Earth Observation Systems Architect Officer
JOB DETAIL
Vacancy in the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.
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
Reporting to the Head of the System Architect Office, you will be at the heart of tasks that will establish and maintain a reference architecture for European Earth observation (EO) systems. This will encompass research missions, operational missions, multilateral national and commercial systems, non-orbiting platforms and in situ assets. Your role will entail mapping the EO programmatic vision of Member States and stakeholders, exploring new and future EO domains with an observatory function, and conducting periodic observation gap analysis and impact studies. The aim of these activities is to support the formulation of the EOP strategy.
Duties
Your tasks and responsibilities will include:
- conducting, in close dialogue with users and stakeholders, system-of-systems engineering analyses to assess the scientific, technological, industrial and operational synergies of all such EO assets, with the final goal of maximising the return on investment in future missions;
- conducting periodic observation gap analyses and/or impact studies to support the formulation of the EOP strategy;
- establishing the high-level user needs, constraints and interests for different mission types, consulting across a wide spectrum of different actors, including national and commercial entities;
- identifying programmatic capacities, overlaps and links, and the means of supporting their evolution into synergies;
- mapping industrial capacities for upstream/downstream segments, documenting and analysing basic constraints for industrial motivation at national and European level;
- conducting (system-of-systems) engineering analyses to assess the scientific, technological, industrial and operational synergies of existing and planned EO assets and to propose optimisation for their combined application;
- leveraging active external networks, explore new and future EO domains with an observatory function, permanently search for innovation and gather information on technology evolution, including benchmarking activities in relation to other organisations/systems;
- analysing technical and economic issues and trends under new EO sectorial initiatives to assess the relevant feasibility, i.e.:
- estimating the scientific, operational, strategic and economic impact of new services and products and their applications;
- trading off different scenarios allowing for their integration into existing infrastructure in terms of cost, risk, affordability and available programmatic lines;
- identifying an appropriate procurement scheme and private sector involvement.
Technical competencies
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
Education
A master’s degree in engineering, mathematics or physics is required.
Additional requirements
A minimum of five years’ experience in EO activities is required.
You should have a demonstrated ability for collection, analysis and synthesis of information of varying types (technical, scientific or economic) and from various sources.
A deep knowledge of synergies between complementary Earth observation techniques will be an asset. You will be familiar with current and future planned satellite missions, including instruments, technologies and user and stakeholder needs and plans, both at ESA and within relevant international programmes and commercial Earth observation entities. Particular importance will be attached to your ability to work closely with international experts and relevant scientific, industrial and political organisations and bodies and function in a team environment, as well as your level of familiarity with the programmatic outlook in the ESA FutureEO, Earth Watch and Copernicus domains.
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 offer and 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 [email protected].
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, Slovakia 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 Member States*.
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.
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.
*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.
