System and Applications Engineer

Vacancy in the Directorate of Operations.

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, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.

This post is classified A2-A4 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale.

Location ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany

Description

System and Applications Engineer in the Multi-Mission Preparation Systems Section (OPS-GAP), System and Applications Engineering Division, Ground Systems Engineering and Innovation Department, Directorate of Operations.

The System and Applications Engineering Division is responsible for:

• engineering of software infrastructure, systems and applications required for mission operations or by space programmes for various purposes as well as their management throughout the end-to-end lifecycle; this includes mission control systems, mission planning systems, simulators and data processing systems;
• delivery of the systems and provision of the associated development, maintenance and user support in line with customer requirements;
• leading European space sector efforts in the ground system and applications engineering domain, fostering innovation and commercialisation;
• spin-in of advanced technologies and methodologies for system and applications engineering, particularly in key strategic areas such as automation and ground cybersecurity engineering;
• conducting R&D activities in the Division's domain of responsibility and providing internal strategic coordination of such activities;
• standardisation and European harmonisation efforts in the Division's domain of responsibility, in particular in international forums such as ECSS and CCSDS, and managing the Directorate’s standardisation programme, relying on its domains of competence;
• managing and transforming the Directorate’s software licensing with a focus on establishing and managing open-source communities.

The Multi-Mission Preparation Systems Section (OPS-GAP) is responsible for the applications and support activities required for systems used for the preparation of mission operations. It performs the development, maintenance, sustaining and evolution of suitable multi-mission platforms, software systems and generic applications, such as user interfaces, file management applications and implementation of standards, as well as the delivery of multi-mission services. This covers spacecraft simulators, procedure and tailoring of data preparation systems and system validation solutions both at application and system level, including the delivery of multi-mission services.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• development, maintenance, sustaining and evolution of multi-mission platforms for mission preparation systems. This includes:
  • elaboration of the system requirements in cooperation with the operational users, as well as multi-mission systems evolution;
  • production of the software requirement specifications;
  • definition and monitoring of the related industrial procurement contracts;
  • acceptance of deliveries;
  • collection and, wherever meaningful, implementation of feedback from users of the multi-mission systems;
  • application of appropriate configuration management to the deployed data systems;
  • support to users as required by the various operational phases;
  • management and provision of the user support and maintenance services;
  • management and provision of training services;
• provision of integration, validation and operational support services;
• undertaking studies, technology development activities, experimentation in laboratories, pre-development and in-orbit demonstration in related fields to facilitate innovation for the benefit of missions and projects;
• promoting the adoption of innovative concepts, technologies and standards.

Your duties may involve responsibility for any system and activity related to the scope described above. Initial allocation may depend on your specific skills, but is likely to include the evolution of the digital twin capabilities and systems for preparation of operational artefacts, including procedures and/or system validation solutions.

Technical competencies

Modern simulation techniques and technologies, especially the use of Digital Twin technology and approaches

Mission operations preparation processes, including the associated tooling, technologies and standards

Mission ground segment assembly, integration and validation processes, including the associated tooling, technologies and standards

Application of artificial intelligence, including strong background in technologies and approaches

Software engineering concepts including the associated tooling, technologies and standards

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

A Master's degree in a relevant domain is required for this post.

Additional requirements

A background in or experience of the following would be an additional benefit:

• Mission simulation processes in the spacecraft operations domain, including the associated tooling, technologies and standards;
• DevSecOps principles, including the associated tooling, technologies and standards.

Other information

For behavioural competencies expected from ESA staff in general, please refer to the ESA Competency Framework.

For further information please visit: Professionals, What we offer and FAQ

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.

Applicants must be eligible to access technology and hardware which is subject to European and US export control regulations.

The Agency may require applicants to undergo selection tests.

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 email contact.human.resources@esa.int.

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Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates and secondly to external candidates from under-represented Member States*.

In accordance with the European Space Agency’s security procedures and as part of the selection process, successful candidates will be required to undergo basic screening before appointment conducted by an external background screening service.

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.

*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.