Description

If selected for this position, you will be assigned as integrated support from the Product Assurance and Safety Department to the Directorate of Navigation and will report to the Head of the Navigation Product Assurance and Safety Office for the specific responsibilities and duties outlined below.

For the maintenance of professional standards, the implementation of the ESA general Product Assurance and Safety (PA&S)(*) policy and for contributions to corporate tasks (e.g. reviews, standardisation, alerts, lessons learned, etc.), you will report to the Head of the Product Assurance and Safety Department through the Head of the Navigation Product Assurance and Safety Office.

Training and familiarisation with the Product Assurance and Safety Department's mandate, processes and procedures will be provided at the start of this assignment if required.

Duties

The Head of the EGNOS Product Assurance and Safety Unit is responsible for managing a team of PA&S engineers assigned to the EGNOS project. The specific responsibilities and duties of this Unit include: 

•    managing the Unit workforce with accountability for all resources and activities delegated, while also having due regard for the motivation, aspirations and professional   development of its members;
•    managing the integrated and functional support staff assigned to the Unit from the Product Assurance and Safety Department, coordinating the work of the Unit members and monitoring their performance;
•    anticipating and resolving sensitive or difficult situations, liaising with Human Resources as required;
•    establishing and maintaining the project PA&S requirements baseline for all elements of the EGNOS system in compliance with the ESA general PA&S policy and the specific standards and EU regulations (e.g. Single European Sky regulations) applicable to the EGNOS programme; 
•    reviewing contractors’ plans, specifications and effort proposed for the execution of the project PA&S programme; 
•    guiding and monitoring the implementation of PA&S requirements by contractors in order to assess performance/effectiveness, participating in design reviews and directing the necessary preventive or corrective actions;
•    representing ESA in the boards established within the project for the disposition of non-conformances, failure reviews, test reviews, etc.;
•    ensuring the implementation of the dependability and safety requirements baseline across the EGNOS project; 
•    ensuring the implementation of the software PA requirements baseline across the EGNOS project;
•    guiding and monitoring the application and procurement of EEE parts, materials and processes and controlling the implementation of applicable requirements;
•    monitoring the manufacturing, integration and test activities through quality assurance audits, mandatory and key inspection points, test witnessing and configuration inspections;
•    supporting the assessment of the qualification strategy in order to ensure the completeness and correctness of the system’s certification dossier;
•    supporting the definition of the formal acceptance requirements and conduct of acceptance reviews of all assigned contractual deliverable items;
•    ensuring the preparation of system design trade-offs, analyses and reports, using RAMS; data to support project decisions; 
•    ensuring consistency between safety and security;
•    supporting security activities as required;
•    supporting, as required, activities relating to standardisation, accreditation and certification;
•    supporting the maintenance of the NAV QMS (quality management system).

In the execution of these tasks, you will be supported by experts from the ESA Directorates of Navigation and of Technology, Engineering and Quality. 

In addition to the project responsibilities, you will support the NAV PA&S Office activities as necessary, including improvement initiatives and coordination meetings. 

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

A master’s degree in engineering or technical sciences is required for this post.

Additional requirements

A background in space systems is required and experience in the security domain is desirable.

A good knowledge of RAMS engineering techniques, preferably in the domain of aerospace development.

Previous management experience is an asset; otherwise, demonstrated potential for team management is required.

Candidates should have good leadership, interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work autonomously, effectively and cooperatively in a diverse and international team environment and to define and implement solutions in line with project, team and individual objectives. In addition, they should have good analytical, organisational and reporting skills, a proactive attitude to solving problems, and an interest in innovative technologies.

Security clearance from the relevant national security administration is required.

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these two languages is required. Knowledge of another Member State language is an asset.