Flight Software and Functional Validation Engineer
Noordwijk
- Organization: ESA - European Space Agency
- Location: Noordwijk
- Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
-
Occupational Groups:
- Engineering
- Information Technology and Computer Science
- Aviation and Air traffic (planning/management/services)
- Closing Date: Closed
Vacancy in the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.
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, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.
This post is classified A2-A4 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale.
Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
Description
This post is for the Flight Software Systems Section, a group of around 20 highly motivated experts in embedded software for space systems. They provide technical support for the development and functional verification and validation of the on-board software for all ESA missions and satellites in e.g. space science, human and robotic exploration, Earth observation, telecommunications and integrated applications, navigation, space transportation, space engineering and technology, operations and space safety. The Section contributes to the success of ESA missions such as Rosetta, Galileo, JUICE, Earth observation Sentinel missions, meteorological missions and many others.
The Section is also responsible for defining, initiating and managing technology R&D activities in its field of expertise to ensure that future missions use state-of-the-art technologies efficiently to guarantee the quality needed for space systems and enable increased functionality in a properly verified way (covering subjects such as SW verification and validation methods and processes, modern SW architectures and frameworks, new generation processors, model-based engineering).
The Section also participates actively in standardisation activities by influencing the evolution of the different applicable standards and ensuring their proper application to ESA projects.
Duties
As a Flight Software and Functional Validation Engineer, your specific responsibilities will include the following.
Project support:
- You will work as part of ESA project teams, together with satellite and instrument system engineers, providing specialist technical support for real-time embedded software systems, including flight software and the corresponding development and validation facilities.
- You will carry out technical monitoring of the software development life-cycle, including independent verification of industrial outputs, reviews and acceptance.
- You will follow up closely the different functional verification and validation activities at satellite, sub-system and unit levels.
- You will support software system related activities.
- You will participate in the evaluation of industrial proposals and in project reviews.
Technology activities:
- You will participate in defining and implementing the technology programmes within the Section's competence, in particular concerning software architectures, verification & validation and modern engineering methods/tools to improve the development and verification processes for embedded software.
- You will contribute to dissemination of the results of activities performed and knowledge transfer across the Agency.
Standardisation activities:
- You may be called upon to contribute to standardisation activities in the software systems domain.
Technical competencies
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
Education
A master’s degree in computer science, electronics engineering, space systems engineering, telecommunications or a related discipline is required.
Additional requirements
- Considerable experience in real-time embedded software (e.g. SPARC LEON processors, ARM, RISC-V; multicore platforms, IMA/TSP, RTOS).
- Knowledge of all phases of the software development lifecycle (e.g. requirements engineering, design, coding, V&V, functional validations at system level, support to operations, agile methodology).
- Considerable experience in software development projects (e.g. C/C++, Ada and assembly programming languages; SW development environments, SW validation facilities and ground testbeds and support equipment).
- Proven experience in functional verification and validation activities (e.g. specification and development of test facilities and simulation models; definition of test plans, test specifications and test procedures; functional validation performed on avionics and instrument test benches; support to System Validation Test campaigns).
- Spacecraft systems knowledge, and experience with SW development for satellite platforms and/or payloads (e.g. experience with avionics subsystems and integrated flight hardware).
- Proven experience in the management and monitoring of industrial activities (e.g. drafting Statements of Work, user specifications, proposal evaluation, supplier interactions, monitoring progress and quality, acceptance).
- Proven experience with Space Software Engineering Standards and their application, or equivalent standards in other domains.
- A good understanding of modern software engineering methods and tools, R&D trends and the industrial landscape.
Other information
For behavioural competencies expected from ESA staff in general, please refer to the ESA Competency Framework.
For further information please visit: Professionals,What we offerand FAQ
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.
The Agency may require applicants to undergo selection tests.
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 email contact.human.resources@esa.int.
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Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia.
According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates and secondly to external candidates from under-represented or balanced Member States*. (https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/careers/NationalityTargets.pdf)
In accordance with the European Space Agency’s security procedures and as part of the selection process, successful candidates will be required to undergo basic screening before appointment conducted by an external background screening service.
Recruitment will normally be at the first grade in the band (A2); however, if the candidate selected has little or no experience, the position may be filled at A1 level.
*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.