The Programmes in Preparation and Development Department (PRD) manages the development of next-generation programmes in various phases of development in addition to other activities. This includes the EUMETSAT Polar System Second Generation (EPS-SG), Meteosat Third Generation (MTG), current and future Altimetry Missions (Jason-CS and others), Small Satellites & Constellations, and other Sentinel missions.

Within PRD and the relevant cross-departmental governance bodies, the Systems Performance Expert (SPE) post will focus on the implementation of EUMETSAT’s Multi-Mission Ground System (MMGS) approach across programmes. The post involves the definition and implementation of standardized performance analysis of end-to-end functional chains and harmonizing the integration and validation process of shared assets and ground segment facilities and systems. The post also serves as a functional system end to end technology expert, to support both mid-term strategies, including industry acceptance requirements as well as long-term strategic planning involving the evolution of technology in functional chains, data access methodologies such as Cloud/Big Data, and advanced technologies like AI and Machine Learning (AI-ML) when impacting the overall performance and efficiency of the systems and programmes in development. The SPE will work in close coordination with the ground system functional areas experts in the Technical and Scientific Support department.

Duties

• Serve as a cross-programme technical expert to define the scope of functional chains that are standardized (and not subject to customization) and other elements that require mission-specific customization. Define the formats and performance standards of the mission-specific elements of a functional chain.
• Act as a technical authority, providing guidance across programmes on technical analysis, implementation, testing, and acceptance in the above functional domains.
• Support the implementation of a cross-departmental approach and lead the technical deployment and optimization of DevOps tools to enhance integration, verification, and validation (IVV) processes for end-to-end functional chains, facilitating a streamlined and automated testing environment for programmes in development.
• Conduct performance analysis and monitoring of end-to-end functional chains under development, leveraging the available experience in the organization in performance optimization of instrument processor prototypes as well as data processing, telemetry and tele-commanding systems.
• Support the ground system functional area experts in the Technical and Scientific Support department in sizing of infrastructure and IT capacity relevant to development, integration and validation environments.

• Assist in determining infrastructure and processing requirements and managing processing capacity based on detailed analysis of performance of resource usage, needs and projections.
• Support cross-programme end-to-end IVV concept definition by establishing a cohesive IVV strategy from Phase A to Phase D, defining and implementing requirements, models, integration, verification, and validation frameworks (e.g., through automation and/or AI chains).
• Assess emerging space technologies and evaluate their impact on ground systems and functional chains for programmes in development and preparation.
• Contribute to a shared assets assessment and a roadmap, defining and analysing shared assets and release development life cycles, focusing on procurement, development (including security and quality compliance), and integration processes in collaboration with suppliers.

Skills and Experience

• Proven experience in space system engineering for the development of complex near-real-time operational systems, with direct experience in software engineering and technical management across different life-cycle phases according to ECSS standards.
• Significant experience in space system performance analysis of one or more end-to-end functional chains (e.g., Instrument Data Simulators, Processor Prototypes, Telemetry or Tele-commanding) with proficiency in implementing tools for the performance analysis of both software and infrastructure.
• Experience in formal waterfall, as well as CI/CD methodologies for development, IVV, and acceptance.
• Hands-on experience in interface definition and software architecture design is advantageous.
• Proficiency in tailoring and implementing engineering processes for the development of ground systems and proven technical project management capability in managing medium-sized teams and services.
• Desirable certifications in PRINCE 2, and knowledge of microservices and AI.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work both autonomously and as part of a team.