Description

Earth Observation (EO) Future Missions Spacecraft Platform Engineer in the Future Missions and Instruments Division of the Future Missions and Architecture Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes (D/EOP).

Duties

Reporting to the Head of the Technology Coordination and Frequency Management Section, you will work in close cooperation with other staff members of the Future Missions and Instruments Division and the Future Missions and Architecture Department (EOP-F). You will also liaise very closely with the EO Projects Department (EOP-P) and with the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality (D/TEC).
 
Your duties will include responsibility for the following tasks related to Earth observation (EO) technology:

• identifying technology needs for the EO spacecraft platform based on space system requirements, lessons learned from previous and ongoing EO missions, as well as general technology trends including potential spin-in from other industrial sectors, in close collaboration with EOP-P and D/TEC;
• defining the evolution of generic EO spacecraft platform product lines (e.g. data handling, AOCS, onboard software, power, propulsion or communications with the ground segment) by European industry in collaboration with other sections in the Future Missions and Instruments Division, EOP-P and D/TEC;
• defining, negotiating, initiating and managing technology industrial development activities, as well as conducting internal studies, in the area of generic EO spacecraft platforms for the preparation of EO future missions, in coordination with the other sections of the Division, EOP-P and D/TEC;
• supporting EO future missions preparation through the participation in the evaluation of proposals in response to calls, reviews, assessment of industrial results, etc.;
• supporting the adoption of the generic system requirements baseline (such as SRD, OIRD or ECSS standards) tailored to the mission classification, in support of the EO spacecraft platform baseline’s evolution, in close coordination with EOP-P and D/TEC;
• supporting the adoption of digitalisation in the project life cycle (such as model-based system engineering and MBSE), and the onboarding of relevant new EO spacecraft platform technologies, in close coordination with EOP-P and other directorates;
• maintaining and improving the Earth 0bservation technology databases to facilitate internal coordination within the Division and Department and with external stakeholders.

 
When performing these tasks, you will interact closely with representatives of industry and other space agencies.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

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

Additional requirements

• A relevant Earth observation background and at least five years of experience in mission system engineering are required.
• Experience of working in a team or project environment is required.
• You are expected to be thorough in your approach, open to innovation and to be able to contribute to a dynamic and creative environment in preparatory phases of EO future missions.
• You should have good interpersonal skills and be able to work and interact within small teams as well as autonomously.
• Experience in spaceborne platform technologies and familiarity with EO remote sensing techniques would be an asset.