About this job

Serco is a leading Space Services Provider with thousands of skilled resources that has supported over 50 space missions on behalf of more than 10 Space or Government agencies around the globe, including the ESA and NASA. Serco offers space capability across the full space lifecycle from satellite testing to Launch services, LEOP to spacecraft operations, space surveillance to data management, and supporting downstream application development. With over 55 years history in the space sector Serco is well placed to contribute to National strategies and New Space ventures who want to scale their businesses/organisations with skilled talent.

We are seeking an End-to-End Simulations Support to EOP for Future Mission and System Studies to work on our Customers Site (ESA-ESTEC) in the Netherlands. This is a fantastic opportunity to get into one of the most sought after space agencies in the world.

Responsibilities

• Support the definition and development of the End-to-End (E2E) Mission Performance Simulators for future EO missions
• Contributing to ensure the technical coherency and completeness of the simulation of the observation system, including, as needed, functional analysis, system level budgeting, system performance analyses, modelling of spacecraft and/or payload subsystems and related data processing to meet system and mission requirements
• Install and use those E2E simulators on the EOP-SF IT infrastructure for mission performance evaluation and system trade-offs for future EO missions,
• Ensure a consistent evolution and maintenance of the E2E simulators and a proper configuration and storage of the relevant input/output data sets.
• Initiate and support work in the area of modelling of system or sub-system aspects (spacecraft, payload, ground processing) for E2E simulators and System Engineering Tools
• Support in the implementation of novel remote sensing techniques to the definition of instrumentation, satellites and space missions.
• Support in the translation of the physical principles of remote sensing techniques into mathematical algorithms for their implementation in simulators (end-to-end mission performance simulators) capable of modelling the transformations experienced by an electromagnetic signal since its interaction with the Earth System up to its transformation into a retrieved geophysical parameter.
• Support the definition, development and implementation of End-to-End Mission Performance Simulators for the preparation and definition of Future Earth Observation missions (i.e. Earth Explorer missions, Copernicus missions and Scout missions).
• Contributing to the definition of the architecture of end-to-end performance simulators ensuring the technical coherence of the simulator architecture and the remote sensing technique used.
• Installation, maintenance, debugging and run of existing end-to-end performance simulators developed for past Earth Observation missions.
• Support the development of generic building blocks and modules for end-to-end mission performance simulators, and aim at maximum synergy and reuse of those building blocks and modules from one end-to-end mission performance simulator to the next making use of ESA OpenSF infrastructure (http://eop-cfi.esa.int/index.php/opensf. ).
• Participate to the development of System Engineering Tools for preliminary analysis and sizing of future EO missions.
• Use the above System Engineering Tools for system trade-offs, preliminary sizing and performance evaluation of future EO missions.

Profile

• Master’s degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant technical or scientific discipline (e.g. engineering, physics, mathematics)
• Minimum 4 years of relevant professional work experience.
• Solid knowledge of the physical and mathematical principles of remote sensing techniques and its modelling is required.
• Solid background on computer programming, demonstrated capability of scientific and or technical coding and code debugging
• Good knowledge of Matlab/Python coding is required; knowledge of another programming language is an asset.
• Demonstrated expertise on space instrument modelling is an asset.
• Demonstrated expertise on retrieval of geophysical parameters is an asset.
• Mathematical knowledge on error propagation is an asset.
• Knowledge of electromagnetic iteration and propagation is an asset.
• General knowledge of ESA Earth Observation missions is an asset.
• Good communication and technical writing skills.
• Good organisation and long term planning skills.
• Capability to coordinate a large amount of inputs, synthesise, summarise and draw conclusions.
• Demonstrated capability to deliver results under pressure and on time is required.
• A proactive approach, with initiative and capability to work independently.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable with working in a diverse and multinational team environment.
• Proficient in the English language, both written and spoken.
• Knowledge of another EU member state language is an asset.
• Candidates must be eligible to work in the EU.

What we offer:

• Competitive Salary
• Corporate Benefits Package
• Support provided to EU Nationals requiring relocation – Information available upon request
• Company events