Description

Telecom Satellite AIT/AIV and Industrialisation Manager for the HummingSat Project in the Satellite Programmes Department within the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications.

HummingSat is an innovative and flexible product line of small geostationary satellites developed by a European and Canadian consortium in the framework of an ESA partnership project. 

The Hummingsat Project is part of ESA’s efforts to strengthen Europe’s space sector through the serialisation of satellite components such as payload items, for example antennas, platform equipment, launch systems, user terminals and ground technologies.

You will be involved in the completion of HummingSat design and qualification of the new satellite product line and delivery of the initial commercial satellites to their customers.

Reporting to the ESA HummingSat Project Manager, you will be responsible for the supervision of satellite assembly, integration and testing, preparation and implementation for HummingSat. 
 
This will include the preparation of the product line design-to-AIT concept, as well as the follow-up of the PFM1 and PFM2 manufacturing, integration, testing and in-orbit validation of the satellites. You will work in close collaboration with the Platform Manager, the Lead System Engineer and the Product Assurance Manager, and you will be supported by project control staff, as well as by specialist engineers from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality and the Directorate of Operations.
This post will involve extensive periods of co-location with the industrial prime contractor in Spain and in Switzerland.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• representing AIT/AIV management at ESA and interfacing with the prime contractor’s AIT/AIV management team;
• implementing design-to-AIT and design-to-manufacturing concepts during the product line design and development;
• working hand in hand with the prime contractor in the trade-off for selection, adaptation and certification of AIT/AIV facilities;
• ensuring the definition, completeness, consistency and coherence of AIT requirements and monitoring their implementation and verification;
• liaising with the ESA engineering team regarding the definition, completeness, consistency, and verification/validation steps performed at FlatSat level;
• managing the overall assembly, integration and verification programme, including the planning and implementation of verification and validation test campaigns;
• together with the industrial prime contractor, managing the procurement of the required ground support equipment, the development of the facilities and the availability of resources;
• together with the industrial prime contractor, managing the integration and testing of the payload modules;
• together with the industrial prime contractor, managing the integration and testing of the PFM spacecraft, including integration with the payload;
• participating in project reviews, as well as lower-level reviews in the relevant field of interest;
• coordinating the specialised engineering support from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality in the appropriate areas of competence;
• coordinating, together with the Product Assurance Manager and the Security Officer as needed, the implementation of ESA expertise to support integrated satellite-level activities;
• ensuring close coordination and support with other project functions, such as PA&S and Security, in particular, coordination of all security-related aspects via the project’s nominated Project/System Security Officer;
• supporting ad hoc activities of the Department as required and relevant to your experience.

You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

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

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education and professional experience

A master’s degree in a relevant domain is required for this post together with [x] years of relevant professional experience.  Alternatively, candidates with a bachelor’s degree, complemented by an additional four (4) years of relevant professional experience can be considered.

Additional requirements

• Experience of working on complex space programmes up to launch and in-orbit testing, preferably in telecommunications.
• Experience with ESA partnership projects.
• Experience with ESA procurement processes, from RFQ and TEBs to contract implementation.

Direct experience of working with a commercial telecommunications prime contractor and/or operator would be a distinct advantage.

• The potential to manage individuals or a team of experts in a project setting; 
• The ability to organise individual and team activities and ensure a motivating work environment;
• Strong leadership capabilities, with proven relationship management and communication skills;
• The ability to drive your team’s performance, developing your people by encouraging learning, delegating responsibility and giving regular and constructive feedback;
• Strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills;
• Strong results orientation with the ability to set priorities and present practical solutions both orally and in writing;
• The ability to manage challenging situations proactively and constructively and to be customer-focused.

People management experience is required. International experience is an asset, including outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.