Aurora Project Manager

About

As part of the Space Safety Programme and its Space Weather pillar, ESA plans to implement a four-satellite constellation (called Aurora-C) to monitor the auroral oval for operational space weather applications, enabling the observation of the impact of the solar wind and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) on Earth's magnetosphere and upper atmosphere. Impacts may trigger geomagnetic storms and sub-storms when hitting the Earth. The constellation will serve as an important element to enhance space weather nowcasting and forecasting capabilities in Europe.

As a first step and to demonstrate the feasibility of the constellation, a demonstrator mission called Aurora-D is being developed. This mission consists of a single spacecraft representative of the Aurora-C satellite to the maximum extent, in a representative orbit, including all the instruments.

As a Project Manager, you will report to the Head of the Space Safety Missions Office, Space Safety Programme Office, Directorate of Operations.

The Space Safety Missions Office of the Space Safety Programme Office is responsible for the implementation, Phase B2/C/D/E of several missions of the Space Safety Programme, one of which is the Aurora-D mission, as well as the future Aurora-C constellation.

Duties

Your key responsibilities will include:

• End-to-end procurement for Phase B2/C/D/E of the Aurora-D mission
• Hands-on technical management of the Aurora-D project, covering the development of the space segment and ground segment, in compliance with the agreed technical and programmatic requirements in terms of cost, schedule and georeturn, as well as with the future constellation
• Management of the industrial Aurora-D contract(s), including the negotiation of any changes, in coordination with the Contract Officer and the Project Controller
• Planning and active control of the Cost at Completion of the project
• Planning and allocating all the resources for the project
• Planning and active control of the schedule; implementation of schedule risk mitigation and recovery actions when required
• Reporting regularly to management and escalating problems when required
• Supporting the Head of Division with:
  • ESA Programme Boards
  • ESA internal committees (AFC/IPC)
  • Interfaces with the Member States
  • Preparation of the Council meeting at ministerial level
• Interfacing with the user community and with other relevant external stakeholders
• Linking with the Space Weather Office of the Space Safety Programme Office as required
• Participating in preparatory activities for the Aurora constellation as required
• Applying pragmatic decision-making processes to balance ideal solutions with project constraints
• Sharing experience and knowledge with industry in a constructive and result-oriented manner
• Capturing and sharing the lessons-learned with other project managers within the Division, and with other teams in the Department

Technical competencies

• More than 10 years of hands-on experience in payload/spacecraft Phase B2/C/D/E
• Payload development experience, including in AIT/AIV
• System engineering and PA standards
• Complex project risk management processes
• Knowledge of ESA and industrial procurement, development and verification processes
• Knowledge of industrial cost and schedule aspects

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

A master's degree in engineering or a related field is required for this post.

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