Junior Professional in Cyber Security Mission Operations Domain

Description

The Mission Operations Department, in the Directorate of Operations, is responsible for preparing and conducting flight operations for ESA missions entrusted to it. The position will involve reporting to the Ground Facilities Operations Division, which manages, operates and maintains the infrastructure used to support operations for ESA and external missions. Facilities include Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TT&C) stations in ESA´s ground station network (ESTRACK), the Operational Control Centre located at ESOC, and the Mission Operations Technical IT.

The protection of space and ground assets is of utmost importance to ESA. To protect those assets, ESA is enhancing its main security backbone infrastructure, in particular by implementing a distributed Cyber Security Control Center (CSOC), including its interfaces with the Ground Facilities Network Operations Centre (NOC) located at Darmstadt. Furthermore, novel space-to-ground secured communication architectures are being defined as part of new ESA initiatives in the applications domain, such as the ScyLight programme. The Strategic Programme Line Optical and Quantum Communication - ScyLight is focusing on the development and demonstration of several optical and quantum communication technologies. ScyLight addresses secure communications via laser links as well as high-speed data transport in space integrated with terrestrial networks.

The Junior Professional will provide support for the above activities as part of the Ground Facilities Operations team in the Missions Operations Department. In addition, the Junior Professional will coordinate regularly with the ESA Security Office team located at ESA’s centre for Earth observation (Frascati, Italy), the mission operations team located at the European Space Security and Education Centre (Redu, Belgium), as well as the ScyLight Strategic Programme team located at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (Noordwijk, Netherlands) in the ESA Telecommunications and Integrated Applications Directorate, including co-location periods with these entities as necessary.

Duties

As a member of the Ground Facilities Operations team in the Ground Facilities Operations Division, you will provide support for the integration of the CSOC with the NOC, including definition of the related interface operations concept, the transfer to operations of the various elements and facilities, and the associated operations, maintenance and evolution. In carrying out this task, you will coordinate closely with the ESA Security Office at ESA ESRIN, Frascati, and the mission operations team at ESA ESEC, Redu. 

In addition, you will provide support for the definition and implementation of novel space-to-ground secured communication architectures, with specific emphasis on the operational aspects. In this task, you will coordinate closely with the ScyLight Strategic Programme team in the ESA Telecom and Integrated Applications Directorate, located at ESA ESTEC, Noordwijk.

Together with the above team members, you will support the definition and evolution of the related (cyber)security operations concepts, associated architecture and processes, and take an active role in the preparation and validation of the related operational procedures.

You will also support the Operations Control Centre Manager, the Ground Operations Managers and the Ground Station Operations Engineers at ESOC with regard to ensuring the appropriate protection of ground facility assets.

You will liaise with multiple internal and external actors, supporting the definition and validation of operational interfaces, taking into account confidentiality, reliability and economic factors.
Lastly, you will support the preparation of ESA missions, through participation in the Mission Control Team for Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) and other mission-critical phases.

Development programme

In addition to your daily work, you will take part in an extensive learning and development programme. From day one, you will learn on the job and benefit from tailored development opportunities, including explosure to different business areas of ESA and participation in technical and key skills training courses.

On top of this, you will have additional training to build up specific skills and knowledge, as well as all the support you need to pursue your career in ESA.

As part of this assignment, taking your profile into account and with a view to boosting your professional experience and knowledge of the European Space Agency, you will be offered rotational assignments within and outside your initial organisational unit. In particular, you will be assigned to the Ground Facilities Operations team in the Missions Operations Department. You will coordinate regularly with the ESA Security Office team, the mission operations team at ESEC, as well as the ScyLight Programme team at ESTEC, including co-location periods with these entities as necessary.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

A Master's degree in engineering or computer science.

Additional requirements

You should have between two and three years of professional experience, preferably in a relevant technical domain, after completion of your Master's degree.

Participation in one of ESA ‘s entry-level programmes, i.e. Young Graduate Trainee, National Trainee, or Research Fellow Programmes, will be recognised as eligible experience.

You will need to be eligible for Personal Security Clearance by national authorities.

Specificities

The ESA Junior Professional Programme has a forward-looking perspective. Subject to confirmed good performance, both technically and behaviourally, it is the intention to offer you a permanent contract at the end of the three years. As such, this initiative represents a significant investment by ESA in your personal and professional development. The programme is designed to provide you with the required knowledge and skills in order to ensure an optimal match, and to allow you to fulfil your role as effectively as possible. You can expect to be given many opportunities to develop your professional experience and competencies, to learn from ESA experts and to contribute to ESA activities.

Recruitment will take place at the A1 grade. You can expect to be upgraded to A2 at the end of the fourth year, if you are offered a permanent position at the end of your Junior Professional assignment.