Description

System and Applications Engineer in the Ground Segment System and Cybersecurity Engineering Section (OPS-GAE), of the System and Applications Engineering Division, in the Ground System Engineering and Innovation Department, Directorate of Operations. 

The Ground Segment System and Cybersecurity Section (OPS-GAE) is responsible for supporting ESA programmes through the management of end-to-end ground segment systems and cybersecurity engineering activities in support of the overall ESA matrix organisation. The Section is also responsible for the overall security engineering management for the Directorate and contributing to its cybersecurity strategy. It leads the system engineering and cybersecurity-related technology and standardisation strategies and manages the necessary developments as part of the ESA technology programmes.

The Systems and Applications Engineering Division is responsible for:

• engineering the software infrastructure, systems and applications required for mission operations or by space programmes for various purposes and managing them end-to-end throughout their lifecycle. The systems include mission control systems, mission planning systems, simulators and data processing systems;
• delivering the systems and providing the associated development, maintenance and user support, in line with customer requirements;
• leading European space sector efforts in the ground system and applications engineering domain, fostering innovation and commercialisation;
• spinning-in advanced technologies and methodologies for system and applications engineering, particularly in key strategic areas such as automation and ground cybersecurity engineering;
• carrying out R&D activities in the Division’s domain of responsibility;
• carrying out the standardisation and European harmonisation efforts in the Division’s domain of responsibility, in particular in international forums such as ECSS and CCSDS;
• managing and transforming the Directorate’s software licensing with a focus on establishing and managing open source communities.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• defining, implementing, maintaining, and evolving systems, applications, and infrastructure for ESA programmes, in particular the Space Safety Programme (S2P). This includes provision of high-level operational data system definitions, software requirement specifications, and interface management;
• leading the ground segment integration and testing activities in particular for S2P and supporting system operational validation;
• supporting ESA programmes, in particular S2P, through the management and execution of engineering projects and management of the related industrial contracts as technical officer. This includes executing the evaluation of proposals, technical reviews, acceptance milestones and progress meetings with industry;
• engaging with the space safety programme teams, external partners and communities to foster cooperation and efficient project execution;
• contributing to the definition of the ground segment technology roadmaps, identification of necessary technology developments, and ensuring their execution through an appropriate funding scheme;
• defining the ground segment system security architectures, ensuring identification and implementation of security controls in response to unacceptable risks and implementing the end-to-end security engineering lifecycle;
• supporting the oversight function of ground segment system security verification and validation activities in line with applicable assurance requirements and the agreed levels of compliance.

Your initial duties will be focused on Space Safety Programme (S2P) system engineering tasks.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

A master’s degree in system engineering, software engineering, or computer science is required for this post.

Additional requirements

A background or experience in the following would be an additional benefit:

• Space safety related ground systems, specifically in the domains of space weather and planetary defence
• Knowledge of innovation processes and the spin-in of innovations into operational systems