EO Future Mission End-to-end System Engineer

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EO Future Mission End-to-end System Engineer

Job Details

Job Requisition ID: 20359 Date Posted: 27 March 2026 Closing Date: 17 April 2026 23:59 CET/CEST Publication: Internal & External Type of Appointment: 4 years, extendable to indefinite Directorate: Earth Observation Programmes Workplace: Noordwijk, NL Location: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

Earth Observation (EO) Future Mission End-to-end System and Performance Engineer in the Mission and System Studies Section, Future Missions and Instruments Division, Future Systems and Architecture Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes (D/EOP).

Reporting to the Head of the Mission and System Studies Section in the Future Missions and Instruments Division, you will be involved with end-to-end preparation of Future EO missions through appropriate engineering, coordination and management activities, working in close cooperation with staff within this and other D/EOP Divisions, notably Earth & Mission Science Division and interacting with Earth Observation Users (e.g. Scientific Mission Advisory Groups).

In particular, you will be appointed as Study Manager for the preparation of EO Future Missions in Phase 0 and/or Phase A.

Duties

Full or partial responsibilities will include some or all of the following duties:

• As Study Manager, defining, negotiating, initiating and managing industrial activities including pre-Phase A and mission/architecture studies for EO future missions (e.g. Earth Explorers, Missions of Opportunity, Copernicus or meteorological missions), including the technical coordination of a small team of engineers.
• As Study Manager, defining, negotiating, initiating and managing Phase A industrial activities for missions not yet approved for implementation (e.g. Earth Explorers, Missions of Opportunity), including the technical coordination of a small team of engineers, and, after approval, ensuring the hand-over to the Project Department for implementation.
• As Technical Officer, defining, negotiating, initiating and managing the Consolidation Phase activities for the Scouts mission not yet approved for implementation and, after approval, ensuring the hand-over to the Project Department for implementation.
• As Technical Officer, defining, negotiating, initiating and managing industrial activities for the preparation and development, up to the end of the in-orbit commissioning phase, of small satellites under the responsibility of the Division devoted to in-orbit proof of concept of innovative EO techniques enabled by disruptive technologies, for example Phi-sats, including technical coordination of a small team of engineers.

Your duties also include:

• Supporting the definition, negotiation, initiation and management of Phase A industrial activities for missions not yet approved for implementation (e.g. Earth Explorers, Scouts, Missions of Opportunity), and, after approval, ensuring the hand-over to the Project Department for implementation.
• Participating in the evaluation of EO small mission proposals in the framework of the InCubed (Investing in Industrial Innovation) Earth Watch Programme Element in collaboration with EOP-S and with other directorates as appropriate; initiating and managing the resulting activities for their derisking and implementation when involving upstream (space segment) development or ensuring their handover to the team responsible for the implementation if not managed by the Division.
• Supporting in the definition, negotiation, initiation and management of industrial activities including pre-Phase A and mission/architecture studies for EO future missions (e.g. Earth Explorers, Missions of Opportunity, Copernicus or meteorological missions).
• Initiating and performing internal studies to assess the results of industrial activities.
• Initiating and performing internal studies to assess the merit of new EO end-to-end mission concepts.
• Defining and updating system and end-to-end performance simulator specifications throughout the preparatory phases of EO missions, in close cooperation with the Earth & Mission Science Division and the relevant Science/Mission Advisory Groups or similar groups to establish the mission requirements and deriving system requirements traceable to mission requirements and user needs.
• Defining, negotiating, initiating and managing or supporting end-to-end performance simulator activities for EO future missions (e.g. Earth Explorers, Missions of Opportunity or Scouts), including the technical coordination of a small team of engineers and scientists.
• Developing of generic building blocks and modules for end-to-end performance simulators aimed at achieving maximum synergy and reuse of those building blocks and modules from one E2E simulator to the next.
• Leading or contributing to the evaluation of industrial and scientific proposals, including those for Earth Explorers, Missions of Opportunity, Scouts and PhiSats.
• Leading or contributing to the preparation of scientific and technical dossiers on EO missions.
• Leading or contributing to the analysis of EO developments undertaken by other space agencies in Europe and worldwide, as well as commercial EO initiatives including "NewSpace".
• Contributing to the specification and development of mission analysis, mission performance and system-sizing tools used in the Division.

Technical Competencies

• Knowledge of ESA and industrial development, verification and procurement processes
• Experience in preparation (Phases 0 and A) of EO missions
• Knowledge of optical and/or microwave remote sensing techniques and understanding of Earth observation user needs
• Background in space engineering with systems orientation and end-to-end view of Earth Observation missions
• Experience in the development of end-to-end mission performance simulation for EO missions

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 together with 4 years of relevant professional experience.

Additional Requirements

• You shall be able to coordinate and iterate with Earth observation users for the definition of mission needs and requirements.
• At least six years' relevant experience in space mission preparation and/or development.
• Experience in working in team/project environment are required.
• Knowledge of EO spaceborne instrumentation is an asset.
• Hands-on experience in satellite integration and test is an asset.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness

ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.

At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at .

In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the master's degree, the position may be filled at A1 level.

During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.

Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.

The information published on ESA's careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.

Opleidingsniveau: WO Carrièreniveau: Ervaren Uren: 1 - 40 uur per week