4S End-to-End System Engineer
Noordwijk
- Organization: ESA - European Space Agency
- Location: Noordwijk
- Grade: Junior level - A2 - Grade band
-
Occupational Groups:
- Engineering
- Outer space and satellite technology
- Closing Date: 2024-04-30
EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY
4S End-to-End System Engineer
Vacancy in the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications.
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
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
Description
4S End-to-End System Engineer in the Safety and Security from Space Programme Office in the Systems, Strategic Programme Lines and Technology Department, Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications.
The 4S (Space Systems for Safety and Security) Strategic Programme Line (SPL) is one of the three main strategic thrusts of the ESA programme in the field of telecommunications (ARTES). It focuses on next-generation SATCOM solutions serving governmental needs and critical infrastructure and/or applications with high security, resilience and sovereignty requirements. The emphasis of the 4S SPL is therefore on security, safety, resilience and sovereignty in design, manufacturing techniques and operations. The 4S SPL covers solutions that either provide secure connectivity services in support of critical applications (such as traffic management or critical infrastructure monitoring) or improve the security of connectivity networks and the traffic they transport by using cutting-edge technologies in relation to security and/or safety.
Today’s global context is driving a fast and dynamic market in the domain of secure SATCOM solutions. This includes Europe, as demonstrated by the EU IRIS² programme decided in 2022 and a set of ongoing private initiatives in this domain. To maximise the impact of ESA Member State investment in preparing advanced 4S technologies, infrastructure and services, the overall system and technical consistency of ESA activities needs to be ensured.
You will be the focal point, from a technical perspective, of the 4S SPL. You will report to the 4S Strategic Programme Line Manager as well as the Head of the Safety and Security from Space Programme Office. You will be responsible for the overall system and technical consistency of service- and system-level activities. You will liaise daily with the 4S Implementation Manager in charge of the programmatic and management side of the SPL.
Duties
You will report to the Head of the Safety and Security from Space Programme Office and your tasks and responsibilities will include:
- liaising with institutions, user communities, technical experts and industry to identify innovative secure SATCOM systems and technologies to respond to future user needs and emerging threats (liaising with the European Commission in coordination with the IRIS² Programme Department);
- establishing a technical roadmap and action plan accordingly;
- leading the overall effort to ensure the consistency of the technologies to be invested in, and of the new service- and system-level 4S activities, also covering programmes decided in Europe/the EU (for IRIS2,you will coordinate with the IRIS² Programme Department);
- supporting the 4S Implementation Manager in defining a baseline of activities to be procured;
- supporting the 4S procurement process, including participation in tender evaluation boards (TEBs);
- helping assess and then support the individual projects proposed by industry in direct negotiation, with the aim of maximising the impact of their contribution (and the related Member State investment) to the 4S strategy;
- supporting project reviews, as needed;
- defining steps and processes related to knowledge capture at the end of each activity, and feedback for the roadmap;
- promoting the activities of the unit from a technical perspective by participating in conferences and supporting marketing campaigns.
Technical competencies
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
Education
A master's in a relevant engineering discipline.
Additional requirements
You should have at least ten years of experience with SATCOM systems, products and technology, with an emphasis on end-to-end system engineering.
Frequent travel to other ESA establishments will be required.
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 and must be eligible for security clearance by their national security administrations.
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.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.