Head of the Earth Observation Projects Department

ESA; Noordwijk; Sur place; EUR 120 000 - 160 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

ESA, based at ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands, seeks a Head of the Earth Observation Projects Department. You will be responsible for the overall system definition and management of approved ESA EO programmes up to launch and in-orbit verification.

Your role will include leading teams designing the space segment for missions such as Earth Explorer, Copernicus, ERS-EO and others, and directing project planning and monitoring to ensure cost, schedule, and technical integrity.

Qualifications

• Experience in leading large, multi-disciplinary engineering teams.
• Proven track record in project planning, cost/schedule control, and risk management.

Responsabilités

• Lead the design and implementation of the space segment for ESA Earth observation missions, up to launch and in-orbit verification.
• Direct, plan, distribute and monitor ESA projects to ensure programmatic alignment and on-time delivery.
• Endorse and consolidate the future mission programmatic framework including cost, schedule, procurement and geo-return considerations.

Description du poste

Job Requisition ID:21152

Date Posted:23 October 2026

Closing Date:20 November 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication Method:Internal & External

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

Directorate:Earth Observation Programmes

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

Reporting directly to the Director of Earth Observation Programmes, the Head of the Earth Observation Projects Department is responsible for the overall system definition and management of approved ESA Earth observation programmes up to and including launch and in-orbit verification.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• leading the teams responsible for the design and implementation of the space segment of approved Earth observation missions undertaken by ESA (including Earth Explorer, Scout, Earth Watch, meteorological, Copernicus, ERS-EO and national programmes) up to and including launch and in-orbit commissioning;
• directing, planning, distributing and monitoring projects;
• ensuring and endorsing the consolidation of the final programmatic framework of the future missions to be implemented (cost at completion, schedule, procurement and geo-return);
• …