Mission Systems Engineer & Performance Lead (EnVision)

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
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands  

EnVision was selected by ESA’s Science Programme Committee as the fifth Medium-class mission in the Agency’s Cosmic Vision plan, with a launch in the early 2030s from ESA’s Spaceport in Kourou, on an Ariane 62 launcher.

EnVision will be the first mission to investigate Venus from its inner core to its upper atmosphere, characterising the interaction between its different envelopes: its atmosphere, surface/subsurface and interior. It aims to provide a holistic view of Venus, studying the planet’s history, activity, and climate. EnVision is an ESA-led mission in partnership with NASA, with NASA providing the Synthetic Aperture Radar (VenSAR) and Deep Space Network support for critical mission phases. 

EnVision’s science payload consists of VenSAR, a dual polarisation S-band radar also operating as microwave radiometer and altimeter, which will map the surface of Venus; three optical spectrometers (VenSpec-M, VenSpec-U and VenSpec-H) designed to observe the surface and atmosphere of Venus; and the Subsurface Radar Sounder (SRS), a High Frequency (HF) sounding radar to probe the top kilometres of subsurface. These are complemented by a Radio Science investigation exploiting the spacecraft Telemetry Tracking and Command (TT&C) system to map the planet’s gravity field and constrain its internal structure, and to measure the composition and structure of Venus’ atmosphere.

The post holder will report directly to the EnVision Project Manager in the Projects Department, within the Directorate of Science.

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• supporting the Project Manager in establishing the Mission Requirement Document (MRD) and in designing the mission to meet agreed scientific and technical requirements;
• ensuring MRD requirements flow-down to each mission segment is properly defined, justified, implemented and verified; flow-down and verification, down to each segment (spacecraft, instruments, launcher, ground segment);
• ensuring all project segments with their technical and programmatic interfaces are correctly defined, implemented and verified;
• develop and maintain the EnVision mission performance simulator;
• interfacing with ESOC regarding the mission trajectory analyses and their impacts on overall mission performance;
• defining, supervising and implementing the interface between the space segment and the Science Operations Centre (SOC) based at ESAC;
• planning and implementing the mission-level reviews;
• coordinating transverse engineering activities (e.g. Aerobraking studies, EMC…) in close cooperation with the Spacecraft Engineering Manager and Payload Manager;
• supporting the Project Manager in the technical assessment of Project Risks;
• ensuring that Lessons Learnt from previous projects are taken into account, and collecting new Lessons Learnt along the course of the Project;
• completing the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for the Project;
• participating in other Project and Department tasks where your experience is relevant.

You will be supported by specialists from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering & Quality.

Broad background in the various technical disciplines involved in space systems

System thinking with solid knowledge and understanding of requirements engineering and maintenance

Management and review of complex system performance budgets

Risk management

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

A Master's degree in engineering or applied physics is required for the post.

You should be:

• self-motivated, system-oriented and able to effectively interact with ESA stakeholders, scientific institutions and industry by building positive relationships;
• solution-oriented, pragmatic and timely decisions of high standard and integrity;
• preferable have knowledge and experience of verification practices tools, notably DOORS. 

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.