Description

TRUTHS, a new Earth Watch element of the ESA Earth Observation Programme, is an operational climate mission aimed at enhancing by an order of magnitude our ability to estimate the Earth radiation budget through direct measurements and at establishing a “metrology laboratory in space”, to create a fiducial SI traceable (International System of units) reference data set and to cross-calibrate other sensors, improving the quality of their data. The Payload complement of TRUTHS is composed by HIS, a Hyperspectral Imaging Spectrometer and CSAR/OBCS a Cryogenic Solar Absolute Radiometer (CSAR) and associated On-Board Calibration System (OBCS). The platform is baselined to be a recurrent of a HPCM satellite (CRISTAL). The Ground Segment will be located in the UK, with complementary PDGS services at ESRIN, Frascati, Italy for implementation of ESA’s data access policy.

The TRUTHS project is currently in Phase B2/Advance C, aimed at de-risking the payload and its innovative technologies, consolidating the satellite design at system level, including the interface towards the Ground and Launch Segments, and verifying the challenging performance requirements for achievement of the mission objectives. Upon successful PDR Part I, excluding platform units, which are considered recurrent and will be procured starting from Phase C, the Advance Phase C will be launched to continue the activities on the critical path and to secure the schedule of Phase C/D/E1. Subject to a positive outcome at CM25, the procurement of Phase C/D/E1 will begin, aiming for a launch in early 2030. In the scope of Phase C, PDR Part II, including all platform units, will be conducted about three months after kick-off.

The TRUTHS Satellite and Engineering Manager will report to the TRUTHS Project Manager. You will be in charge of functionally leading and coordinating support from other engineers working on the project and specialised technical support from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality (D/TEC).

Duties

The TRUTHS Satellite and Engineering Manager is in charge of the TRUTHS platform procurement and the design, development and verification of the satellite, including the coordination of all engineering disciplines within the TRUTHS project.

Your principal tasks and responsibilities will include:

• responsibility for the entire B2/Advance C and CDE1 phases (design, development, launch campaign and commissioning) of the platform and satellite, ensuring the timely availability of validated flight hardware for launch;
• leading the evaluation of the TRUTHS satellite design to assess the level of recurrence from the CRISTAL platform achieved in PDR Part I;
• preparing, evaluating and negotiating the CDE1 phase of the end-to-end TRUTHS satellite procurement for platform aspects and all engineering disciplines;
• responsibility for the design and timely procurement of the spacecraft subsystems, including structure, thermal, propulsion, mechanisms, power generation and storage and avionics (AOCS, data handling and communications);
• ensuring coordination and consistency of approach across major engineering disciplines in respect of the TRUTHS satellite platform and payload, including:
  • structural and mechanical engineering; thermal engineering;
  • mechanisms;
  • the propulsion subsystem;
  • power and harness engineering;
  • electrical design engineering;
  • the data handling subsystem;
  • telecommunications engineering;
  • electromagnetic compatibility and RF compatibility engineering.

Duties Continued

• coordinating closely with other sections to ensure consistency of platform, payload, subsystem and equipment requirements and interfaces; in particular, cooperating with the System team to implement all satellite elements in the MBSE (Model-Based Systems Engineering) model of TRUTHS;
• coordinating closely with other sections to ensure consistency of the AOCS hardware development at satellite level with the mission needs;
• supervising all aspects of on-board software definition, development and verification, ensuring provision for the required observability, operability and maintainability features for the System and Ops team;
• assessing and reviewing the satellite architecture, design and verification, including identification and analysis of design drivers and options for cost/schedule optimisation, and taking account of sustainability aspects, for example by supporting life cycle analysis in coordination with the System team, the end-of-life and disposal phase and, more generally, implementation of ESA’s Clean Space policy;
• ensuring early definition and specification of GSE and test facilities for the satellite, taking particular care in identifying potential schedule conflicts with other programmes if re-use/sharing of GSE from other satellites is proposed by the industrial contractor;
• monitoring platform and satellite procurement industrial work, ensuring the timely resolution of any engineering-related non-conformance or anomaly requiring expert support;
• monitoring and review of AIT/AIV activities at satellite level to ensure their timely completion for the TRUTHS satellite;
• reviewing the schedule critical path, instigating timely corrective and/or recovery actions where necessary;
• supervising the definition and evolution of all engineering budgets and satellite interfaces, ensuring coherence with the payload interface and launcher constraints;
• ensuring coherence and compatibility between the satellite design and the launcher interface definition;
• coordinating the launcher interface definition for the TRUTHS launch and procurement of the launch service, including the launcher adapter, fostering the search for a potential small satellite co-passenger with the launcher authority;
• preparing and managing the launch campaign;
• supporting general project reporting tasks, such as weekly and monthly flashes and QSRs.
• supporting the building up and subsequently leading the Satellite and Engineering team, including the definition of day-to-day tasks and objectives as well as the setting of annual performance objectives and their assessment (including training needs), ensuring staff motivation and commitment to the project’s goal.

You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

A master’s degree in an engineering discipline is required for this post.

Additional requirements

Familiarity with the MBSE method and techniques is considered an asset.

You should, in addition, have:

• the potential to manage individuals or a team in a project setting;
• the ability to organise individual and team activities and ensure a motivating work environment;
• strong leadership capabilities, with proven relationship management and communication skills;
• the ability to drive your team’s performance, developing your people by encouraging learning, delegating responsibility and giving regular and constructive feedback;
• strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills;
• a strong result orientation with the ability to set priorities and present practical solutions both orally and in writing;
• the ability to manage challenging situations proactively and constructively and to be customer-focused.

People management experience is an asset, as is international experience, i.e. outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.