Description

You will be affiliated with the Climate Action, Sustainability and Science Department, and will be expected to work closely with the Future Missions and Architecture, Projects, and Mission Management and Ground Segments Departments to perform activities requiring the Earth Surfaces and Interior Section’s scientific expertise and manpower support.

Duties

Under the authority of the Head of the Earth Surfaces and Interior Section of the Earth and Mission Science Division, your main tasks and responsibilities will include:

• providing mission scientist and scientific support to hyperspectral and multispectral optical missions, i.e. CHIME, Sentinel-2 Next Generation and similar observing systems, ensuring that the payloads and the end-to-end system designs fulfil mission requirements;
• establishing and managing mission objectives and requirements during the preparation of new mission ideas and concepts, as part of the development and implementation for approved missions;
• supporting calibration/validation activities during the in-orbit commissioning and operations phases;
• establishing, maintaining and convening international advisory groups relating to Earth Observation missions;
• initiating and conducting in-house and external scientific studies supporting mission development and implementation, geophysical algorithm development and related research activities;
• organising mission-specific science workshops and conferences;
• providing scientific support and advice to Earth Observation mission teams across the FutureEO, Earth Watch, or Copernicus Programme domains, including maintenance of the external interface with the European Commission and/or EUMETSAT for the corresponding advisory structures;
• providing support to the identification and critical review of scientific challenges, EO user community requirements, new and innovative scientific measurement concepts and the interests and aspirations of the communities concerned;
• managing the implementation of independent peer reviews of mission ideas or concept proposals in response to Agency Calls or Announcements of Opportunity, as well as preparing evaluation reports;
• managing and leading the advancement and assessment of Scientific Readiness Levels including internal and external assessments of mission ideas;
• communicating research results in connection with ESA’s Earth Observation missions and serving as an ESA ambassador at relevant events, such as scientific conferences and during user consultations;
• preparing Announcements of Opportunity, implementing, managing and monitoring external scientific study contracts and related key performance indicators, and quarterly reporting.
   

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

A PhD in a relevant scientific discipline is required for this post.

Additional requirements

You must demonstrate at least five years of experience in a relevant scientific discipline after you completed your PhD.

You must contribute Earth Observation research experience and demonstrated credibility in the domain of visible to shortwave infrared high-resolution multispectral and hyperspectral remote sensing techniques for observing land/biosphere, ice, and water surfaces. 

Knowledge of synergies between complementary Earth Observation techniques is required. Knowledge of establishing and managing requirements during an EO mission implementation process would be an asset. 

You must be familiar with relevant current and future satellite missions, both within ESA and in international programmes. 

Particular importance will be attached to your demonstrated ability to work closely with international experts and relevant scientific organisations and bodies and to function in a team environment, as well as your degree of familiarity with the programmatic outlook in the ESA FutureEO, Earth Watch and Copernicus domains.

You must have demonstrated experience in leading and managing international studies.