EO Future Missions Optical Payload and Performance Engineer

European Space Agency - ESA; Noordwijk; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Part time

Job summary

ESA in Noordwijk, Netherlands, invites applications for an EO Future Missions Optical Payload and Performance Engineer. The role focuses on end-to-end definition, engineering, breadboarding and pre-development of optical payload systems for future EO missions, including Earth Explorers and Copernicus.

You will lead preparations in Phase 0/Phase A as optical instrument lead.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in engineering or physics required.
• At least five years of relevant experience in EO optical instrument preparation and/or development.
• Experience in development of mission and instrument performance analysis models/tools for EO optical instruments.
• Ability to coordinate with Earth observation scientists and users for mission requirements.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in small teams and autonomously.
• Experience with active optical instruments or thermal infrared instruments is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Identify and investigate new EO principles and technologies in coordination with ESA staff and Science Mission Advisory Groups.
• Maintain knowledge of technology status and instrument development programmes inside and outside ESA.
• Define and assess performance and TRL of new EO optical payloads with mission requirements.
• Define, negotiate, and manage industrial contracts for study and risk retirement of optical payloads.
• Coordinate instrument pre-development activities with project teams as needed.
• Develop and maintain instrument models and tools to assess new EO concepts.

Skills

EO optical instruments

Optical payload design

Mission performance modelling

Spaceborne systems knowledge

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

Master's degree in engineering or physics

Job description

EO Future Missions Optical Payload and Performance Engineer

Job Requisition ID: 21005

Date Posted: 14 October 2026

Closing Date: 4 November 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication Method: Internal & External

Type of Appointment (learn more): Fixed-Term

Directorate: Earth Observation Programmes

Workplace: Noordwijk, NL

Grade Band: A2 - A4

This is a fixed-term appointment with an initial duration of 4 years. Depending upon performance and organisational needs, the appointment may be extended up to a possible maximum duration of 8 years.

Location

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

Earth Observation (EO) Future Missions Optical Payload and Performance Engineer in the Optical Instruments Section, Future Missions and Instruments Division, Future Missions and Architecture Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.
Reporting to the Head of the Optical Instruments Section, you will be responsible for the end-to-end definition, engineering, technology breadboarding and pre-development of optical payload systems for future EO missions, both for research missions (e.g. Earth Explorers, Missions of Opportunity and Scout missions) and operational missions (e.g. Copernicus and meteorology missions).
The above payloads include EO multispectral imagers, imaging spectrometers and Fourier-Transform spectrometers, as well as active laser payloads for Earth surface and atmosphere sensing, covering the full wavelength range from ultraviolet to far infrared.
You will be involved in the study and pre-development of one or several of them. You will be appointed optical instrument lead for the preparation of future EO missions in Phase 0 or Phase A.

Duties

• identifying and investigating new Earth observation principles, techniques and technologies in coordination with staff in this Department, in the Science, Applications and Climate Department and the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality, including interfacing with research and technical groups, in particular with relevant Science Mission Advisory Groups;


• maintaining knowledge of relevant technology status and instrument development programmes inside and outside ESA, including developments undertaken by other space agencies in Europe and worldwide, as well as commercial initiatives such as those driven under NewSpace, in close collaboration with the Division’s Technology Coordination and Frequency Management Section;


• defining and assessing the performance and technological readiness of new EO optical payload systems in close collaboration with the staff of the Division’s Mission and System Studies Section, taking into account mission, system and programmatic objectives and requirements;


• defining, negotiating, initiating and managing industrial contracts for the study and risk-retirement of new optical payload systems, according to the agreed activity plan;


• defining, negotiating, initiating and managing risk-retirement activities through technology breadboarding and pre-development of optical payload systems for future EO missions (including Earth Explorer, Copernicus, meteorology) up to their completion, coordinating instrument pre-development activities with project teams when required;


• defining, negotiating, initiating and managing the development of ground-based or airborne instrument models, according to the maturity of the concepts and performance-demonstration needs;


• providing expert support to the Division for the optical payload aspects of missions undergoing evaluation or preparation, including for the evaluation of mission proposals, optical payload system support for Phase 0/A and mission architecture studies, and contributing to the preparation of technical and scientific dossiers on new EO research and operational missions;


• being the optical instrument lead for future EO missions in Phase 0 or Phase A;


• supporting InCubed proposal evaluation and ensuring the technical management of activities when related to EO optical payloads and technologies;


• defining, developing, maintaining and upgrading optical payload systems dimensioning and mission performance models and tools to assess new instrument concepts.

Technical competencies

• Knowledge of technical domains and related R&D space industry trends


• Knowledge of innovation-related processes


• Experience in spaceborne optical instrument development


• Experience in optical Earth observation mission and instrument performance modelling


• Knowledge of optical remote sensing techniques and understanding of Earth observation user needs

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 engineering or physics is required for this post together with five years of relevant professional experience.

Additional Requirements

• At least five years of relevant experience in EO optical instrument preparation and/or development is required.


• Experience in the development of mission and instrument performance analysis models/tools for EO optical instruments is required.


• Experience in working in a team or project environment is required.


• You should have good interpersonal skills and be able to work, coordinate and interact within small teams as well as work autonomously.


• You should be able to coordinate and liaise with Earth observation scientists and users for the definition of mission requirements.


• You will be expected to contribute to a dynamic and creative environment in the preparatory phases of EO missions.


• Experience in active optical instruments or thermal infrared instruments would be 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.