Galileo Lead Space Segment Engineer

European Space Agency - ESA; Noordwijk; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

ESA ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands, seeks a Galileo Lead Space Segment Engineer to manage the design, development and verification of navigation payload subsystems and to coordinate the ground test campaign and in-orbit phases.

You will lead a team across engineering domains, monitor industrial progress, support risk mitigation and ensure timely delivery of technical outputs for launch readiness in a diverse, international environment.

Qualifications

• A master’s degree in electrical engineering is required with four years of relevant professional experience.
• Alternative: bachelor’s degree plus four years of relevant professional experience accepted.
• Experience in navigation payload design, verification and procurement processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead specification, design, procurement, development and verification of spacecraft hardware.
• Monitor industrial progress and ensure alignment with requirements and roadmap.
• Coordinate with integration and testing teams for deviations and resolutions.
• Support autonomy, operability concepts, and FDIR definitions when requested.
• Deliver regular project reports and mitigate technical risks.
• Oversee schedule management and timely delivery of inputs for in-orbit operations.

Skills

Payload engineering

Systems engineering

Spacecraft design

Project coordination

Education

Master’s degree in electrical engineering

Bachelor’s degree + 4 years relevant experience

Job description

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

Galileo Lead Space Segment Engineer within the G2B Space Segment Management Services, Galileo Space Segment Management Office, Galileo and EGNOS Programme Department, Directorate of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity.

You will report to the G2SB1-B Satellite Payload Manager and will be responsible for leading and coordinating the monitoring of the design, development, implementation and validation of the subsystems and units which are part of the navigation payload of the Galileo Second Generation satellites, including the ground test campaign, in-orbit commissioning and in-orbit follow-up phases.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• contributing to the management of the industrial activities by leading the specification, design, procurement, development and verification/acceptance of spacecraft, platform/payload and equipment hardware throughout the project lifetime, from ITT to flight commissioning;
• monitoring the industrial progress and design evolution at spacecraft, platform/payload and equipment levels, ensuring consistency with the technical 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);
• monitoring platform/payload and equipment competitiveness/roadmap as necessary;
• providing regular reporting to project management, and identifying technical risk areas, proposing and monitoring mitigation measures;
• contributing to the management of the schedule, and proposing schedule risk mitigation actions;
• monitoring the industrial preparation for launch and coordinating in-flight spacecraft commissioning and verification activities in collaboration with project teams and ground teams;
• coordinating various project engineering domains to cover the procurement of the hardware under your responsibility;
• potentially being delegated responsibility from project management regarding programmatic aspects;
• potentially supporting interactions with delegations and partners as required;
• leading a team of engineers and specialised engineering support from the Technology, Engineering and Quality and the Operations Directorates at ESA;
• contributing to the control and management of the satellite budgets in your areas of responsibility;
• coordinating and ensuring the timely delivery of the deliverable items (to enable the preparation of in-orbit operations) in your domain of responsibility, as set out in the industrial activities included in the statement of work;
• coordinating the preparation of the inputs in your area of expertise for the Satellite Verification Control Board and Space Segment Control Boards’ processes;
• participating in Agency project reviews and lower-level reviews in the relevant field of competence.

In performing these duties, you will cooperate closely with the relevant G2 system security engineers, systems engineers and ground segment engineers.

Technical competencies

Multidisciplinary technical knowledge and experience in space segment engineering, including related PA standards.

Knowledge and experience in platform/payload unit design, development, integration and verification.

Experience in managing and monitoring industrial activities in ESA project environments.

Knowledge of ESA development, verification and procurement processes.

Relevant experience in the technical domain specific to the project.

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 electrical engineering is required for this post together with four years of relevant professional experience. Alternatively, candidates with a bachelor’s degree and an additional four years of relevant professional experience may be considered.

Additional requirements

G2B Satellite Payload Unit

• a minimum of 10 years of experience in payload engineering, AIT and/or test beds, of which a minimum of 5 years in navigation;
• experience in navigation payload design, particularly in the areas of on-board signal generation and/or advanced antenna technologies and concepts;
• experience in navigation payload system budget and performance analyses, including the use of required associated simulation tools;
• experience in navigation payload verification and validation concepts, as well as the associated test facilities.

Experience of cooperating with industry would be an asset.

You should be able to demonstrate that you can handle pressure and conflict as may typically occur in a project team.
You should be results-oriented, able to set priorities, and capable of presenting practical solutions both verbally and in writing. You should have good leadership, interpersonal and communication skills.
You should have the ability to work autonomously, effectively and cooperatively in a diverse, international team environment, defining and implementing solutions in line with team and individual objectives and project deadlines.
You should also have good technical, analytical, organisational and reporting skills, a proactive attitude to solving problems and an interest in innovative approaches.

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 & eligible to acquire the security clearance by their national security administrations.

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.