Description

System Ground Segment Officer in IRIS² Integrated Programme Team in Secure Connectivity Programme Department in the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications.

On 15 March 2023, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopted Regulation (EU) 2023/588 establishing the Union Secure Connectivity Programme for the period 2023–2027.  
The objective of the EU Secure Connectivity Programme is to deploy an EU satellite constellation, IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite). The Programme will provide for an EU satellite-based, multiorbital communication infrastructure for governmental use while integrating and complementing existing and future national and European capacities in the framework of the GOVSATCOM component of the EU Space Programme. 
The ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity is intended to support the effective development and validation of the EU Secure Connectivity (IRIS²) governmental infrastructure, which is to be developed, deployed and operated under a concession contract signed by the EU with a private consortium, and the services provided by it, as well as the validation and demonstration of services based on the commercial infrastructure developed by the contractors delivering the EU Secure Connectivity governmental infrastructure. 
 
The European Commission and ESA will set up an Integrated Programme Team (IPT) to manage the EU IRIS² Programme and, in particular, the related concession contract, and to ensure close coordination between all activities relating to IRIS². 
 
Reporting to the Deployment Manager of the Integrated Programme Team, you will be responsible for the definition and maintenance of the system configuration and interfaces and for the timely deployment of the specified ground segment. You will oversee system and ground segment definition, development, deployment and preparation for the exploitation/operational phase, interfacing with industry through the concession contract and relying on ESA for the supervision of the industrial activities relating to development and validation, aiming to ensure coordination in accordance with the agreements between ESA and the Commission. You will also conduct IPT activities aiming to build up EU manufacturing capabilities, both at ground segment and at supply chain level.

Initial assignment to Brussels is until Q1 2028 with a possible extension to reach 4 years within the framework of the 12 year Contribution Agreement between ESA and EC.

Duties

Under the direct authority of the IPT Deployment Manager, you will: 

• be responsible for the definition and maintenance of the system configuration and interface and the timely deployment of the specified ground segment;  
• conduct all IPT activities aimed at the timely deployment and entry into operations of the ground segment and the preparation of the operational/exploitation phase; 
• interface with industry through the concession contract on system and ground segment aspects of the IRIS² concession; 
• liaise with the ESA Secure Connectivity System and Validation Office and the Ground and User Segment Office, aiming to ensure coordination and relying on ESA for supervision of industrial activities relating to the development and validation of the governmental infrastructure in accordance with the agreements between ESA and the Commission;   
• liaise and coordinate activities with any entity in charge of part of the ground segment of the IRIS² system that is not part of the concession contract, for example EUSPA; 
• maintain an IRIS² system of systems configuration consistent with the MRD and with all high-level technical and non-technical requirements; 
• maintain a baseline scenario for incremental development and deployment of the ground segment, including the related technology roadmaps at ground segment and subsystem level, conducting all IPT tasks relating to the building up of EU manufacturing capabilities, both at system and at ground segment supply chain level; 
• contribute to the maintenance of programme-level schedule management, risk management and configuration control; 
• contribute to the maintenance of the programme-level cost plan and key performance indicators; 
• propose programme-level corrective measures to respond to deviations from performance, schedule and cost targets; 
• participate in all relevant reviews relating to the development and deployment of the Secure Connectivity system of systems and, in particular, its related ground segments; 
• analyse system- and ground segment-related requests for changes, waivers and deviations, non-conformances, anomalies and alerts, supporting the relevant analyses at system level as and when required; 
• maintain the Secure Connectivity ground segment development and deployment plan, schedule, risk register and relevant parts of the cost plan, with the required key performance indicators, for consolidation and approval at project level; 
• oversee the implementation and enforcement of risk and security management processes at ground segment level; 
• support the IPT Deployment Manager in all of their tasks, in particular in reporting to Commission management and in ensuring coordination between ESA and the Commission; 
• work in close coordination with other IPT officers, including the Satellites and Production Officer, the Development and Validation Officer, the User Terminal, Spectrum and Signal Officer and the Concession Contract Officer, as well as the Security Team. 

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

A master’s degree in engineering or a related technical or scientific discipline is required for this post.

Additional requirements

Satellite communication system experience, in particular 5G NTN, would be an asset.