Head of the AOCS and Pointing Systems Section

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands  

Head of the AOCS and Pointing Systems Section in the GNC, AOCS and Pointing Division, Systems Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

You will report to the Head of the GNC, AOCS and Pointing Division, and be responsible for the management of the Section, its resources and activities. In addition, you will be required to carry out and contribute to operational activities in the technical domains within the Section’s areas of responsibility.

The Section covers the design and implementation of attitude and orbit control systems (AOCS) and pointing systems for all space vehicles dedicated to Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications and integrated applications, and science missions, together with related IOD/IOV missions.

The Section is in charge of the following activities:

• Planning, initiating and managing R&D activities in the area of AOCS and pointing systems (including advanced control and estimation techniques, machine learning techniques, high accuracy and high stability pointing, AOCS development process and tools, AOCS systems digitalisation, AOCS FDIR, and AOCS integration in avionics systems);
• Contributing to R&D roadmap harmonisation, related working groups (e.g. SAVOIR and MB4SE) and other networking initiatives in the area of AOCS and pointing systems;
• Preparing, maintaining and promoting ECSS and other engineering standards and handbooks in the area of AOCS and pointing systems;
• Providing support for the evaluation of industrial proposals in the area of AOCS and pointing systems;
• Providing support to projects on the design and implementation of AOCS and pointing systems, including testing in the AOCS and pointing systems laboratory, when applicable;
• Contributing to functional avionics activities, including functional verification;
• Contributing to activities and support in the domain of in-orbit analyses, lessons learned and knowledge management;
• Developing and operating the AOCS and pointing systems facilities in order to support R&D activities and project investigations as well as external customers;
• Developing, integrating and maintaining all elements required to support end-to-end AOCS and pointing systems testing, including hardware, software and simulation models;
• Contributing to the development of the AOCS and pointing systems facilities in order to be able to provide a set of services to external customers in line with the Directorate’s strategy of outsourcing laboratory usage;
• Contributing to the definition of the AOCS and pointing systems facilities budget;
• Contributing to the maintenance of ISO certification.

• Ensuring a positive and motivating working environment for the Section;
• Managing the workforce of the Section with accountability for all resources and activities delegated to the Section;
• Maintaining and developing the expertise and technical competence of the Section’s members to meet current and future strategic needs, taking due account of their motivation, aspirations and professional development and mobility with appropriate opportunity for laboratory work;
• Distributing and assigning the tasks of the Section to its members, monitoring and managing their performance and providing timely and regular feedback;
• Anticipating and resolving sensitive or difficult situations, liaising with HR as required;
• Negotiating, organising and coordinating the specialist support provided by the Section to ESA projects throughout all phases;
• Preparing resource requirements based on needs originating from both inside and outside the Section and resolving conflicting demands on the use of the resources available to and within the Section;
• Establishing, developing and maintaining good working relationships and technical networks with users, project groups and other organisational bodies both inside and outside the Agency;
• Contributing to the continuous improvement of working procedures and to the reflection on the evolution of the Section’s role and activities.

In line with the terms of reference of the Section, you will be responsible for the following:

• Providing expert technical support and consultancy to all ESA projects, programmes and general studies in the technical domains for which the Section is responsible;
• Providing an independent technical assessment capability, at both project and Agency level, and supporting project reviews;
• Defining, promoting and implementing the technological research programmes;
• Coordinating, where applicable, the requirements of technology elements in your domain of competence with the overall requirements of systems being developed under the responsibility of other areas in the Directorate;
• In line with anticipated technology trends and project needs, defining, promoting and implementing the Section’s contributions to ESA technology programmes and R&D activities;
• Supporting the activities of the relevant Competence Domains and Working Groups;
• Maintaining state-of-the-art expertise;
• Supporting standardisation efforts (ECSS E60 branch and SAVOIR initiative);
• Managing the Section laboratory facilities in coordination with the other entities of the Division and more particularly with the AOCS and GNC Sensors Unit;
• Identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

As Head of Section, you will ensure proper coordination and collaboration with the other sections and experts in the Directorate from disciplines in relation to AOCS and pointing systems.
Your roles and responsibilities are subject to further evolution as part of the ESA transformation.

Knowledge of relevant technical domains

Experience in supporting ESA programmes/projects and knowledge of their technical and programmatic requirements in relevant technical domains

Knowledge of the industrial landscape and ability to define technology development roadmaps, identifying future trends in technology requirements

Experience in driving R&D activities, as well as knowledge of the ESA technology programmes

Experience in ESA procurement processes and contract management as well as applied negotiation skills

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

A master’s in control or aerospace engineering is required for this post.

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of AOCS and pointing systems and the related design, development, verification and testing activities, as well as solid knowledge of advanced AOCS and pointing systems-related techniques and software/hardware components technology, for the range of missions covered by the Section.

You should also have the following:

• The potential to manage individuals or a team of experts in a project or R&D setting;
• The ability to organise their 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;
• 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 would be an asset, as would international experience, i.e. outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness 
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.

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 via email at [email protected] .
Important Information and Disclaimer
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.

Applicants must be eligible to access technology and hardware which is subject to European and US export control regulations & security clearance by their national security administrations.

During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.

Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.

The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have. 

Nationality and Languages 
Please note that applications can only be 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 *. 

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.
*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.