Description

Navigation Principal System Engineer in the Commercial User Segment and Navigation System Validation Section, Radio Frequency Systems Division, Electrical Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

The Commercial User Segment and Navigation System Validation Section provides functional support to ESA projects. The Section covers the design, development and testing of pre-commercial and commercial ground (user/infrastructure) equipment. It provides support to the implementation and testing of the satellite navigation, telecommunications and Earth observation systems falling within the Division’s terms of reference, and it is responsible for the development of dedicated test facilities. The Section supports both institutional and commercial programmes and it relies on ad hoc support from specialists from other sections in the Directorate.

You will report to the Head of the Commercial User Segment and Navigation System Validation Section and to the Moonlight NAV Manager, within the technical fields described above.

As Navigation Principal System Engineer, you will initially be assigned to the Moonlight/LCNS (Lunar Communication Navigation Service) Programme to provide support. For this main task, you will work under the coordination of the Moonlight NAV Manager who is responsible for all of the ESA Directorate of Navigation-related aspects of the Moonlight Programme activities. For this primary task, you will be part of the Moonlight Project Team (based at ESCAT Harwell).

The Moonlight/LCNS Programme aims to develop a dedicated lunar-based communication and navigation infrastructure and 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

Your primary task will be to provide support to the Moonlight Project as Navigation System Principal Engineer. Your duties will include the following:

• Leading the Moonlight end-to-end navigation chain system engineering activities, including design, development and qualification, as well as on-ground and in-orbit validation and deployment, throughout the space, Earth, ground and user segments;
• Being responsible for navigation chain service and system requirements, design drivers, and technical and performance indicators;
• Ensuring the correct flow-down and consistency of the Moonlight ESA navigation service requirements to system and lower-level requirements, specifications and design;
• Supporting system internal and external interface definitions (IRD and ICD);
• Following up, as part of the Moonlight project team, related industrial activities, including industry-level reviews, in relation to the navigation end-to-end chain;
• Being responsible for the Moonlight navigation system performance budgets;
• Supporting Moonlight service and system operational concepts (including the FDIR strategy) in the area of navigation;
• Supporting the definition of the user concept of operations and user requirements, in the area of navigation;
• Supporting the definition and implementation of the LCNS system integration, verification and LCNS service validation programme with emphasis on the end-to-end navigation chain performance;
• Supporting the Moonlight Programme on Moonlight PNT-related standardisation activities;
• Contributing to the security-related aspects of the navigation chain and services;
• Providing technical support for the appropriate integration of Moonlight navigation services into other ESA missions (such as Argonaut/EL3 and Smallsat/Cubesat);
• Supporting the definition and management of new R&D activities covering both long- and short-term needs related to lunar navigation systems and potential complementary lunar-surface elements.

Other more general tasks and responsibilities will include:

• providing expert technical support and consultancy to ESA projects, programmes and general studies in the field of navigation throughout all project phases;
• participating in feasibility studies, project reviews and evaluation of procurement proposals;
• identifying critical development problems and assisting in their resolution;
• contributing to the definition of technology development requirements and work plans for the Agency’s technology programmes;
• defining, initiating and managing R&D activities covering both long- and short-term needs;
• fostering new application areas for multidisciplinary activities, placing emphasis on innovative concepts, cutting-edge technologies and system architectures;
• carrying out laboratory activities as required;
• 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.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

A master’s in telecommunications engineering, navigation, computer science or aerospace is required for this post.

Additional requirements

A very solid background and experience in several of the following fields is required:

• Global navigation systems (such as Galileo), GNSS signals, associated receiver technologies and standards
• Organisation of testing campaigns and end-to-end validation of complex systems
• Technologies and subsystem architecture related to the ground segments of complex satellite systems.
• Precise orbit determination and timing synchronisation techniques for navigation systems
• Design, development and application of complex space navigation systems, as navigation chain lead

Expertise and some professional experience in lunar and extra-terrestrial positioning, navigation and timing, would be considered an asset, including in:

• systems, techniques and algorithms for navigation to the Moon and on the Moon
• ODTS techniques for Moon navigation