Description

Head of the Ground Software Systems and Functional Verification Section in the Software Systems Division, Systems Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

Reporting to the Head of the Software Systems Division, the Head of the Ground Software Systems and Functional Verification Section is responsible for the management of the Section, its resources and activities.

The Section covers the areas of EGSE, simulators and test benches, their development and validation as well as their use in AIT and AIV for functional verification.

In addition, you will be required to carry out and to contribute to operational activities within the technical domains of the Section, in line with the implementation of the matrix structure for the project support. 

You will also actively support digitalization initiatives within the technical domain of the section.

Duties

As Head of the Ground Software Systems and Functional Verification Section, you will:
•    manage the workforce of the Section, with accountability for all resources and activities delegated to it;
•    maintain and develop the expertise and technical competence of the Section’s staff members to meet current and future strategic needs, taking due account of their motivation, aspirations and professional development with appropriate opportunity for laboratory work;
•    distribute and assign the tasks of the Section to its members, monitoring and managing their performance and providing timely and regular feedback;
•    ensure a positive and motivating working environment within the Section;
•    anticipate and resolve sensitive or difficult situations, liaising with HR as required;
•    contribute to the continuous improvement of working procedures and to the reflection on the evolution of the Section’s role and activities.

The Section provides specific technology expertise, in the context of which, within the terms of reference of the Section, you will be responsible for:
•    supporting ESA project teams in activities relating to the procurement of EGSE and test benches for space systems, subsystems and instruments, including preparation of requirement specifications, monitoring of industrial activities, acceptance of industrial products and participation in project reviews;
•    participating in the definition of standards for the ground system and operations, electrical test facilities and modelling and simulation in the context of ECSS and ESA internal standardisation;
•    conducting the R&D programme relating to your area of competence, including: 
o    software engineering technology applied to all types of EGSE, in particular relating to test procedure languages, supporting infrastructures and database applications;
o    simulation technology and tools for real-time simulation with hardware-in-the-loop and man-in-the-loop, distributed interactive simulation, graphical simulation, visualisation and interactive 3D graphics (virtual/augmented/extended reality);
•    maintaining technical competence in areas of software engineering applied to your domains of responsibility;
•    providing support in the area of AIT and AIV;
•    negotiating, organising and coordinating the specialist support provided by the Section to ESA projects throughout all phases;
•    preparing resource requirements based on needs originating from both inside and outside the Section and resolving conflicting demands on the use of the resources available in the Section;
•    establishing, developing and maintaining good working relationships and technical networks with users, project groups and other organisational bodies both inside and outside the Agency;
•    providing expert technical support and consultancy to all ESA projects, programmes and general studies in the technical domains of the Section;
•    providing an independent technical assessment capability, at both project and Agency level, and supporting project reviews;

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•    providing an independent technical assessment capability, at both project and Agency level, and supporting project reviews;
•    defining, promoting and implementing the technological research programmes;
•    co-ordinating, where applicable, the requirements of technology elements in its domain of competence with the overall requirements of systems being developed under the responsibility of other areas in the Directorate;
•    contributing to the standardisation in the domain of expertise of the section, in particular for modelling and simulation as well as EGSE and its interfaces
•    in line with anticipated technology trends and project needs, defining, promoting and implementing the Section’s contributions to ESA technology programmes and R&D activities;
•    supporting the activities of the relevant Competence Domains, in particular CD08 and CD09;
•    maintaining a state-of-the-art expertise;

Due to the inter-disciplinary nature of test benches and system verification activities, you will be expected to establish and maintain good working relationships and networks with experts in the Directorate from other related disciplines, as well as from other directorates (such as Operations).
rom other related disciplines, as well as from other directorates (such as Operations).

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

Master’s degree in Computer Science with solid experience related to the technical domains of the Section is required, as well as in the definition and specification of technology R&D activities.

Applicants should also have substantial experience in relevant fields of design and technology development.

Additional requirements

•    the potential to manage individuals or a team of experts in a project or R&D setting and the ability to organise their activities;
•    strong leadership capabilities, with proven relationship management and communication skills;
•    the ability to drive their team’s performance, developing their people by encouraging learning, delegating responsibility and giving regular and constructive feedback;
•    strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills;
•    a strong results 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;
•    the ability to represent the Agency in interfaces with industry and government agencies.

Previous people management experience is an asset, as is international experience, i.e. outside the candidate’s home country, and experience in diverse functional areas relevant to the activities of ESA.