Description

System-Critical External Interfaces Officer in IRIS² Integrated Project 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 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 critical external interfaces for the system developed and deployed under the concession, including the GOVSATCOM Hub and the terrestrial communication network (HTTN), and will contribute to the timely and correct deployment of these elements. You will oversee related aspects throughout the definition, development, deployment and preparation for the exploitation/operational phase, interface with industry through the concession contract, liaise with stakeholders in charge of the external elements, and rely on ESA for supervision of the industrial activities relating to development and validation phase, aiming to ensure coordination in accordance with the agreements between ESA and the Commission.

Initial assignment to Brussels is until Q1 2028 with the possible extension, in line with the 12 year Contribution Agreement between ESA and EC. At the end of the assignment, you will be reassigned to a position within the CSC Directorate.

Duties

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

•  be responsible for the definition and maintenance of the critical external interfaces and contribute to the coordination of the deployment of these elements with the IRIS² system;
• conduct all IPT activities relating to the system definition and maintenance of the critical external interfaces and coordination of their overall deployment and preparation for the operational/exploitation phase;
• interface with industry through the concession contract on aspects relating to the above objectives;
• liaise with the ESA Secure Connectivity System and Validation Office, aiming to ensure coordination and relying on ESA supervision of industrial activities relating to the development and validation of the system and its interfaces in accordance with the agreements between ESA and the Commission;
• liaise with stakeholders in charge of the external components concerning interfaces;
• contribute to the maintenance of programme-level schedule management, risk management and configuration control;
• participate in all relevant reviews relating to the development and deployment of the Secure Connectivity system of systems and, in particular, its interfaces with external components;
• analyse system-related requests for changes, waivers and deviations and non-conformances, anomalies and alerts, supporting the relevant analyses at system level as and when required;
• work in close coordination with other IPT officers, including the System and Ground Officer, 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;
• report to the Deployment Manager of the Integrated Programme Team and support them as required.
   

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

• the ability to think and communicate in a structured manner;
• the ability to synthesise complex technical issues and communicate them concisely and clearly;
• the ability to focus on the “big picture” while being able to comprehend and manage detailed technical issues when required;
• problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills;
• a result orientation with the ability to set priorities and present practical solutions both orally and in writing.