Back Spacecraft Engineering Manager (PLATO)

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

Description

PLATO is the third medium-sized mission of the European Space Agency’s Cosmic Vision science programme and is devoted to the search for and characterisation of exoplanets around sun-like stars in their habitable zone.

Reporting directly to the PLATO Project Manager, you will be responsible for continuing the definition and procurement of the PLATO spacecraft and will be in charge of all engineering and operational activities pertaining to the spacecraft.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• coordinating with the Mission and Payload Section to ensure consistency of platform, instrument, subsystem and equipment requirements and interfaces;
• managing the industrial activities and evaluating the proposed designs, hardware and software solutions to ensure full compliance with scientific, technical and programmatic requirements and constraints;
• consolidating, implementing, verifying and maintaining the PLATO space segment requirements, including the satellite-to-instrument, satellite-to-launcher and satellite-to-ground-segment interfaces;
• scrutinising the definition and evolution of all engineering budgets and satellite interfaces and instigating corrective and/or recovery actions where necessary in a timely manner;
• monitoring the specification and procurement of all platform subsystems and equipment and associated verification;
• planning, preparing and implementing the verification programme for the space segment, including chairing the verification control boards;
• managing the interfaces between the spacecraft and the payload module together with the Payload Section;
• providing engineering support in the definition, performance and evaluation of functional and environmental tests;
• ensuring the in-orbit commissioning of the spacecraft to support the overall mission system commissioning;
• managing the Spacecraft Engineering Section, ensuring consistency of approach and objectives across major disciplines, including thermal hardware, structure, power and harness subsystems, RF communication subsystems, AOCS, propulsion, data handling, mechanical engineering, thermal engineering, electrical engineering and software engineering;
• managing the engineering support to the Mission and Payload and AIT Sections as appropriate to maximise efficiency in executing the project;
• assigning performance objectives and assessing the performance of members of the Section, and motivating the team to ensure commitment to project goals as part of your team management responsibilities;
• participating in other tasks of the Project and the Projects Department as requested.

  
  In the execution of these tasks, you will lead a team of project engineers and will liaise closely with the other sections involved in the Project. You will also be supported by specialised engineering support from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

  You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

  Technical competencies Knowledge of the PLATO spacecraft and its environmentExperience in mission, spacecraft and payload verification and operationsKnowledge and experience of ground segment, simulators and early operations, especially the launch and early orbit phase and in-orbit commissioningSatellite systems and ground segment architectureRisk managementExperience in managing technical interfaces between subsystems and scientific payloads

  Behavioural competencies

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

  Education

  A master’s degree in engineering is required.

  Additional requirements

  You will:

  • have experience in satellite in-orbit commissioning and performance verification methodologies;
  • have system engineering experience and knowledge of all phases of the spacecraft development life cycle;
  • have knowledge and experience of verification practice tools, notably DOORS (desirable);
  • be self-motivated, system-oriented and able to effectively interact with ESA stakeholders, scientific institutions and industry by building positive relationships;
  • be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks under your responsibility.

    
    As this post is for a Section Head, the required managerial competencies include:

    📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

    ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

    • proven experience of leading, motivating and developing a team of senior engineers;
    • proven ability to provide strategic direction to the individuals and teams within the Project and relate team objectives to the overall and evolving organisational goals and context;
    • a proven ability to drive performance and foster cooperation within and across teams throughout the organisation;
    • demonstrated excellent leadership, relationship management and communication skills, both oral and written;
    • a proven track record of representing the Agency’s interests to external interfaces;
    • proven excellent cognitive, analytical, delegation, planning and organisational skills;
    • the ability to anticipate problems, resolve complex issues and relate situations to their context;
    • a proven ability to make solution-oriented, pragmatic and timely decisions of a high standard and integrity, as well as supporting others, such as team members, upper management and other stakeholders, in this process.

      International experience is an asset, i.e., outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.

      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 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.