Senior Ground System and Applications Architect

Job Requisition ID: 19581

Date Posted: 28 May 2025

Closing Date: 18 June 2025 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication: Internal & External

Type of Contract: Permanent

Directorate: Operations

Workplace:

Noordwijk, NL

Grade Band: A2 - A4

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

The ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity, hereinafter referred to as "Secure Connectivity", also "IRIS²", is intended to support the effective development and validation of the EU Secure Connectivity governmental infrastructure and the services provided by it, as well as the validation and demonstration of services based on the commercial infrastructure developed by the contractor(s) delivering the EU Secure Connectivity governmental infrastructure.

The Ground Control Segment belongs to the Ground Segment and is composed mainly of the Satellite Constellation Control Center (S3C) and remote sites, such as telemetry, tracking and command sites.

You will report hierarchically to the Head of the Ground Segment System and Cybersecurity Engineering Section (OPS-GAE) of the System and Applications Engineering Division in the Ground Systems Engineering and Innovation Department of the Directorate of Operations (D/OPS).

You will be part of the IRIS² Ground Segment team in the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communication (D/CSC) and will report functionally to the Head of the Secure Connectivity Ground Segment & Operations Office (CSC-IG).

You will be responsible for all engineering activities to support the effective development and validation of the Ground Control Segment. You will also follow the design, development, verification, validation and qualification of the Satellite Constellation Control Centre, as well as the distribution of the TT&C information to the Space Segment, in line with the operational concept.

You will interface with all Ground Segment team members, and in particular with the:

Lead IRIS² Ground Segment System Engineer;
IRIS² Mission Ground Segment Engineer (in charge of the Mission Control Center);
Operations Engineer;
Secure Connectivity Security Office (CSC-IX) for accreditation and security matters relating to the Control Segment;
IRIS² industrial consortium in charge of designing, implementing and validating the S3C, as well as the rest of the infrastructure for the distribution of the TTC (remote sites);
rest of the D/OPS Ground Segment Engineering and Flight Dynamics team, coordinating their support as required.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

supervising system-level and architectural design of the Constellation Control Center Ground Segment, ensuring alignment with the overall mission architecture and operational and security requirements, as well as their breakdown at lower levels;
ensuring, together with industry, that the main building blocks of the S3C Ground Segment (the simulator, mission planning system, flight dynamic system and platform M&C) meet the operational concept, mission and system requirements;
supervising the main building blocks relating to the distribution of the TT&C to the remote sites, excluding communications lines in accordance with the operational concept;
supervising the development, integration and verification of the S3C by anticipating and building evidence of its qualification;
monitoring of relevant schedules in a proactive manner;
identifying risk and problem areas in the Ground Segment;
supporting risks and problem areas in the System Office;
providing risk assessments and proposing mitigation actions to be performed by industry and on the ESA side;
ensuring end-to-end security engineering activities in liaison with the Security Office;
engaging with internal teams and external partners and striving for efficient project execution in the technical domain in coordination and agreement with the project managers.

Technical competencies

Proven experience in the procurement and integration of ground segments

Demonstrated experience in system engineering

Ability to manage requirements of large space programmes or projects, including breakdown of requirements, tracing of requirements at different levels, changing requirements

Experience in the management and monitoring of industrial activities, including technical and contractual negotiations, as well as management of technical reviews

Experience in managing risks and related associated schedules to mitigate potential project delays

Familiarity with operations automation

Behavioural competencies

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

For more information, please refer to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education

A master's degree in a relevant domain is required for this post.

Additional requirements

Ability to adapt to frequent changes
The Secure Connectivity PSI applies, candidates shall a least have a nationality belonging to one the EU member states
You must be eligible for personal security clearance

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 & eligible to acquire the 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.