Science Operations System Engineer
JOB DETAIL
Vacancy in the Directorate of Science.
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
ESAC, Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain
Description
The European Space Agency maintains a world-leading Science Programme with missions in heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics and fundamental physics. Its mission is to “Empower Europe to lead space science”.
The Science and Operations Department (SCI-S) within ESA’s Directorate of Science hosts the scientists and engineers that oversee the space missions from study to end of operations. It develops the science operation systems for the missions and operates the missions in space, as well as archiving and curating their data during operations and beyond. Our main objective is to maximise the scientific output of the missions for the benefit of humankind.
As Science Operations System Engineer, you are supporting/leading the design, implementation and testing of the science ground system, in particular the science operation centres of our science missions. You will initially be assigned to the JUICE mission and report to the JUICE Science Operations Development Manager in the Operations Development Division.
JUICE (JUpiter ICy moons Explorer) is an ESA interplanetary mission in development scheduled for launch in April 2023. In 2031, the spacecraft will reach the Jupiter system and spend about four years making detailed observations of the giant gas planet and its three large ocean-bearing moons – Ganymede, Callisto and Europa.
Duties
You will be responsible for the science operations system engineering activities of the JUICE mission for the remainder of the development and operations phases in the Science Operation Centre (SOC), the ESA component of the Science Ground Segment (SGS). The SOC, based at ESAC (Madrid, Spain), is responsible for the science planning, data processing and archiving activities of ESA’s contribution to the mission’s science operations. The Mission Operations Centre (MOC), based at ESOC (Darmstadt, Germany), is responsible for all spacecraft operations.
You will work in close collaboration with the Project Teams, Project Scientist, Mission Operations Centres at ESOC and the Instruments Teams.
Your specific responsibilities will include:
- setting up and maintaining the system engineering processes at the JUICE Science Operations Centre (SOC) and supporting in this matter the entire Science Ground Segment (SGS) during the development and operations phases;
- defining, formalising and maintaining the required JUICE SOC interfaces, with the Instrument Teams and the Mission Operations Centre;
- leading the overall JUICE science operations integration and testing of the uplink and downlink systems, and coordinating the JUICE SGS test campaigns, monitoring the contributions expected from the instruments teams and performing jointly the end-to-end validation campaigns;
- Contributing to the definition and population of the operations plan and associated operational procedures within the SOC and across the wider Science Ground Segment elements;
- maintaining and adapting the overall architecture and the system configuration during the cruise and nominal JUICE mission phases;
- In charge of the JUICE Quick-Look analysis systems during the cruise phase;
- keeping abreast of technological developments in software engineering to detect potential applications within the Science and Operations Department and provide inputs on the strategic and technical long-term evolution of software supporting Science Operations;
- Other tasks related to the Department’s activities in science operations.
It is anticipated that your position will evolve to also support cross-mission solutions for science ground-segments and potentially further planetary missions in development in the division (i.e. BepiColombo, EnVision, …).
Technical competencies
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
Education
A master’s degree in engineering, software engineering, data science, space science or space applications is required for the post.
Additional requirements
The following would be considered assets for this position:
- Experience in the development and execution of science operations, preferably for large space- or ground-based international projects;
- Experience in project management in development activities involving multiple interfaces in the context of space science;
- Experience in designing scalable and distributed systems for science operations;
- Experience with the Planetary Data System PDS4 format for science instruments on interplanetary probes.
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.
Recruitment will normally be at the first grade in the band (A2); however, if the candidate selected has little or no experience, the position may be filled at A1 level.
*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.
