Secure Connectivity System Architecture Engineer

ESA; Noordwijk; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

ESA Noordwijk (ESTEC) is seeking a Secure Connectivity System Architecture Engineer to lead the definition and evolution of the IRIS² system architecture. You will coordinate with Security, Ground Segment, Space Segment and industry partners to ensure end-to-end architectural integrity and budget compliance.

The role spans architecture development, requirements traceability and roadmapping, with engagement across engineering and R&D activities for future Secure Connectivity generations.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of system architecting in large, complex projects with security aspects.
• Experience with telecommunications space programmes or satellite constellations.
• Experience in design and implementation of large 5G systems.
• Knowledge of system of systems architecture and related requirements.

Responsibilities

• Define, consolidate and update the IRIS² system architecture across levels.
• Maintain architecture roadmap and incremental implementation of capabilities.
• Ensure requirements traceability from mission baseline to system/segment levels.
• Monitor and ensure system compliance with technical budgets and performance.
• Apply state-of-the-art architecting methodologies and tools.
• Coordinate with Ground Segment, Security, Space Segment and industry.
• Support reviews at system and segment levels and assist R&D activities.
• Prepare for future generations of the Secure Connectivity system.

Skills

System architecture

Large space programmes

5G systems design

Systems of systems

Product assurance & safety standards

Education

Master’s degree in engineering

Bachelor’s + 4 years relevant experience

Job description

Secure Connectivity System Architecture Engineer in the System Architecture Section in the Secure Connectivity System Office within the Secure Connectivity Department in the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications.

• Location: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
• Type of appointment: 4 years, extendable to indefinite
• Grade band: A2–A4

Description

The ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity, hereinafter referred to as “Secure Connectivity”, is intended to support the effective development and validation of the EU Secure Connectivity governmental infrastructure and the services provided by it, as well as the validation and demonstration of services based on the commercial infrastructure developed by the contractor(s) delivering the EU Secure Connectivity governmental infrastructure.

The System Architecture Section in the Secure Connectivity System Office is responsible for all systems engineering tasks to support the effective design and development of the overall Secure Connectivity system of systems.

Duties

Reporting to the Head of the Secure Connectivity System Architecture Section, you will be responsible for the definition, consolidation and update of the overall IRIS² system architecture. You will work at various levels: the system level to define the functional and logical architecture, and the segment level to ensure consistency in the architecture flow-down and the physical architecture.

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• following up the definition, analyses and consolidation of the end-to-end system architecture, system behaviour, concept of operations, and system scenarios and use cases. This will include unclassified and classified aspects, for which close coordination with the Secure Connectivity security team will be required
• establishing and maintaining the Secure Connectivity architecture roadmap, describing the incremental implementation of the system capabilities through successive system releases
• ensuring the derivation and traceability of system and segment requirements including functional, performance, operational, service and security requirements from the applicable mission baseline
• monitoring and ensuring the compliance of the IRIS² system with the mission’s technical and performance requirements, including maintaining all system-level technical budgets
• proposing corrective measures to respond to deviations from mission requirements established at programme level
• establishing and applying state-of-the-art system architecting methodologies and tools
• ensuring technical end-to-end consistency of the Satellite Transport Network, notably considering the resource management and 5G end-to-end implementation
• liaising with the Ground Segment Office, the Security Office, the Space Segment Office, the PA and Safety Office, and the relevant industrial actors in order to ensure the proper understanding and implementation of the system architecture
• supporting the preparation of and participation in reviews relating to Secure Connectivity at system and segment level
• supporting all engineering and R&D activities directly relating to the development and implementation of the system
• supporting the preparation of future generations of the Secure Connectivity system of systems
• monitoring relevant schedules in a proactive manner, identifying risk and problem areas in the System Office, providing assessments and proposing mitigation actions from industry and on the ESA side
• providing regular reporting to project management on all aspects of your area of competence
• may have he delegation responsibiity from project management on programmatic aspects
• supporting technical interaction with national delegations, the IRIS² programme (the European Commission), the European Union Agency for the Space Programme and the GOVSATCOM operator.

Technical competencies

• Knowledge of and experience in system architecting in large, complex projects and teams, including security aspects
• Experience with the implementation of large space programmes or projects, ideally in the area of telecommunications satellite constellations
• Experience in the design and implementation of large 5G systems
• Multidisciplinary and comprehensive knowledge of system of system architecture, the definition of related technical requirements, and on-ground and in-orbit validation activities
• Experience with product assurance and safety standards and their application in a project environment, preferably with space constellations

Behavioural competencies

• Result Orientation
• Operational Efficiency
• Fostering Cooperation
• Relationship Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Forward Thinking

Education and professional experience

A master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline is required for this post together with 4 years of relevant professional experience. Alternatively, candidates with a bachelor’s degree, complemented by an additional four (4) years of relevant professional experience can be considered.

Additional requirements

• Strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills.
• A strong results orientation with the ability to set priorities and present practical solutions both orally and in writing.
• The ability to manage challenging situations proactively and constructively and to be customer-focused.
• Direct experience of working with a commercial telecommunications company and operator will be a distinct advantage.
• Experience in public-private partnership projects would be an asset.
• Public speaking experience and the ability to conceptualise complex ideas would be beneficial.
• Experience working on projects with a security dimension would be beneficial.

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.

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.

Nationality and Languages

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.