Copernicus LSTM Lead Space Segment Engineer

Description

Lead Space Segment Engineer for the Copernicus Land Surface Temperature Monitoring (LSTM) mission in the Earth Observation Projects Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes (D/EOP).

LSTM is one of the Copernicus Expansion missions developed jointly by ESA and the European Commission to provide high-resolution thermal infrared observations for the monitoring of land surface temperature. The mission supports sustainable agriculture and water resource management through the provision of frequent and accurate measurements of evapotranspiration and related land surface parameters.

Both PFM and FM2 satellites are currently in Phase D. Integration, verification and qualification activities are ongoing at platform, instrument and satellite level.

As part of the ESA project team, you will support the execution and monitoring of the LSTM space segment development, with a particular focus on satellite engineering, industrial coordination, verification activities and technical risk management throughout the development, qualification, launch and commissioning phases. You will act as Deputy Spacecraft Manager with related delegated responsibility for relevant project management aspects.

You will report to the LSTM Satellite Engineering and AIV Manager and will work within the LSTM Project Team in close coordination with specialists from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality (D/TEC), the Directorate of Operations (D/OPS) and industrial partners.

Duties

Your main tasks and responsibilities will include

• contributing to the management of the industrial activities by leading the specification, design, procurement, development and verification/acceptance of spacecraft, platform and equipment hardware throughout the project lifetime, from ITT to flight commissioning;
• monitoring the industrial progress and design evolution at spacecraft, platform and equipment levels, ensuring it remains consistent with the technical requirements, including internal and external interfaces, and programmatic requirements;
• monitoring industrial verification activities to ensure proper verification, including resolving non-conformances, and supporting the assessment of deviations and waivers;
• coordinating with PA and AIT during integration and testing activities for the resolution of activity deviations;
• contributing to the autonomy and operability concept and supporting the FDIR definition when requested;
• supporting launch campaign preparation and execution and platform in-orbit operations until the end of commissioning;
• contributing to the payload specification, design, procurement, development and verification/acceptance when requested;
• providing regular reporting to project management and identifying technical risk areas, proposing and monitoring mitigation measures;
• monitoring the satellite schedule, ensuring coherence between the overall planning and the platform and instrument development and verification activities, with the objective of continuously minimising technical and schedule risks;
• monitoring the industrial preparation for launch and coordinating in-flight spacecraft commissioning and verification activities in collaboration with project and ground teams;
• coordinating various project engineering domains to cover the procurement of the hardware under your responsibility;
• acting as Deputy LSTM Spacecraft Manager, with delegated responsibility for relevant project management aspects;
• potentially supporting interactions with delegations and partners as required;
• coordinating specialised engineering support from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering, Quality and the Directorate of Operations;
• ensuring coordination between Copernicus missions where applicable.

Your duties may also include supporting other activities within your field of competence in the Earth Observation Projects Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.

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 and professional experience

A master’s degree in a relevant domain is required for this post, together with, in principle, four years of relevant professional experience.  Alternatively, candidates with a bachelor’s degree, complemented by an additional four years of relevant professional experience, may be considered.

Additional requirements

• Good communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to summarise complex information.
• The ability to work effectively in an international team environment;
• The ability to anticipate problems, resolve complex issues and relate situations to their context.
• The ability to make solution-oriented, pragmatic and timely decisions of a high standard and with integrity, as well as to support others, such as team members, management and other stakeholders, in this process.

International experience, including experience gained outside your home country, would be an asset, as would experience across a range of functional areas relevant to ESA activities.