Senior AITV engineer

Vacancy in the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

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  

AITV Engineer in the Ground Software Systems and Functional Verification Section, Software Systems Division, Systems Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality. If selected for this position, you will be assigned as integrated support to the function of Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) Senior AITV (Assembly, Integration, Testing, and Verification) Engineer in the MTG Project Division, Earth Observation Projects Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.

Reporting to the ESA Meteosat Engineering and AITV Manager, you will be responsible for monitoring and coordinating the AITV activities of the development and flight models of the MTG satellites and instruments to ensure their timely availability in accordance with programmatic and quality needs.

Tasks and responsibilities include:

• reporting regularly to the Engineering and AITV Manager, escalating technical, programmatic and personnel issues as appropriate;
• liaising and coordinating with the AITV Function Coordinator as necessary to ensure a consistent and harmonised AITV approach throughout the programme;
• supporting the continuous lessons learned process throughout all AITV phases of all main modules and spacecraft (instruments, platforms and satellites) to ensure that lessons learned are shared and implemented between both the MTG-I and MTG-S organisations at all levels;
• supporting the AITV Function Coordinator in the management of MTG AITV knowledge, experience and lessons learned to safeguard the activities planned after the long-term storage phase;
• ensuring that all specific AITV constraints for the long-term storage of all main module constituent parts (including GSE) are suitably observed and implemented;
• acting as a focal point for all necessary aspects of the preparation, implementation and evaluation of development and flight model instrument and satellite AITV activities as defined by the Engineering and AITV Manager;
• close monitoring of the progress of industrial AITV activities, ensuring the timely preparation of all tests across instrument and satellite (P)FMs, providing early warning of major problem areas and anomalies (either test- or process-related) and ensuring that appropriate mitigation actions are identified and implemented;
• coordinating the necessary support from the MTG Engineering, Payload, System and Product Assurance (PA) teams for the industrial AITV activities, as well as other specialist support as appropriate;
• participating in TRRs, PTRs and, when requested, TRBs and IRRs/NRBs, ensuring that the necessary specialist support from the ESA team is notified/available (as appropriate);
• ensuring that the required control and formalism of test configurations and procedures are applied by industry in coordination with ESA Product Assurance/Quality Assurance to maintain strict control over formal processes applied;
• supporting MTG project reviews;
• supporting the launch campaign and LEOP/commissioning activities as defined within the associated organisational documentation for each launch.

As integrated support, you will have the opportunity to work with a technical team of specialists in the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality, who are supporting other ESA missions in the same domain. You will also participate in periodic meetings with the parent Section, contributing to the transfer of technical knowledge and lessons learned across the Agency.

Experience of assembly, integration, test and verification activities, processes and methods at satellite and instrument levels

Multi-disciplinary knowledge of the satellite level technical domains for AITV aspects

Knowledge of space system development, verification, and PA standards

Knowledge of cost and schedule aspects related to satellite and payload AITV

Experience of the management and monitoring of industrial activities, including participation in reviews

Experience in launch campaign

Result Orientation

Operational Efficiency

Fostering Cooperation

Relationship Management

Continuous Improvement

Forward Thinking

A master’s degree in engineering is required for this post.

You will also be required to:

• have experience of working in a space segment project team environment as the focal point for AITV activities at both instrument and satellite levels;
• demonstrate good interpersonal skills and strong communication skills to coordinate technical experts and to provide regular and constructive feedback;
• anticipate problems and propose solutions consistent with the programmatic needs;
• show flexibility in dealing with day-to-day operational challenges while demonstrating strong planning and organisational skills;
• have a strong result orientation, including presenting solutions orally and in writing;
• have proven experience in the space industry, including international experience, i.e. outside your home country;
• have hands-on (hardware) experience at satellite level, including GSE and tests;
• have optical payload development experience.

AITV experience is considered to be a significant asset.

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 or balanced 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.