Description

Space Debris Mitigation and Re-entry Safety Engineer in the Independent Safety Office, Product Assurance and Safety Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

The Independent Safety Office is responsible for overseeing the development, implementation, maintenance and certification of compliance with ESA policies, requirements and standards, as well as providing the related support to ESA projects in:
• human spaceflight safety
• space debris mitigation 
• re-entry safety 
• nuclear safety for applications in space
• planetary protection.

Duties

You will report to the Head of the Independent Safety Office within the technical fields described above, and your main tasks and responsibilities will include:

• updating the ESA Space Debris Mitigation Policy, maintaining the space debris mitigation compliance verification guidelines and related requirements, and overseeing their implementation;
• supporting the Head of the Independent Safety Office on matters related to space debris mitigation;
• providing technical expertise and interacting with relevant European and international partner space agencies and international bodies for the definition of space debris mitigation and re-entry safety rules and processes;
• providing technical expertise and consultancy on ESA projects as regards compliance with the technical requirements related to ESA policy on space debris mitigation and re-entry safety;
• leading the independent evaluation of compliance of ESA missions with the ESA Space Debris Mitigation Policy, statutory requirements and international obligations;
• advising the Head of the Independent Safety Office on the implications of programmatic decisions involving risks to compliance with space debris mitigation and re-entry safety requirements;
• providing technical expertise on the maintenance and development of ECSS standards related to space debris mitigation and re-entry safety;
• providing technical expertise, for ESA’s Technology Programmes, on the definition of technology development requirements and work plans related to space debris mitigation and re-entry safety, in close cooperation with the Lead Engineers in your Directorate;
• monitoring applicable scientific and technological trends, and maintaining state-of-the-art expertise in space debris mitigation and re-entry safety issues;
• regular reporting at ESA corporate and programme level on compliance with the ESA space debris mitigation and re-entry safety requirements;
• keeping abreast of technologies and methodologies related to space debris mitigation, reliability predictions and safety.

Your duties may also include performing other activities within your field of competence

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

A master’s in engineering or a related scientific discipline is required.

Additional requirements

Knowledge of ESA space debris mitigation and re-entry safety requirements and experience with their implementation.

Excellent written and oral communication skills.