Description

This post is in the Ground Software Systems and Functional Verification Section, a group of around 25 highly motivated experts in ground software engineering as well as assembly, integration and testing for space systems. They provide technical support for the development and the functional verification and validation of the hardware, software and data for all missions and satellites at ESA. With this support, they contribute to the success of ESA missions such as Rosetta, Galileo, JUICE, Sentinel Earth observation missions, meteorological missions and many more. They also support space transportation, space engineering and technology, operations and space safety missions.

The Section is also responsible for defining, initiating and managing technology research and development (R&D) activities in its field of expertise to ensure that future missions will use state-of-the-art technologies efficiently to guarantee the quality necessary for space systems and to enable increased functionality in a properly verified manner (covering subjects such as software verification and validation methods and processes, modern software architectures and frameworks, new generation processors, model-based engineering, etc.). 

The Section also participates actively in standardisation activities, by influencing the evolution of the different applicable standards and by ensuring their proper application in ESA projects.

Duties

If selected for this position, you will report to the Head of the Ground Software Systems and Functional Verification Section. 
The Section’s core activity involves providing support to ESA programmes for assembly, integration and testing and in the development of simulation and modelling infrastructure, system concept and mission planning simulation tool support, verification test benches for functional verification, software verification and validation facilities, EGSE procurement and ground facilities software in general as well as virtual reality and visualisation applications. 
The Section is also the focal point for the development of the avionic test benches, EGSE and database reference facilities of the Avionic System Laboratory.

Your duties will include:
 
Project support: 
•    Working within ESA project teams together with satellite and instrument system engineers, providing specialist technical support for assembly, integration and testing as well as functional verification and validation, including ground software and the corresponding development and validation facilities, and more specifically simulators;
•    Monitoring industry AIT and AIV activities, including active participation in test campaigns and key development milestones;
•    Providing support to projects on the procurement, development and utilisation of EGSE systems, including problem-solving, interfaces with external systems and verification and acceptance of industrial outputs;
•    Supporting ground software system-related activities;
•    Participating in the evaluation of industrial proposals and in project reviews.

Technology activities: 
•    Participating in the definition and execution of the research activities in the domain of the Section, in particular related to simulator architectures, EGSE systems, data modelling, software verification and validation methods and modern software engineering methods and tools to improve the development and qualification process;
•    Supporting the maintenance and future development of reference facilities as part of the Software Systems Laboratory covering simulators, software test benches and EGSE;
•    Contributing to the dissemination of the results of activities performed and knowledge transfer across the Agency. 

Standardisation activities:
•    Contributing to standardisation activities in the ground software systems domain, mainly in the context of the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS), European Cooperation for Space Standardisation (ECSS) and ESA internal standardisation. 

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, aerospace engineering, telecommunications or a related discipline is required.
•    Background and experience in simulation facilities, verification, validation and test systems (including embedded real-time systems), electrical testing and space system database engineering.
 

Additional requirements

•    Spacecraft systems knowledge and experience with satellite platforms and/or payloads (e.g. experience with avionics subsystems and integrated flight hardware);

•    Proven experience in functional verification and validation activities (such as specification and development of test means and simulation models; definition of test plans, test specifications and test procedures; functional validation performed on avionics and instrument test benches; support for system validation test campaigns, etc.)

•    Proven experience in the management and monitoring of industrial activities (e.g. drafting of statements of work, user specifications, proposal evaluations, supplier interactions, monitoring progress and quality, acceptance, etc.) 

•    Proven experience with space software engineering standards and their application, or equivalent standards in other domains (experience with specific standards and guidelines such as ECSS-E-ST-40C, ECSS-Q-ST-80C, ECSS-E-ST-70-41C, ECSS-E-ST-70-31/32, ECSS-E-40-07, ECSS-E-ST-10-21 or ECSS-E-ST-10C would be an additional asset)

•    Understanding of modern software engineering methods and tools, R&D trends and the industrial landscape (for example verification and validation methods and tools, code generation tools, model-based software engineering, agile development approaches, etc.)