About this job

ESA is looking for an Instrument Principal Engineer (CHIME, CO2M, LSTM).

Description

The current recruitment applies to the 3 following missions: CHIME (Hyperspectral mission), CO2M (CO2 Monitoring mission) and LSTM (Land Surface Temperature Mission).

You report to the corresponding mission Payload/Instrument Manager for all technical and programmatic matters. You will be responsible for development of the optical instrument(s) covering the visible and infrared spectral domain, the associated performance verification and the support to the in-orbit commissioning of the instrument(s).

Responsibilities

• Monitoring the design and development of the instrument(s), its interfaces and ground support equipment, ensuring procurement will meet engineering requirements within cost and schedule boundaries;
• Monitoring the design, development, assembly, integration, testing and verification of the instrument(s), keeping consistency between instrument and platform interfaces;
• Contributing to optimisation of the instrument assembly, integration, testing and verification program, monitoring its incremental implementation from unit level up to instrument and satellite integrated level, to demonstrate instrument qualification, acceptance and associated performance;
• Reviewing instrument assembly, integration and test plans and procedures at instrument and satellite level, attending relevant tests at instrument and satellite level and reviewing instrument(s) test reports, participating in associated reviews and boards (NRB, VCB,….);
• Reviewing the instrument prime contractor development approach and schedule, and monitoring the critical path of the instrument, proposing mitigation actions to anticipate or when risks materialize at unit or instrument level;
• Monitoring development and maintenance of models, tools, documentation, including characterisation databases and key data, required for definition of technical payload budgets and evaluation of instrument performance;
• Monitoring delivery of instrument test and verification data to support overall system verification, including provision of necessary inputs for instrument operations;
• Participating in definition of the instrument calibration and validation plan, supporting preparation and execution of instrument in-orbit operations and calibration/validation activities;
• Liaising with other project sections related to all performance-relevant requirements to support definition and development of algorithms for conversion of telemetered raw instrument data into calibrated data, e.g., in the Ground Processor Prototype and/or E2E Simulator;
• Participating in system-level reviews (space/ground segments when relevant) to ensure suitability of the instrument design and verification programnecessary to meet performance requirements;
• Supporting general project reporting tasks (monthly, QSR), article submission for conferences and other Department-level support activities as required.

Specialised engineers will functionally support you, in particular for optical, mechanical, thermal and electrical engineering.

Profile

Technical competencies

• Knowledge of industrial costs and schedule aspects;
• Complex project risk management processes;
• Space system development and PA standards;
• Multidisciplinary knowledge of area of responsibility;
• Experience of managing technical interfaces between subsystems both within ESA project team environment and for the industrial consortium;
• Instrument system AIV;
• Technical knowledge of optical instruments (radiometers or spectrometers).

Education

A Master’s degree in relevant scientific/engineering discipline is required

Additional Requirements

Candidates must demonstrate an excellent knowledge of the Instrument engineering and experience in the field of space-borne VIS/IR radiometers and/or spectrometers procurement in line with the preference he/she will have mentioned.

For a complete job description and to apply, click on “apply”.

The closing date for applications is 20 October 2020.

If you require support with your application due to a disability, please email contact.human.resources@esa.int.
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Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Latvia and Slovenia.

We offer

The European Space Agency (ESA) is an equal opportunities employer that offers competitive salaries exempt from national income tax and excellent employment conditions, such as allowances for expatriates and relocation support.
For more information: http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA

About us

The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA is an international organisation with 22 Member States. By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, it can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country.
Learn more: http://www.esa.int/