage industrial activities and provide technical coordination to a small team of engineers;
• acting as Study Manager for Phase A industrial activities for missions not yet approved for implementation, including Earth Explorers and Missions of Opportunity. You will coordinate a small team of engineers and, following mission approval, ensure an effective handover to the Project Department for implementation;
• as Technical Officer, defining, negotiating, initiating and managing the Consolidation Phase activities for the Scouts mission not yet approved for implementation and, after approval, ensuring the hand‑over to the Project Department for implementation;
• as Technical Officer, defining, negotiating, initiating and managing industrial activities for the preparation and development, up to the end of the in-orbit commissioning phase, of small satellites under the responsibility of the Division devoted to in-orbit proof-of-concept of innovative EO techniques enabled by disruptive technologies, for example Phi-sats, including technical coordination of a small team of engineers;
• supporting the definition, negotiation, initiation and management of Phase A industrial activities for missions not yet approved for implementation (e.g. Earth Explorers, Scouts, Missions of Opportunity), and, after approval, ensuring the hand‑over to the Project Department for implementation;
• participating in the evaluation of EO small mission proposals in the framework of the InCubed (Investing in Industrial Innovation) Earth Watch Programme Element in collaboration with EOP-S and with other directorates as appropriate; initiating and managing the resulting activities for their derisking and implementation when involving upstream (space segment) development or ensuring their handover to the team responsible for the implementation, if not managed by the Division;

• supporting the definition, negotiation, initiation and management of industrial activities including pre-Phase A and mission/architecture studies for EO future missions (e.g. Earth Explorers, Missions of Opportunity, Copernicus or Meteorological missions);
• initiating and performing internal studies to assess the results of industrial activities;
• initiating and performing internal studies to assess the merit of new EO end-to-end mission concepts;
• shaping system and end-to-end performance simulator specifications throughout the preparatory phases of EO missions. In close cooperation with the Earth & Mission Science Division and the relevant Science/Mission Advisory Groups, you will help translate user needs into mission requirements and traceable system requirements;
• defining, negotiating, initiating, managing or supporting end-to-end performance simulator activities for EO future missions (e.g. Earth Explorers, Missions of Opportunity or Scouts), including the technical coordination of a small team of engineers and scientists;
• development of generic building blocks and modules for end-to-end performance simulators aiming at maximum synergy and reuse of those building blocks and modules from one E2E simulator to the next;
• leading or contributing to the evaluation of industrial and scientific proposals, including those for Earth Explorers, Missions of Opportunity, Scouts and PhiSats;
• leading or contributing to the preparation of scientific and technical dossiers on EO missions;
• leading or contributing to the analysis of EO developments undertaken by other space agencies in Europe and worldwide, as well as commercial EO initiatives including “NewSpace”;
• contributing to the specification and development of mission analysis, mission performance and system‑sizing tools used in the Division.

Knowledge of ESA and industrial development, verification and procurement processes

Experience in preparation (Phases 0 and A) of EO missions

Knowledge of optical and/or microwave remote sensing techniques and understanding of Earth observation user needs

Background in space engineering with systems orientation and end-to-end view of Earth Observation missions

Experience in the development of end-to-end mission performance simulation for EO missions

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

A master’s degree in engineering or physics is required for this post, together with, in principle, six years of relevant professional experience.

Additional requirements

• You shall be able to engage and iterate with Earth observation users for the definition of mission needs and mission requirement and its translation into clear technical requirements.
• You should have at least six years of relevant experience in space mission preparation and/or development, together with experience working collaboratively in a team or project environment.
• Knowledge of EO spaceborne instrumentation is an asset.
• Hands‑on experience in satellite integration and test is an asset.

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.

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.