ADRIOS Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) Manager
Noordwijk, NL
Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
Description
With its Space Safety Programme, ESA is committed to leading the way in the circular economy in space. This is achieved, among others things, through the ADRIOS (Active Debris Removal [ADR] and In-Orbit Servicing [IOS]) missions, which aim to establish viable ADR and IOS capabilities and services in Europe, such as rendezvous, inspection, capture, life extension, relocation, de-orbiting or repair of satellites. Such innovative approaches contribute to guaranteeing the safe use of Earth orbits for future generations, reducing space debris and promoting the reuse and recycling of space assets.
The Space Safety Missions Office of the Space Safety Programme Office, is responsible of the implementation, i.e. Phase B2/C/D/E, of the ADRIOS missions, for example RISE.
The RISE mission is an ambitious project with a lifetime of several years, designed to push the boundaries of in-orbit servicing. RISE will demonstrate Attitude Orbital Control System (AOCS) takeover of an active geostationary satellite, after performing rendezvous and capturing it in a fully autonomous manner. Once this initial demonstration is completed, RISE will go on to service its first paying customer, highlighting the practical and commercial application of the capability in space.
The ADRIOS missions often involve companies that are relatively new in the space field and, have ambitions for the private market, requiring that the ESA project teams provide specific expertise and follow a pragmatic approach.
This role offers the opportunity to contribute to pioneering space sustainability technologies within the Space Safety Programme, enabling the future of satellite servicing, debris mitigation, and sustainable orbital operations.
Duties
The ADRIOS AIT Manager will lead the AIT activities of one or several ADRIOS missions. You will be responsible for the planning, coordination, and execution of all AIT activities for the spacecraft and its associated servicing payloads, ensuring readiness for launch.
You will report to the Project Manager(s). You will also be in charge of coordinating technical experts from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality involved in the AIT activities.
Your key responsibilities will include:
Technical Execution (AIV/AIT)
- Definition and maintenance of the overall AIT approach, logic and schedule led by industry, for the spacecraft and associated ground support equipment, including integration flows, verification approaches, environmental test campaigns and facilities;
- Support the Technical System Lead to ensure consistency between the verification requirements and the AIT implementation;
- Ensuring that the AIT activities are coordinated across multiple industrial partners, and test facilities;
- Ensuring timely procurement of all equipment, GSE and facilities;
- Closely monitor the production of the space segment and ground segment;
- Oversee spacecraft assembly and integration activities performed by industry at subsystem and system levels, including mechanical, electrical, and functional integration processes;
- Ensure a proper spacecraft verification campaign, including:
- functional and performance testing;
- environmental testing (vibration, acoustics, thermal-vacuum and EMC);
- system and proximity operations validation, including the end-to-end guidance, navigation and control (GNC) and robotics chain relevant to rendezvous and capture;
- possible verification activities specific to the customer satellite;
- This includes critical review of test plans, procedures, facilities and test reports;
- Coordinate with the Operations Manager regarding flight operations procedures and satellite databases in relation to system-level tests and support operations planning and execution as needed.
Technical Execution (Launch)
- Support industry for the launch service selection;
- Follow the preparation of the spacecraft for delivery to the launch site;
- Participate to the launch campaign activities including final functional checks, fuelling operations and integration with the launch vehicle.
Management
- Support the Project Manager(s) in relation to risks identification and mitigation;
- Support the Project Manager(s) in relation to schedule management; contribute to the control of the schedule and propose schedule risk mitigation recovery actions when needed;
- Identify and prioritise points for attention and report regularly to the Project Manager(s);
- Apply pragmatic decision-making processes to balance ideal solutions with project constraints;
- Agree on a suitable approach to apply the ESA standards (ECSS) relating to integration and testing activities;
- Support and coordinate with the mission Product Assurance Manager to adequately fulfil the mission product assurance requirements;
- Support anomaly resolution and non-conformance management, as well as change management, and put in place early recovery actions when necessary;
- Participate actively in reviews;
- Lead technical experts from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality;
- Provide guidelines to industry relevant to all integration and test activities;
- Share experience and knowledge with industry in a constructive and result-oriented manner;
- Capture and share the lessons-learned with other missions of the Division.
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
A master's degree in engineering or a related field is required for this post together with 4 years of relevant professional experience.
Additional requirements
Experience with:
- implementing missions with tight schedule and low price constraints;
- taking a pragmatic approach to applying the ECSS;
- large platforms, especially for GEO (e.g. telecommunications platforms)
You should also:
- have an interest in working with companies that are relatively new in the space field;
- be capable of working autonomously, using initiative and taking a hands-on approach;
- show strong leadership capabilities, with proven relationship management and communication skills;
- demonstrate flexibility in dealing with day-to-day operational challenges, as well as strong planning and organisational skills;
- be able to anticipate problems and demonstrate flexibility to seek solutions and make pragmatic and timely decisions;
- be result-oriented with the ability to set priorities.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
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, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.
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 via email at contact.human.resources@esa.int.
Important Information and Disclaimer
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.
Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.
Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.
The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.
Nationality and Languages
Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.
According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the Member States.
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.