Flight Software Engineer
JOB DETAIL
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 is a non-renewable post for a limited duration of 4 years and is classified A2-A4 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale.
Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
Description
Flight Software Engineer in the Flight Software Systems Section, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality (D/TEC).
This vacancy is for a post in 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 missions and satellites at ESA, covering 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 and has contributed to the success of ESA missions such as Rosetta, Galileo, Juice, Earth observation Sentinels missions, meteorological missions and many others.
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 use state-of-the-art technologies efficiently. The goal is to guarantee the quality standards 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 and model-based engineering).
The Section also participates actively in standardisation activities by influencing the evolution of the various applicable standards and ensuring their proper application in ESA projects.
Duties
You will participate, with ESA teams and various industrial partners, in the specification, design, development and testing of the real-time embedded software on board ESA spacecraft. Your challenge will be twofold: supporting multiple programmes across ESA, from their definition phase till launch, in monitoring the related industrial activities; and defining as well as implementing R&D activities. Your specific responsibilities will include the following:
Project support:
– You will work alongside satellite and instrument system engineers within ESA project teams, providing specialist technical support for real-time embedded software systems, including flight software and the corresponding development and validation facilities.
– You will perform the technical monitoring of the software development lifecycle, including independent verification of industrial outputs, reviews and acceptance.
– You will follow up closely the different functional verification and validation activities at satellite, subsystem and unit level.
– 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 area of responsibility, particularly as regards software architectures, verification and validation and modern engineering methods/tools to improve the development and verification processes for embedded software.
– You will contribute to the dissemination of the results of activities performed and knowledge transfer across the Agency.
Standardisation activities:
– You may be required 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 in computer science, electronics engineering, space systems engineering, telecommunications or a related discipline is required.
Additional requirements
- Strong experience in real-time embedded software (such as SPARC LEON processors, ARM, RISC-V, multicore platforms, IMA/TSP and RTOS).
- Knowledge of all phases of the software development lifecycle (including requirements engineering, design, coding, validation and verification, functional validations at system level, support for operations and agile methodology).
- Strong experience in software development projects (such as C/C++, Ada and assembly programming languages, software development environments, software validation facilities, ground testbeds and support equipment).
- 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 validations performed on avionics and instrument test benches; and support for system validation test campaigns).
- Knowledge of spacecraft systems and experience with software development for satellite platforms and/or payloads (such as experience with avionics subsystems and integrated flight hardware).
- Proven experience in the management and monitoring of industrial activities (such as writing the statements of work, user specifications, proposal evaluation, supplier interactions, monitoring progress and quality, and acceptance).
- 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, ISVV guide, ECSS-E-ST-70-41C, ECSS-E-ST-10C, ECSS Handbooks and Savoir specifications would be an additional asset).
- A good understanding of modern software engineering methods and tools, R&D trends and the industrial landscape (such as verification and validation methods and tools, code generation tools, model-based software engineering and agile development approaches).
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 at [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.
