Radio Navigation Projects Ground Segment Engineer

Vacancy in the Directorate of Navigation.

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  

With a resident assignment to Toulouse (France)

Radio Navigation Projects Ground Segment Engineer in the Commercial User Segment and Navigation Systems Validation Section, Radio Frequency Systems Division, Electrical Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality. You will be assigned as integrated support to the Development and IVQ section, EGNOS and SBAS Division, Galileo and EGNOS Programme Department, Directorate of Navigation. The assignment as integrated support has an initial duration of 3 years, with the possibility of extension. In case of no extension, you will be assigned back to the parent directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

You will functionally report to the ASECNA EGNOS Project Lead. As Ground Segment Engineer for ASECNA’s EGNOS-SBAS project, you will be primarily responsible for the monitoring of Real Time Safety Critical Navchain Subsystems (NPS, NRS) development activities. This is an activity performed by ESA to provide support to a third-party international agency, ASECNA, in line with an international agreement signed by ASECNA and ESA in 2022.

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• monitoring the specification, design, procurement and development of all software and related hardware for ASECNA-SBAS Navigation Reference Stations (NRS) and for Navigation Processing Systems (NPS)
• interacting with ASECNA-SBAS prime contractors, and development subcontractors
• ensuring, in cooperation with ASECNA-SBAS Project team, the compliance of all the COTS, the software and the hardware with the technical and performance requirements of the overall system
• supporting the system, safety and AIVQ engineers in the area of expertise
• reporting to the ASECNA SBAS Project Lead on NRS and NPS status, progress or issues
• supporting ASECNA-SBAS Project team in Project level reviews
• supporting the preparation of quarterly reports and other technical elements to ASECNA
• supporting the project procurement activities in the area of NRS and NPS, namely contribution to the preparation of SoWs or Change Requests and to the assessment of Change Notices
• supporting other navigation critical segments engineers in the area of expertise
• contributing to EGNOS Division Research and Development activities by supporting navigation experimentations and proposing improvements for the various Navigation Test Beds activities
• participating in periodic meetings with the parent section, contributing to the transfer of technical knowledge and lessons learned across the Agency.

Knowledge of the Civil Aviation domain (mission, organization, standards, etc..)

Knowledge and experience in the fields of Navigation and related data collection, data processing and performances aspects

Knowledge and Experience in the area of GNSS Receivers, including GNSS PVT algorithms, signal processing techniques and antennae

Knowledge and experience in the field of GNSS RF environment characterization and technologies to improve robustness to degraded RF conditions

Knowledge of safety critical software development

Experience with industrial procurement and development, verification process and conduction of reviews

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

A master's degree in telecommunications, electronic engineering or computer science for this post is required.

You have at least 5 years of proven experience in the fields of Satellite Navigation and related data collection and data processing ground segments.

Experience in SBAS Systems, in safety critical software development and verification is an asset. Experience in real-time embedded software would be an advantage.

Experience with industrial procurement and development, verification process and conduction of reviews are valuable attributes, as well as the knowledge of the Aviation context (Mission, Standard, actors, etc.).

You should have good interpersonal and communication skills. You should be able to work autonomously, effectively and cooperatively in a diverse, international team environment and to define and implement solutions in line with team and individual objectives and project deadlines.

You should also have good analytical, organisational and reporting skills, a proactive attitude to solving problems and an interest in innovative technologies.

You are willing to travel and thrive in a demanding international environment.

Fluency in French is a strong advantage.

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 for security clearance by their national security administrations.

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 contact.human.resources@esa.int .

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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. 

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. 

*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.