Head of the Digital, Data and IT Infrastructure and Digital Workplace Division

European Space Agency - ESA; Noordwijk; On-site; EUR 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

European Space Agency (ESA) is seeking a Head of the Digital, Data and IT Infrastructure and Digital Workplace Division to lead ESA’s agency-wide digital infrastructure, platform and workplace capabilities. You will provide strategic and operational leadership for technology foundations enabling mission delivery, business continuity and digital transformation across the Agency.

The role involves directing end-user services, cloud and computing services, HPC, security, resilience and a modern

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in computer science, information technology, engineering, mathematics, physics or a related discipline is required.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in digital technologies, data and IT, with substantial leadership responsibility for complex infrastructure and operations.
• At least eight years in senior leadership positions with accountability for large multidisciplinary teams, strategic suppliers and mission-critical technology services.

Responsibilities

• Leading and developing the Division, providing strategic direction and a strong performance culture across a multidisciplinary workforce.
• Providing strategic leadership for the Agency’s infrastructure, platform and end-user technology capabilities.
• Owning ESA’s Agency-wide infrastructure landscape to support secure, resilient and scalable tech foundations.
• Driving modernisation and transformation of ESA’s infrastructure ecosystem including cloud, platform engineering and HPC.
• Enabling ESA’s Digital, Data and IT Strategy through shared platforms that increase interoperability and delivery speed.

Skills

Digital leadership

Infrastructure strategy

Cloud computing

IT operations

Education

Master’s degree in computer science / IT / engineering / mathematics / physics or related discipline

Job description

Head of the Digital, Data and IT Infrastructure and Digital Workplace Division

Job Requisition ID: 20878

Date Posted: 29 October 2026

Closing Date: 19 November 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication Method: Internal & External

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

Directorate: Resources and Services

Workplace: Frascati, IT Noordwijk, NL

Grade Band: A5 - A5

Location

ESRIN, Frascati, Italy, or ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

Head of the Digital, Data and IT Infrastructure and Digital Workplace Division, Digital, Data and Information Technology Department, Directorate of Resources and Services.

Under the direct authority of the Chief Digital Information Officer (CDIO), you will be responsible for establishing, operating and continuously evolving ESA’s Agency-wide digital infrastructure, platform and workplace capabilities.

In this role, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for the technology foundations that enable mission delivery, business continuity, digital transformation and future growth across the Agency.

This includes responsibility for infrastructure platforms, cloud and computing services, high-performance computing, digital workplace technologies, end user services and local support functions, ensuring their security, resilience, scalability, interoperability and long-term evolution in line with ESA’s Digital, Data and IT Strategy.

The Division plays a central role in enabling ESA’s resilience, sovereignty and dual-use ambitions, while providing the shared technology capabilities required to support directorates, programmes and mission activities across the Agency.

Duties

• leading and developing the Division, providing strategic direction, organisational leadership and a strong performance culture across a multidisciplinary workforce;
• providing strategic leadership for the Agency’s infrastructure, platform and end-user technology capabilities;
• owning ESA’s Agency-wide infrastructure landscape, ensuring secure, resilient and scalable technology foundations that support mission operations, business continuity and future growth;
• driving the modernisation and transformation of ESA’s infrastructure ecosystem, including cloud, platform engineering, high-performance computing, digital workplace and shared technology services;
• enabling ESA’s Digital, Data and IT Strategy through shared platforms that increase interoperability, reuse, scalability and delivery speed across directorates and programmes;
• ensuring ESA’s resilience, sovereignty and dual-use ambitions are supported by robust, secure and future-ready infrastructure capabilities;
• leading Agency-wide collaboration with business, mission and technology stakeholders to deliver critical infrastructure capabilities supporting mission development, operations and enterprise transformation;
• managing strategic suppliers, technology partnerships, infrastructure investments and delivery organisations to ensure operational excellence, value for money and sustainable long-term capability development;
• leading the transformation and operation of ESA’s Agency-wide digital infrastructure, enabling mission success, business continuity, digital transformation and future growth through secure, resilient and sovereign technology capabilities;
• building the capabilities, leadership team and operating model required to deliver ESA’s future digital, data and IT ambitions;
• driving collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement across teams, suppliers and stakeholders in support of Agency-wide transformation objectives;
• fostering an environment that combines operational excellence, engineering innovation, resilience and service orientation.

You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

Technical competencies

Enterprise infrastructure strategy and operations

Cloud and hybrid cloud platforms

Data centre, network and compute infrastructure

Digital workplace and end-user computing services

Platform engineering and modern infrastructure architectures

IT service management and operational excellence

Infrastructure security, resilience and business continuity

Vendor, contract and managed service governance

Infrastructure transformation and modernisation

Technology risk management

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation

Operational Efficiency

Fostering Cooperation

Relationship Management

Continuous Improvement

Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education And Professional Experience

A master’s degree in computer science, information technology, engineering, mathematics, physics or a related discipline is required, together with a minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in digital technologies, data and IT, including substantial leadership responsibility for complex infrastructure, platform, cloud, digital workplace or technology operations environments.

At least eight years of experience in senior leadership positions with accountability for large multidisciplinary teams, strategic suppliers and mission- or business-critical technology services.

Additional Requirements

• High-performance computing (HPC);
• Infrastructure supporting data and Al workloads;
• Zero trust, secure-by-design and infrastructure security architecture;
• Infrastructure supporting classified, sovereign or dual-use environments;
• Automation, DevOps and Platform-as-a-Service concepts;
• Large-scale technology consolidation and rationalisation programmes;
• Mission-critical operational environments.

Experience in one or more of the following environments would be considered a strong asset:

• Space, aerospace, defence or dual-use organisations;
• Critical infrastructure or highly regulated environments;
• Large-scale infrastructure, cloud or platform transformations;
• Federated or multinational organisations;
• HPC, data-intensive or research environments.

You should have:

• proven experience of leading, motivating and developing a team;
• the ability to provide strategic direction to individuals and teams and to relate team objectives to the overall, evolving organisational goals and context;
• the ability to drive performance and foster cooperation within and across teams throughout the organisation;
• demonstrated excellent leadership, relationship management and communication skills, both oral and written;
• a proven track record of representing the Agency’s interests to external interfaces;
• excellent cognitive, analytical, delegation, planning and organisational skills;
• 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, upper management and other stakeholders, in this process.

People management experience is required, international experience is an asset, including outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.

Mobility is inherent to management functions and this position may be subject to rotation.

Therefore, mobility opportunities may be offered to you as part of your career evolution at ESA, beginning after approximately five years in this role.

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

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.