Copernicus LSTM and CHIME Lead End-to-End Performance Engineer
Noordwijk, NL
Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
Description
Lead E2E Performance Engineer for the Copernicus LSTM (Land Surface Temperature Monitoring) and CHIME (Copernicus Hyperspectral Imaging Mission for the Environment) missions, presently in phase C/D.
The assignment covers the activities related to Phases C/D/E1 for prototype and recurrent satellite(s) for both missions, including storage, where applicable.
You will report to the respective System Managers for all technical and programmatic matters and will work within the respective Project teams.
You will technically lead the CHIME and LSTM end-to-end system performance activities, managing the Observation Performance Simulator (OPSI) and the End-to-End (E2E) simulator, monitoring their evolution and support their verification and validation until the completion of the in-orbit Cal/Val and Commissioning, including the planning of the in-orbit commissioning activities. In coordination with the System Managers, you will interface with the Flight Operations Segment and the Ground Segment to ensure a proper coordination regarding operations and ground segment matters.
You will interface with and receive support from other engineers working on the Projects, as well as benefiting from specialised technical support from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality (D/TEC).
Duties
Your main tasks and responsibilities will be adapted on each project and will include:
- managing, in coordination with the Project team, the end-to-end performance requirements (including allocation to subsystems), performance budgets and performance models, in line with mission requirements and the space segment design;
- interfacing with the Mission Scientist for the maintenance and evolution of mission requirements and the operations concept;
- establishing and maintaining, in coordination with the LSTM and CHIME System Managers, the end-to-end architecture and operations concept, in line with mission requirements and the space segment design;
- leading the OPSI development, securing the schedule and ensuring that its architecture is appropriate to the mission needs;
- leading the E2E simulator development and managing its interfaces with OPSI, L2 prototype processor and mission performance consolidation study activities;
- coordinating the preparation and execution of the calibration and characterisation, as well as the payload science and ancillary data processing, both for pre-flight activities and during in-flight commissioning;
- interfacing with the Flight Operations Segment and Ground Segment teams as well as other partners (such as the Calibration/Validation teams) to coordinate the definition and implementation of the in-flight commissioning performance verification activities;
- coordinating the cross-verification of instrument/payload data with simulator data, processing and analysing the auxiliary data required for product generation, and supporting anomaly investigations;
- monitoring the end-to-end data flow, through the instrument/payload and spacecraft subsystems up to OPSI processing;
- supporting LSTM and CHIME System Managers for the technical interface between ESA and partner organisations, leading, when necessary, dedicated activities and/or working groups;
- providing regular reporting to Project Management on all aspects of competence, identifying risks and problem areas and proposing mitigation actions, where appropriate;
- contributing to the management of the schedule and proposing schedule risk mitigation actions;
- supporting the System Managers in reporting the systems-related aspects of the mission to the Mission Advisory Groups (MAG);
- following up programmatic aspects as delegated by the LSTM and CHIME System Managers;
- coordinating specialised engineering support from the ESA Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality in the relevant areas under your responsibility.
Technical competencies
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook
Education
A master's degree in a relevant scientific/engineering discipline is required for this post.
Additional requirements
For this position, specific expertise in the definition of mission operational concepts 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, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged. 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 contact.human.resources@esa.int.
Important Information and Disclaimer
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.
Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.
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.
Nationality and Languages
Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.
When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates.
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.