Job Description

Location

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

Secure Connectivity Low TRL Technology Development Coordinator within the Secure Connectivity Programme Department in the Directorate of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity.

The ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity, referred to as Secure Connectivity, 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.

Reporting to the Head of the Secure Connectivity Programme Department, you will be responsible for the implementation and delivery of low-TRL technologies (mostly equipment level) across the system, space segment, ground segment and user terminal domains.

In your role, you will ensure project implementation and delivery of all related work packages, in close coordination with the system, space segment and ground segment offices.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• acting as focal point in the department for all ESA-PP derisking activities, ensuring a unified programmatic interface;
• coordinating with the system, space, and ground segment offices of the Department to ensure the coherent implementation and delivery of ESA-PP derisking activities;
• promoting and facilitating the engagement of European industry in ESA-PP activities, identifying and onboarding innovative technology providers to enhance the competitiveness and diversity of the Secure Connectivity supply chain;
• overseeing the activities related to development, maturation, and validation of low-TRL technologies and equipment across the system, space, ground and user terminal domains;
• monitoring industrial work for low-TRL developments, ensuring full programmatic compliance;
• contributing to the management of ESA-PP budgets and coordinating through the department offices the allocation of resources dedicated to the ESA-PP activities;
• supporting the analysis of requests for changes, waivers and deviations, providing strategic recommendations supporting management decisions;
• coordinating the planning and implementation of technical reviews and milestones for low-TRL developments, ensuring the participation of relevant department offices and the timely assessment of technology maturity;
• providing regular reports to project management, identifying technical risk areas in low-TRL developments and proposing proactive mitigation measures;
• contributing to the management of the master schedule for technology maturation and proposing schedule risk mitigation actions to safeguard the IRIS² timeline;
• supporting the Head of the Secure Connectivity Department and relevant Office Heads in coordinating specialised engineering support and functional team management.

Technical competencies

Multidisciplinary knowledge of satellite system design, development and verification, with specific experience in derisking and validating early-stage technologies (low-TRL)

Experience in multiple parallel project coordination and management within the telecommunications domain, ensuring the delivery of project activities within established budget, schedule and performance baselines

Expertise in the management and procurement of industrial activities, including the ability to steer technical and contractual negotiations and lead cross-functional technical reviews

Experience in technology maturation processes, specifically in navigating the transition from experimental R&D (low-TRL) to flight-ready equipment (high-TRL)

Skills in promoting industrial engagement, with the ability to identify and onboard innovative technology providers and SMEs to enhance the Secure Connectivity supply chain

Ability to harmonise and integrate technical inputs from multidisciplinary teams, providing cohesive recommendations to senior management and relevant Office Heads

Robust risk management skills, with a focus on identifying early-stage technical deviations in R&D and implementing effective mitigation strategies to safeguard programme health

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 engineering discipline is required for this post together with 10 years of relevant professional experience. Alternatively, candidates with a bachelor’s degree and an additional 4 years of relevant professional experience may be considered.

Additional requirements

• 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;
• experience of working in projects with a security dimension would be beneficial.

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.