Science & Utilisation Planner

Space Applications Services NV/SA; Noordwijk; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Working from home option

International collaboration

Job summary

Space Applications Services NV/SA seeks a Science & Utilisation Planner to join ESA/ESTEC on-site in Noordwijk, NL. The role interfaces between ESA Science and Operations to support ISS research, payload utilisation, and related objectives.

You will report to the Science Team Lead and ESA Payload Integration Team Lead, contributing to regular deliverables and meetings with multinational partners. The ideal candidate has a scientific or engineering degree and 4+ years in research coordination or

Qualifications

• University Degree in a scientific or engineering field.
• At least 4 years of professional experience in research, coordination or operations.
• Experience with Columbus and/or ISS operations and/or processes.
• Familiarity with microgravity platforms, research and operations.
• Ability to synthesise, summarise and draw conclusions.
• Work independently and in distributed international teams.
• Adhere to strict confidentiality standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide information and analytical support to User Support Operations Centers, Increment Management & ESA's ISS Flight Directors.
• Monitor real-time ISS operations, upcoming activities, and advocate for ESA ISS utilisation objectives.
• Track accomplishments of ESA research and payload utilisation objectives, and conduct post-increment crew-time utilisation reconciliation.
• Review and comment on documentation including Activity Requirements Documents, Mission Operations and Integration Concept, CEFs.
• Review and maintain increment Stage Priorities documentation.
• Prepare and attend regular meetings/teleconferences with multilateral partners.
• Contribute to regular deliverables such as Increment Graphical Overview, Weekly Science Summary, Accomplishment reports, lessons learned.
• Support the RPT service management towards the ESA customer, ensuring high-quality performance and reports.

Skills

University Degree

4+ years experience

Columbus/ISS ops

Microgravity platforms

Synthesize summaries

Independent work

Confidentiality

Schedules & deadlines

English proficiency

Education

University Degree in science/engineering

Job description

We are looking for a Science & Utilisation Planner to join in our customer premises at the European Space Agency (ESA) / ESTEC.

The Requirements Planning Service Team (RPT) provides the interface between ESA Science and Operations for the ESA research complement aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The Team also provides analytical services and products to ESA planners and operators, monitors and tracks ESA science, technology and education objectives, and advocates/defends these objectives within the multilateral ISS research community.

The position is in the Services Department (composed of 30 persons) within Space Applications Services’ structure.

The candidate will mainly report to the Science Team Lead, and the ESA Payload Integration Team Lead, as necessary.

Location: Noordwijk, The Netherlands (ESA – ESTEC)

Start date: As of September 2026.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Provide information and analytical support to User Support Operations Centers, Increment Management & ESA's ISS Flight Directors

• Monitor real-time ISS operations, upcoming activities, and advocate for ESA ISS utilisation objectives

• Track accomplishments of ESA research and payload utilisation objectives, and conduct post-increment crew-time utilisation reconciliation

• Review and provide comments and inputs to various increment or experiment documentation, including but not limited to:

  • Activity Requirements Documents, Mission Operations and Integration Concept, CEFs

  • Input from third-party in NASA MIDAS Prime tool in coordination with ESA Logistics team

  • Documentation submitted as part of the Certificate of Flight Readiness (CoFR) process
    

• Review and maintain increment Stage Priorities documentation

• Prepare, contribute to, and attend regular meetings/teleconferences, including with multilateral partners (Joint/Mission Management Team, Increment Coordination Meeting, Payloads Integration meetings, Operations Teams tag-ups)

• Contribute to and/or be responsible for regular deliverables issued by the service, or contribute to external deliverables including but not limited to Increment Graphical Overview, Weekly Science Summary, Accomplishment reports, and Lessons learned.

• Support the RPT service management towards the ESA customer, ensuring high-quality performance and reports, as necessary.

Skills and Experience

• A University Degree or equivalent qualification in a scientific (e.g. biology, medicine, physics, chemistry) or engineering field

• At least 4 years of professional experience in research, research coordination or operations

• Experience with Columbus and/or ISS operations and/or processes

• Experience and/or familiarity with microgravity platforms, research and operations

• Ability to:

  • Synthesise, summarise and draw conclusions

  • Work Independently and in a distributed international teams

  • Adhere to strict standards of confidentiality

• Strength to cope with schedules and deadlines

• Excellent written and spoken English (Dutch or French as a native language is an asset).

Our Offer

• Working within an exceptional sector with Staff located in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands

• A professional and modern working environment with motivated Administrative Staff, Engineers, Astronaut Training Instructors and Scientists coming from all different horizons and countries with a common passion for space and their own expertise

• A full-time position with an indefinite contract of employment

• A competitive remuneration package and good working conditions

• Working from home in part can be a possibility

• An individualised training and development programmes.