Job Description

Location

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands with a resident assignment to Brussels, Belgium.

Description

User Terminals – Spectrum and Signals Officer, IRIS² Integrated Programme Team, Secure Connectivity Programme Department, Directorate of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity (D/RNC).

On 15 March 2023, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopted Regulation (EU)2023/588 establishing the Union Secure Connectivity Programme for the period 2023–2027. The objective of the EU Secure Connectivity Programme is to deploy an EU satellite constellation, IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite). The Programme will provide an EU satellite-based, multiorbital communication infrastructure for governmental use while integrating and complementing existing and future national and European capacities in the framework of the GOVSATCOM component of the EU Space Programme.

The ESA Programme related to EU Secure Connectivity is intended to support the effective development and validation of the EU Secure Connectivity (IRIS²) governmental infrastructure, which is to be developed, deployed and operated under a concession contract signed by the EU with a private consortium, and the services provided by it, as well as the validation and demonstration of services based on the commercial infrastructure developed by the contractors delivering the EU Secure Connectivity governmental infrastructure. The European Commission and ESA have set up an Integrated Programme Team (IPT) to manage the EU IRIS² Programme and, in particular, the related concession contract, and to ensure close coordination between all activities relating to IRIS².

Reporting functionally to the Engineering/R&D Manager of the Integrated Programme Team and hierarchically to the head of the ESA Secure Connectivity System Office, you will be responsible for the timely delivery of user terminals required to provide governmental service for all aspects relating to access to spectrum for the IRIS² governmental infrastructure, and for signal definition and the implementation of the 5G standardisation roadmap. You will conduct and oversee activities aimed at building up the EU’s industrial capability in this domain. You will liaise with ESA for joint efforts in the domain and will rely on the Agency for the supervision of industrial activities relating to the development and validation of user terminals, aiming to ensure coordination in accordance with the agreements between ESA and the Commission.

You will be based in Brussels until Q1 2028, with the possibility of extension, within the framework of the 12-year Contribution Agreement between ESA and the Commission. At the end of the assignment, you will be reassigned to a position within D/RNC.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• interfacing with the ESA Secure Connectivity System Office and the ESA Ground Segment and Operations Office and relying on the Agency for the supervision of industrial activities relating to the development and validation of user terminals, aiming to ensure coordination in accordance with the Contribution Agreement and the Programme Management Plan;
• conducting all relevant IPT activities, including for the build-up of EU engineering, manufacturing and supply chain capabilities;
• reporting to the Exploitation Manager of the IPT and supporting them as required.

Under the authority of the IPT Engineering/R&D Manager, you will:

• be responsible for and conduct all IPT tasks aimed at ensuring the timely availability of the specified user terminals supporting governmental service, at the expected economic conditions, with overall responsibility for all aspects relating to access to spectrum for the IRIS² governmental infrastructure and for signal definition, including the 5G standardisation roadmap;
• interface with industry on matters relating to signal, including 5G, spectrum and the user terminals of the IRIS² concession;
• conduct all IPT tasks relating to the build-up of EU manufacturing capabilities at user terminal level;
• maintain a baseline scenario for incremental development and deployment of the user segment, including the related technology and subsystem roadmaps at user segment level;
• contribute to the maintenance of programme-level schedule management, risk management and configuration control;
• contribute to the maintenance of the programme-level cost plan and key performance indicators and propose corrective measures to respond to deviations from performance, schedule and cost targets established at programme level;
• ensure consistency of all requirements with the MRD;
• analyse user segment-related requests for changes, waivers and deviations and non-conformances, anomalies and alerts, supporting the relevant analyses at system level as and when required;
• maintain the Secure Connectivity user segment development and deployment plan, schedule, risk register and relevant parts of the cost plan, with the required key performance indicators, for consolidation and approval at project level;
• oversee the implementation and enforcement of risk and security management processes at user segment level;
• participate in system and ground segment reviews relating to user terminals, spectrum matters and signal definition aspects;
• work in close coordination with other IPT officers, including the Satellites and Production Officer, the Development and Validation Officer and the Concession Contract Officer, as well as the Security Team.

Technical competencies

Strong technical background in system and/or user terminal design, development and validation, including signal definition

Strong expertise in spectrum regulatory matters and processes

Experience with the implementation of large space programmes or projects, ideally in the telecommunications domain

Demonstrated experience with the set-up and management of a team of technical specialists working towards a common goal

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

Multi-disciplinary and comprehensive knowledge of space system architecture and the definition of related technical requirements, as well as on-ground and in-orbit validation activities

Experience in managing industrial activities from a cost and schedule point of view.

Experience with product assurance and safety standards and their application in a project environment

Experience with complex project risk management processes

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, such as physics, satellite communications or aerospace, is required for this post, together with, in principle, six 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

• You should be able to demonstrate that you can handle pressure and conflict as may typically occur in a project team.
• You should be result-oriented, able to set priorities, and capable of presenting practical solutions both verbally and in writing.
• You should have the ability to manage challenging situations proactively and constructively and to be customer-focused.
• You should have ambassadorship and excellent stakeholder management skills, including relationships with Member States or national delegations.
• You must be eligible for security clearance by your national security administration.

Experience working with a commercial telecommunications company and/or operator is desirable.

Experience working in secure environments or on secure projects is desirable.

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 & 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.