Navigation Payload Principal 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 post is classified A2–A4 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale.
Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands with resident assignment at ECSAT, Harwell, United Kingdom
Description
Navigation Payload Principal Engineer, RF Payload Engineering and Digital Equipment Section, RF Payloads and Technology Division, Electrical Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.
The RF Payload Engineering and Digital Equipment Section provides functional support to ESA projects and carries out technological research and development (R&D) in the field(s) of telecommunication payloads and subsystems, microwave and millimetre wave remote sensing instruments and navigation payloads exploiting analogue, digital and optical on-board technologies. Additionally, the Section covers the research, design, development and testing of radio frequency digital equipment as well as payload signal and data processing techniques for RF payloads and microwave remote sensing instruments.
Your primary assignment will be to provide support to the Moonlight/LCNS (Lunar Communication Navigation Service) Programme as Moonlight NAV Payload Principal Engineer. For this main task, you will work under the coordination of the Moonlight NAV Manager, who is responsible for all of Navigation-related aspects of the Moonlight Programme activities. For this primary task, you will be formally integrated in the Moonlight Project Team (based at ECSAT, Harwell), reporting there to the Moonlight Space Segment Manager on a day-to-day basis.
The Moonlight/LCNS Programme aims to develop a dedicated lunar-based communication and navigation infrastructure and to provide the associated lunar services. As part of the lunar navigation services, the use of GNSS technologies is envisaged, as is the development of a dedicated lunar-based constellation
Duties
Reporting to both the Head of Section and the aforementioned managers in the Moonlight Programme within the technical fields described above, your main tasks and responsibilities will include:
- providing support as Navigation Principal Payload Engineer for the Moonlight Project, including, in particular:
- supporting the procurement of the Moonlight navigation payload elements:
- managing and controlling Moonlight navigation payload requirements;
- monitoring and controlling Moonlight navigation payload performance allocation and budgeting;
- participating in the Moonlight navigation payload procurement process;
- monitoring all aspects of the Moonlight navigation payload development (design, implementation and verification/testing);
- following-up the qualification and acceptance verification activities, also identifying the necessary breadboarding and model-philosophy approach;
- assessing payload and system navigation performance during all project phases;
- interacting with ESA unit-equipment specialists (such as for clocks and antennas), as necessary for the complete navigation payload development.
- supporting associated project management, risk, quality and reporting tasks:
- participating in project reviews;
- participating in proposal and change request evaluations, as wells negotiations;
- identifying and assessing technical and programmatic risks;
- assessing ad following-up on requirement deviations and non-conformance;
- assessing the development schedule;
- reporting on input provision.
- supporting the procurement of the Moonlight navigation payload elements:
- contributing to the overall architectural definition, specification, development and verification of the Moonlight RF navigation payloads and instruments, contributing also to the associated system trade-offs;
- supporting the identification of navigation payload associated feared events, as well as their detection and mitigation;
- contributing to the consolidation of Moonlight navigation signal definition and associated standardisation work;
- contributing to the navigation payload due integration into the Moonlight satellite associated platforms;
- defining the technological requirements of Moonlight radio frequency navigation payloads and microwave instruments, including digital on-board processing payload equipment, in co-operation with ESA’s specialists in the various domains;
- participating in feasibility studies, project reviews and evaluation of procurement proposals;
- identifying critical development problems and assisting in their resolution;
- supporting the definition and management of new R&D activities covering both long- and short-term needs related to lunar navigation payload technologies and potential complementary lunar-surface elements;
- contributing to the definition of technology development requirements and work plans for the Agency’s technology programmes;
- fostering new application areas for multidisciplinary activities, placing emphasis on innovative concepts, cutting-edge technologies and system architectures;
- monitoring applicable scientific and technological trends and maintaining state-of-the-art expertise;
- contributing to the dissemination of the results of the activities performed and the transfer of knowledge across the Agency.
Your duties may also include supporting other activities within your field of competence.
You will be integrated in the Moonlight Project Team at ECSAT, Harwell (UK), but will be required to travel regularly to ESTEC, Noordwijk, (Netherlands) for coordinating with other members of the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality and the Directorate of Navigation.
Technical competencies
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
Education
A master’s degree in telecommunications, electronics or radio frequency/microwave engineering is required for this post.
Additional requirements
A very good understanding of RF payloads for navigation space applications (including the functionality, architectures and key performance parameter specification and evaluation) is required.
Solid, hands-on experience in RF and digital payload development (and related subsystems) integrated in a project/procurement environment is required.
A very good knowledge of on-board digital signal processing techniques and technologies for RF payloads and microwave instruments would be considered an asset.
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.
