Description

DestinE System Integration and Validation Engineer in the Copernicus Ground Segment Systems Section, Copernicus Ground Segment and Data Management Division, Earth Observation Mission Management and Ground Segment Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.

You will be a member of the DestinE and Digital Twin Earth (DTE) projects under the responsibility of the DestinE and DTE Project Manager.

As part of the ESA Earth Observation framework, ESA, together with its partners and the European Earth Observation and Information Technology industries, is developing a digital ecosystem of Copernicus and DestinE data management and modelling services to foster user exploitation activities as well as the growth of a sustainable industrial network of services.
ESA contributes to the development of this ecosystem by defining the necessary strategic development objectives, and by procuring products and services from industry and supporting new industrial projects.
ESA also supports the integration of ESA Member States or European Union environments and platforms, maximising synergy between European and national initiatives and optimising the user experience.

Duties

To successfully achieve the projects’ objectives, you will be responsible for system integration and validation, ensuring that the ecosystem’s components, systems and services work together seamlessly, in line with performance, security and reliability standards.

You will report to the Head of Copernicus Ground Segment Systems Section and have the following duties:

• Planning and implementing system integration and validation;
• Designing integration points and interfaces between various ecosystem components, identifying dependencies and potential challenges in the integration process;
• Managing the implementation of system integration, driving performance, adoption, economic and environmental sustainability, security and compliance with relevant regulations, while optimising costs and ensuring high-quality services;
• Optimising the overall system’s performance by analysing and optimising the performance of integrated systems and implementing improvements to enhance overall system efficiency and responsiveness;
• Ensuring the availability of comprehensive system integration and validation documentation, supporting adherence to industry standards, as well as supporting the APIs;
• Reporting on the system integration and validation status, performance and plans and supporting the reporting on the ecosystem development;
• Handling the technical coordination and collaboration with the other project areas to resolve integration-related problems;
• Planning and supporting the adoption of ecosystem services by a large user-community;
• Planning and supporting communication activities;
• Planning and supporting the evolution of the ecosystem services including co-design activities;
• Specifying and procuring the necessary tools or services to support the tasks;
• Managing procurements, including preparation of tender documentation and evaluation of industrial proposals, such as for tools or services;
• Negotiating and managing industrial contracts related to your area of responsibility, for instance by verifying and accepting industrial outputs and planning milestones;
• Acting as the main point of contact with industry for all matters related to your area of responsibility;
• Supporting and participating in technical reviews;
• Identifying risks and mitigation actions related to your area of responsibility;
• Providing expert technical support to Copernicus Ground Segment and DestinE teams;
• Participating in project reviews, including verifying industrial outputs, reviews and acceptance;
• Monitoring applicable technological trends and maintaining state-of-the-art expertise;
• Contributing to the dissemination of the results of the activities performed and to the transfer of knowledge and lessons learned within ESA;
• Coordinating activities performed in collaboration with European industry and the academic world, promoting ESA’s activities to students, researchers and universities, while stimulating cross-fertilisation and new ideas;
• Supporting the ESA Earth Observation quality system for the definition and maintenance of the Copernicus, DestinE and ESA DTE quality programme of work.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

A master’s degree in a relevant domain is required for this post.

Additional requirements

The following competencies would be considered assets:

• high-level motivation and dedication, taking ownership and acting proactively;
• five years of experience in an international context and large projects.

You should also have:

• strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills
• strong result orientation with the ability to set priorities and present practical solutions both orally and in writing
• the ability to manage challenging situations proactively and constructively and to be customer focused.

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