About this job

ESA is looking for a Payload System Engineer.

ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. For this purpose, we welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.

Responsibilities

• monitoring industrial activities related to the development, integration, testing and initial operations (commissioning phase) of the assigned science payloads;
• establishing the technical and programmatic requirements;
• negotiating and managing the relevant contracts;
• providing continuous status monitoring for the payload activities, identifying development risks and critical areas, assigning corrective actions, devising solutions for resource conflicts and implementing the necessary changes to the established requirements;
• supporting gradual establishment of the payload baseline, from requirements up to and including end-item verification and definition;
• providing support to contractors in defining and implementing the functional specifications, in defining and controlling the payload external and internal interfaces, the safety aspects, and the compliance with the scientific requirements, and in documenting the verification of all payload requirements;
• supporting and providing inputs to the ISS utilisation and operations teams (including ESA, industry and the USOCs) and project scientists in preparing the operational phase of the payloads;
• providing support for the early assessment of the feasibility of potential new payloads;
• supporting line management in the identification of areas of improvements, suggesting ways forward and potential changes;
• helping coordinate the specialised engineering support provided by the Directorate of Technical and Quality Management, as required;
• supporting technical discussions/negotiations with launch authorities regarding launcher interfaces;
• organising, conducting and supporting project reviews at system, ground segment, and payload level;
• providing support for other ISS Payloads Team activities, as required and relevant to your knowledge and professional experience.

Profile

 
Technical competencies
Knowledge of industrial costs and schedule aspects
Knowledge of ESA and industrial development, verification and procurement processes
Knowledge of other technical domains with interfaces to own area of responsibility
Complex project risk management processes
Extensive knowledge of ESA Space system development and PA standards
Multi-disciplinary knowledge of area of responsibility
Education
A Master’s degree in engineering and/or physics for this position is required.
Additional requirements
You   should   demonstrate a proven ability to co-operate with industrial partners in achieving common goals. You are expected to demonstrate excellent technical and system level coordination skills, and the ability to sum up complex technical information. You should also have:

• good interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively in a diverse team environment;
• negotiating skills;
• a proactive attitude to solving problems and achieving solutions in line with team objectives;
• good communication skills, both verbal and written;
• an interest in innovative technologies;
• a vision for improving overall efficiency of the development process.

A good knowledge of ISS Payloads engineering and operations, experience of managing ISS industrial activities and substantial industrial experience are considered an important asset. 

For a complete job description, click on “apply”.

The closing date for applications is 19 July 2021.

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 contact.human.resources@esa.int.
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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 and Slovenia.

We offer
The European Space Agency (ESA) is an equal opportunities employer that offers competitive salaries exempt from national income tax and excellent employment conditions, such as allowances for expatriates and relocation support. For more information: http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA

About us
We are the European Space Agency. Our mission is the peaceful exploration and use of space for the benefit of everyone. We watch over Earth, develop and launch inspiring and unique space projects, train astronauts and push the boundaries of science and technology, seeking answers to the big questions about the Universe. We are a family of scientists, engineers and business professionals from all over Europe working together in a diverse and multinational environment. We are dedicated to united space in Europe and united Europe in space. Learn more: http://www.esa.int/