Job Description

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Head of the Solar Generators Section in the Power Systems, EMC and Space Environments Division, Electrical Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

Reporting to the Head of the Power Systems, EMC and Space Environments Division, you, as Head of the Solar Generators Section, will be responsible for the management of the Section, its resources and its activities. In addition, you will be accountable within the Agency for the outcome of the operational activities conducted within the Section’s technical domain.

The Section provides functional support to ESA projects and carries out technological research and development (R&D) in the fields of space solar cells, space photovoltaics and space solar generators.

Its activities include parts, materials, processes and technologies, electrical and mechanical design, development, manufacturing, integration, testing and in-orbit performance evaluation. Within its domain of competence, the Section also runs laboratory activities for the characterisation and qualification of solar cells, photovoltaic assemblies and solar panels, including problem investigation. In addition, it contributes to the definition of standards on solar cells, photovoltaic assemblies and solar generators.

Duties

Within the technical domain defined above, your tasks and responsibilities will include the following:

Workload assessment and assignment:

• Establishing the multiyear plan of activities for the Section, covering required competences and assignment of resources;
• Establishing annual objectives and managing/coordinating on a day-to-day basis specialised technical support in the Section’s fields of expertise, in full collaboration with the functional managers;
• Actively contributing to increasing the agility/flexibility required to meet the short-notice and peak-period resource needs of projects;
• Being accountable for all activities and resources delegated to the Section, and for resolving possible conflicting demands on the use of the Section’s resources.
  

Talent management:

• Maintaining state-of-the-art expertise in the Section – identifying, developing, maintaining and tracking the technical competences needed to meet current and future strategic needs;
• Establishing individual talent management (competence and development) plans for the Section's members, covering technical and behavioural aspects;
• Collaborating with functional managers whenever needed;
• Driving the development of people within your area of responsibility, facilitating the development of people beyond your area of responsibility, and encouraging mobility when it serves the organisation's interests;
• Encouraging the integration of newcomers and contributing to their initial development plans, in particular in the first three years of their contract;
• Managing staff functional mobility and changes (arrivals, departures, reassignments, probation and contract extensions) with minimum disruption to the activities of the Section.
  

Support management:

• Monitoring, measuring and reporting on performance at individual and team level, in particular regarding the Section’s objectives;
• Being accountable to management for all the daily matters within the Section and for the achievement of the Section’s objectives;
• Being accountable for the Section members' career management, as well as for performing individual performance assessments and merit recognition exercises, and for providing regular feedback.

Expertise offering: management of tools/processes/working methods:

• Ensuring regular interaction between the Section members, supporting teamwork, the exchange of experience and lessons learned, and the gathering of feedback;
• Contributing to the continuous improvement of working procedures, tools, processes, expert working methods and delivery methods (lessons learned, knowledge management) and to the reflection on the evolution of the Section's role and activities;
• Contributing to the independent technical assessment capability and supporting project reviews;
• Representing the Agency in your areas of expertise within ESA and with external entities (industry, delegations, etc.);
• Coordinating the dissemination of the Section’s results within and beyond ESA, in particular through conferences, workshops and R&D presentation days.

R&D/technology management:

• In line with anticipated technology trends and project needs, defining, promoting and implementing the Section’s contributions to ESA technology programmes and R&D activities;
• Coordinating, where applicable, the requirements of technology elements in your domain of expertise with the overall requirements of systems being developed under the responsibility of other areas in the Directorate;
• Liaising with relevant technology expert groups and coordination mechanisms.

Laboratories:

• Acting as Technical Officer for the Solar Generator Characterisation Facility (SGCF) and Accelerated Life Test Facility (ALTF) in the European Space Power Laboratory (ESPL).

General and leadership:

• Ensuring a positive and motivating working environment for the Section;
• Communicating ESA values and ensuring compliance with all ESA policies;
• Representing the Section when brokering agreements with other parties and actively encouraging cross-unit cooperation;
• Anticipating and resolving sensitive or difficult situations, detecting and managing health and safety issues, and liaising with HR as required;
• Establishing good working relationships and technical networks with users, project groups and other organisations both inside and outside the Agency;
• Reporting to high-level management and flowing down communication from management.
  

Interface management:

• Supporting the Power System Architects, Electrical Architects and the System Engineers in the design, development and verification of the solar generator units;
• Coordinating the evolution of the standards in the context of the ECSS system with relevance to the technical domains of the Section.
  

You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

Technical competencies

General background and specific experience in the technical domains covered by the position Experience in supporting ESA programmes and/or projects and knowledge of their technical and programmatic requirements in relevant technical domainsKnowledge of the industrial landscape and ability to define technology development roadmaps identifying future trends in technology requirementsExperience in driving R&D activities, as well as knowledge of ESA technology programmesExperience in ESA procurement processes and contract management as well as applied negotiation skillsExperience with space engineering standards and their preparation and implementationExperience in managing laboratory activities in the technical domains covered by the position

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 and professional experience

A master's degree in Physics or Electrical Engineering or equivalent studies is required for this post together with 10 years of relevant professional experience.

Additional requirements

• Experience in solar cells and solar generators for space applications;
• Experience in technology, process development and manufacturing at the part level of space solar cells and related components (such as Ge wafers or solar cell shunt diodes), and at the subsystem level of space photovoltaic assemblies and solar generators;
• Experience with the design development and verification of space solar arrays, including photovoltaic assemblies and solar panel substrates;
• Experience in development and application of relevant analysis and performance prediction tools and methods;
• Deep knowledge of the technology landscape for solar cells and their potential for space applications;
• Deep knowledge of space environment effects on solar generators;
• Experience in the definition and implementation of standards relevant to space solar cells, photovoltaic assemblies and solar generators;
• Experience in the testing and characterisation activities of space solar cells and solar generators;
• The potential to manage individuals or a team of experts in a project or R&D setting;
• The ability to organise their activities and ensure a motivating work environment;
• Strong leadership capabilities, with proven relationship management and communication skills;
• The ability to drive your team’s performance, developing your people by encouraging learning, delegating responsibility and giving regular and constructive feedback;
• Strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills;
• Strong results orientation with the ability to set priorities and present practical solutions both orally and in writing;
• The ability to manage challenging situations proactively and constructively and to be customer focused;
• People management experience would be an asset, as would international experience, i.e. outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.

A PhD in Space Solar Cells or Space Solar Generators is considered an asset for this post.

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, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.

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, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the 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.