Head of the Systems, Strategic Programme Lines and Technology Department

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 A6 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale.

Location
ECSAT, Harwell, United Kingdom  

Reporting to the Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications (CSC), you are responsible for the management of Service and System-driven CSC programmes within the Directorate (with the exception of the Secure Connectivity Programme), the management of Strategic Programmes Lines (SPLs), the management of the ARTES Core Competitiveness (CC) Programme Line, the management of the ARTES “Future Preparation” Generic Programme Line, and the management of the ARTES Partner Component A “Preparatory Activities”, as well as Market Intelligence and Business Development.
You lead the teams responsible for the Moonlight Programme, the Optical and Quantum Programme, the Safety and Security from Space Programme, the Civil Security from Space Programme, the 5G/6G NTN Programme, the Technology and Products and the Future Programmes.
Department activities are implemented according to a matrix organisation with segregation of functions as follows:
The Satellite Programmes Department has delegated responsibility for the procurement of the related space segment activities and, when relevant, the associated ground control segment, in line with the specific Programme roadmaps, development plans and requirements managed by CSC-S at Programme/System level;
The Satellite Programmes Department has responsibility for the management of the satellite project-related space technologies and products under the ARTES Core Competitiveness (CC) Programme Line, in line with roadmaps and work plans coordinated at Directorate level.
The Business Control and Programme Management Support Office provides nominated support for programme/project control, CADM, the Product Assurance and Safety Office for programme/project PA&S functions, and the Security Office for security management functions.
You are supported by ESA technical, functional and integrated support staff, in accordance with relevant service level agreements with the other involved ESA directorates, and establish the appropriate interfaces in relation to the required support with the Heads of Department of the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality and the Directorate of Operations as well as the Head of the ESA Security Office.

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• definition and management of service and system-driven CSC programmes and projects, where ESA holds system-level design authority, and/or requiring end-to-end multidomain programmatic and system-level coordination, such as Moonlight, Civil Security from Space, and Strategic Programme Lines, namely Optical and Quantum, Safety and Security and 5G/6G Non-Terrestrial Satellite Networks;
• definition and maintenance of programme/system-level roadmaps, end-to-end system engineering, security engineering, development plans, and supervision of the related system infrastructure and user equipment procurement, for which the space segment procurement including satellites and launch services and, where relevant, the related ground control segment, is fully delegated to CSC-P;
• definition and maintenance, in coordination with CSC-P, of the overall programmatic baseline (technical, cost and schedule), system technical requirements baseline (functional, performance, operational), including operational requirements, security requirements and external interfaces, applicable to procurement of the overall system infrastructure, namely space and ground segments, and the associated security monitoring and operations, ensuring their overall consistency and traceability;
• ensuring, in coordination with CSC-P, an integrated programmatic system-level schedule management, risk management, and configuration control for the sake of producing and maintaining programme roadmaps, Design, Development and Validation plans (DDVPs), security risk analysis and accreditation files, to ensure delivery of the different system builds to meet the programme objectives;
• definition and management of Strategic Programmes Lines (SPLs) throughout their lifecycle of end-to-end programme implementation, which make use of ARTES 4.0 Generic Programme Line implementing rules (Partnership Projects and Core Competitiveness) for their implementation, including procurement of the related system infrastructure and user equipment, system end-to-end integration, verification and demonstration trials, where the related space segment procurement and, where relevant, the associated ground control segment is delegated to CSC-P;
• management of the ARTES Core Competitiveness (CC) Programme Line, including the definition of technology roadmaps and work plans, in close coordination with CSC-P, and where the management of activities directly related to satellite programmes is delegated to CSC-P;
• management of the ARTES Future Preparation Generic Programme Line, in coordination with CSC-P, including the related elements of the required work plans for both industrial and internal activities;
• management of the ARTES Partner Component A “Preparatory Activities” which aim to support the preparation of industry-initiated Partner Projects;

• initiation (Phases 0/A) of new Connectivity and Secure Communications projects in partnership with private and/or public entities, including with academic and research centres for upstream R&D of innovative and disruptive CSC system concepts and related technologies;
• setting up and evolution of system tools, test beds, demonstration hubs and laboratory facilities in support of programmes, aimed at performing ground validation of related system concepts and technologies, relying on technical support from other directorates as required, and in close collaboration with research institutes at national level, prospective operators and business partners;
• market intelligence and business development;
• consultation with European operators and Primes Key Accounts, regarding their future service portfolios, product lines and future evolutions, in close coordination with CSC-P;
• leading standardisation, regulatory and spectrum engineering support activities for the Directorate, relying on technical support from other directorates, as required;
• contributing to internal and external communication of the Directorate communication for programmes/projects under responsibility of CSC-S.

Multi-disciplinary and comprehensive knowledge of and experience in satellite design, development, verification/testing, launch and in-orbit validation

Proven experience of managing space project development

Knowledge of industrial costs and schedule aspects

Complex project risk management processes

Familiarity with procurement aspects

Knowledge of space mission operations and operations planning

Interaction with European space industry and the European Commission at high level, including contract negotiation

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

A master’s in engineering, physics or a scientific field is required for this post.

You should further have:

• proven experience of leading, motivating and developing a team of experts in a project and R&D environment;
• the ability to provide strategic direction to the individuals and teams within the Department and to relate team objectives to the overall, evolving organisational goals and context;
• the ability to drive performance and foster cooperation within and across teams throughout the organisation;
• demonstrated excellent leadership, relationship management and communication skills, both oral and written;
• a proven track record of representing the Agency’s interests to external interfaces;   excellent cognitive, analytical, delegation, planning and organisational skills;
• the ability to anticipate problems, solve complex issues and relate situations to their context;
• the ability to reach solution-oriented, pragmatic and timely decisions of a high standard and with integrity as well as to support others (team members, upper management, other stakeholders) in this process.

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.

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.  

Applicants must be eligible to access technology and hardware which is subject to European and US export control regulations.

Applicants must be eligible for security clearance by their national security administrations.

Please note that applicants may be required to undergo psychometric testing and other assessments.  

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 at [email protected] .

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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.

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.