Product Assurance and Safety Engineer

Job Requisition ID:  19239
Date Posted:  13 January 2025
Closing Date:  3 February 2025 23:59 CET/CEST
Publication:  Internal & External
Type of Contract Permanent
Directorate:  Technology, Engineering and Quality
Workplace: 

Noordwijk, NL

Grade Band A2 - A4

 

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands  

Description

You will be assigned as Product Assurance and Safety (PA&S) Engineer in the Product Assurance Management Section, Quality and Product Assurance Management Division, Quality Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality. 


The Section provides functional support to ESA projects and technology developments and is also responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of PA&S engineering and management programmes. It carries out technological research (R&D) in the fields of PA&S management, techniques, methodologies and tools. It collaborates on standardisation and training activities and is a main contributor to the ESA Mission Classification initiative.

Duties

Reporting to the Head of Section and within the technical fields described above, your main tasks and responsibilities when taking up duties at ESA will include:

 

  • providing expertise to ESA projects, programmes and technology development programme activities in the field of PA&S engineering and management; 
  • contributing to the Division’s activities relating to the definition and implementation of the ESA Mission Classification initiative;
  • preparing and implementing general and project-specific programmatic and technical requirements based on the applicable product and quality assurance baseline;
  • monitoring and reporting of supplier PA&S programme execution to ensure compliance with applicable requirements; this includes auditing activities;
  • contributing to management and technical boards relating to the execution and review of project PA&S programmes; 
  • defining, initiating and managing R&D activities relating to product and quality assurance, requirements, techniques, methodologies and tools, covering long- and short-term needs;
  • establishing and implementing standards and best practices in the product and quality assurance field; 
  • contributing to and, at the request of line management, participating in the Directorate’s competence domains; 
  • implementing the configuration management system under ESA projects; 
  • monitoring applicable scientific and technological trends, maintaining state-of-the-art expertise; 
  • disseminating the results of activities performed and the transfer of knowledge across the Agency. 


Duties may also include the performance other activities within your field of competence.

Technical competencies

Experience in the technical domains covered by the position
Understanding of related technologies, R&D trends and familiarity with the industrial landscape
Experience in the management and monitoring of industrial activities, including participation as an expert in project corporate reviews
Experience with Space Quality Standards and their preparation and implementation

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 an engineering discipline is required for this post.

Additional requirements

Solid experience in the technical domains covered by the position. 
Experience in quality auditing or assessor certification is considered 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 technology and hardware which is subject to European and US export control regulations & security clearance by their national security administrations.

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. 

According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates and secondly to external candidates from under-represented Member States*. 

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.  

*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.