Description

Development and Validation 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 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 timely validation of the overall system, interfacing with and relying on ESA for supervision of the related industrial activities and the validation and qualification of the governmental infrastructure and aiming to ensure coordination in accordance with the agreements between ESA and the European 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 CSC Directorate.
 

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• have overall responsibility for the timely validation of the IRIS² governmental infrastructure;
• conduct all IPT activities aiming to the timely development and validation of the Secure Connectivity system of systems, including space, ground and user segments;
• liaise with ESA Head of Secure Connectivity System and Validation Office, with ESA Head of Secure Connectivity Space Segment Office and with ESA Head of Secure Connectivity Ground and User Segment Office aiming to ensure coordination, and rely on ESA for supervision of industrial activities related to development and validation of the governmental infrastructure, as per the Agreements between ESA and the EC;
• similarly liaise and coordinate activities with any entity in charge of development and validation of any part of the IRIS² system not covered under the concession contract (e.g. EUSPA);
• 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 related to development and validation of the IRIS² system of systems;
• support the IPT Deployment Manager in all its tasks, in particular in reporting to EC management and ESA management, as well as in ensuring EC-ESA coordination;
• work in close coordination with other IPT Officers, including the Satellite & Production Officer, the System & Ground Officer, the User terminal, Spectrum and Signal Officer, the Concession Contract Officer, and 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 telecommunications, space systems engineering or a related technical or scientific discipline is required for this post.

Additional requirements

Frequent travel to the ESTEC (Netherlands) and in Europe may be required.

In addition to relevant expertise and experience, you should have:

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