Lead Space Segment Engineer

Description

Lead Space Segment Engineer within the Earth Observation Projects Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes. You will be responsible for end-to-end space segment engineering and industrial oversight, ensuring coherent specification, design, development, verification, launch preparation and in‑orbit validation of spacecraft and associated equipment in compliance with technical, programmatic, cost and schedule requirements. Currently, we are looking for Lead Space Segment Engineers for three projects and missions in the Earth Observation Projects Department:

Sterna is the operational follow‑on to the Arctic Weather Satellite (AWS) and forms part of the EPS‑Sterna programme implemented in cooperation with EUMETSAT. The programme’s objective is a constellation of 20 satellites deployed across three orbital planes to ensure long‑term operational meteorological services. Within Sterna, the Lead Space Segment Engineer supports system design consolidation, the implementation of lessons learned from the AWS, and procurement activities, while ensuring coherence between platform and payload, including the management of space‑to‑ground interfaces.

CHIME (Copernicus Hyperspectral Imaging Mission for the Environment) provides hyperspectral imaging data to support environmental monitoring, agriculture and climate services within the Copernicus programme. Within CHIME, the Lead Space Segment Engineer is technically responsible for space segment engineering and AIV/AIT definition and implementation, and may act as Deputy to the Spacecraft and AIV Manager.

The Next Generation Gravity Mission (NGGM) is ESA’s contribution to the ESA‑NASA MAGIC constellation, aiming to monitor Earth’s gravity field variations using laser interferometry and drag‑free control systems. Within NGGM, the Lead Space Segment Engineer supports tasks related to design, development and verification of NGGM satellites within the area of expertise and may act as Deputy to the NGGM Spacecraft and AIV Manager.

Your main tasks and activities will include:

• contributing to the management of industrial activities by leading or supporting the specification, design, procurement, development, integration, verification and acceptance of spacecraft, platform, payload and equipment hardware (including ground support equipment where applicable) throughout the project lifetime;
• monitoring industrial progress and design evolution at spacecraft, platform and equipment levels, ensuring consistency with technical and programmatic requirements within the area of responsibility;
• consolidating and maintaining internal and external satellite interfaces, including launcher interfaces;
• ensuring traceability and coherence from system level to subsystem/equipment level and maintaining technical engineering budgets (mass, power, thermal, EMC, data, etc.);
• monitoring and coordinating industrial verification activities, including resolution of non‑conformances, anomalies, and support the assessment of deviations and waivers;
• coordinating with the Product Assurance and AIT teams during integration and testing activities;
• supporting preparation and implementation of major project reviews within the technical scope of your position;
• supporting launch campaign preparation and implementation, as well as in‑orbit commissioning and verification activities;
• providing regular reporting, identifying technical risk areas, and proposing and monitoring mitigation measures;
• contributing to schedule management and proposing schedule risk mitigation actions;
• coordinating specialised engineering support from relevant ESA directorates and interfacing with external partners where applicable.

Your duties may also include supporting other activities within your field of competence within the Earth Observation Projects Department.

• Multidisciplinary technical knowledge and experience in space segment engineering, including related PA standards
• Knowledge and experience in spacecraft design, development, integration and verification
• Experience in managing and monitoring industrial activities in ESA project environments
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