Earth Observation Scientist

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Serco is a leading space services provider with thousands of skilled resources that has supported over 50 space missions on behalf of more than 10 space or government agencies worldwide, including ESA and NASA. We provide end‑to‑end space capability from satellite testing to launch services, LEOP, spacecraft operations, space surveillance, data management and downstream application development.

The Difference You Will Make

You will contribute directly to some of Europe’s most exciting space programmes, from Earth observation and climate monitoring to satellite navigation and space safety. Your work will play a vital role in ensuring mission success, enabling better decision‑making on Earth and driving innovation in orbit. Whether you’re helping manage spacecraft operations, analyzing mission data, or supporting software and systems development, your expertise will help move Europe’s space ambitions forward.

Why Join Serco

• Work in an international and diverse team environment, surrounded by top‑tier scientists, engineers and technical experts.
• Access continuous professional development and training opportunities tailored to the space sector.
• Be part of a company that values work‑life balance, mutual respect and a commitment to excellence.
• Gain exposure to cutting‑edge technologies, innovative projects and mission‑critical systems in collaboration with major space agencies.

Responsibilities

• Technical support in liaison with external bodies (e.g., CEOS, OGC).
• Definition of best practices and standards to be applied across projects.
• Integration support across different projects into the larger EO ecosystem.
• Technical assessment of improvement opportunities across projects.
• Support to configuration baseline and change management.
• Validation and verification of software systems.
• Provision of technical input for contributions to conferences, workshops and communications.

Your Skills

• Remote sensing.
• Big data architectures, possibly in EO context.
• Exploitation/analysis platforms in EO context.
• Artificial intelligence, possibly in context of EO data processing.
• Technical requirements specification for software systems.
• EO market, market intelligence and business models.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in the space sector (downstream domain).

Other Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Ability to work autonomously under constraints, in direct contact with ESA.
• Pro‑active approach to problem identification and resolution.
• Able to manage several tasks in parallel and prioritise.
• Excellent written skills in English.
• Good team working skills.

About Serco

Serco is a leading space services provider with thousands of skilled resources that has supported over 50 space missions on behalf of more than 10 space or government agencies worldwide, including ESA, CNES, EUMETSAT, EUSPA, ASI and NASA. We offer space capabilities across the full space lifecycle, from satellite testing to launch services, LEOP to spacecraft operations, space surveillance, data management and supporting downstream application development. With over 55 years of history in the space sector, Serco is well positioned to contribute to national strategies across Europe and globally.