LEO-PNT Payload Manager

Job Requisition ID: 19204

Date Posted: 10 December 2024

Application Deadline: 3 January 2025 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication: Internal & External

Type of Contract: Permanent

Directorate: Navigation

Workplace: Noordwijk, NL

Grade Band: A2 - A4

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description
LEO-PNT Payload Manager in the LEO-PNT Project Office, Future Navigation Department, Directorate of Navigation.

Reporting to the Head of the LEO-PNT project, you will be responsible for the supervision of all LEO-PNT payload aspects including design, development, implementation, qualification, validation and industrialisation, including the ground test campaign, production, in-orbit commissioning and in-orbit follow-up phases.

The LEO-PNT project is responsible for the definition, design, demonstration and validation of the low orbit components of the future European multilayer system-of-systems architecture for positioning, navigation and timing (PNT), including:

• the implementation of an overall end-to-end in-orbit service demonstrator for LEO-PNT; this implementation is currently ongoing with two parallel contracts for developing pathfinder satellites and the associated system engineering, ground segment, launch services, operations, and in-orbit experiments and demonstrations of end-user services.
• the definition and implementation of a follow-up phase, known as LEO-PNT industrialisation and in-orbit validation, for the development and industrialisation of payload building blocks, together with their in-orbit validation in support of future operational systems of a commercial or EU institutional nature.
• the preparatory activities for an EU LEO-PNT institutional component of European multilayer GNSS systems in full coordination with the European Union.
• the development of open LEO-PNT interoperability standards in collaboration with international stakeholders, also supporting international initiatives to develop operational LEO-PNT capabilities and services.

Duties
Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• technical responsibility for the design and procurement of satellite payload building blocks and subsystems, including on-board orbit determination and time synchronisation, broadcast RNSS PNT in L-band, UHF/VHF and C-band, broadcast and two-way 6G NTN PNT in S-band or FusedPNT – ensuring that all the relevant LEO-PNT industrial activities are performed and that the satellite design meets the associated requirements.
• implementing the engineering activities relevant to payload design, development, validation, qualification and acceptance to ensure LEO-PNT satellites fulfil requirements.
• consolidating and maintaining the payload subsystem and equipment requirements for specification, design, development, test and verification in full consistency with the higher-level system requirements baseline applicable to LEO-PNT industrial activities.
• leading the procurement of payload activities for LEO-PNT, in particular those related to building block product development, as well as those related to industrialisation for series production, including manufacturing and testing line development and qualification for the LEO-PNT industrialisation and in-orbit validation phase.
• monitoring the LEO-PNT industrial activities for payload and ground support equipment, ensuring full compliance with the technical and programmatic requirements.
• monitoring the development and qualification activities for LEO-PNT industrialisation.
• supporting the definition and execution of the satellite verification programme in your areas of responsibility, including the implementation and monitoring of AIT/AIV activities on payload subsystems and units.
• establishing and maintaining space segment lean processes for the execution of the project within the ESA team and with industry, adopting modern processes used in the New Space ecosystem that have proven to be effective.
• monitoring the planning, preparation and implementation of a consistent and effective space segment verification plan.
• contributing to the management of system budgets in your areas of responsibility, and helping to ensure that the satellite design complies with interface requirements.
• technical responsibility for satellite payload anomaly-handling, NRBs, the NCR process, RFDs and RFWs, in close cooperation with all other relevant disciplines.
• contributing to the in-orbit demonstration and in-orbit validation activities in your area of competence.
• participating in Agency project reviews, as well as lower-level reviews in your field of competence.
• acting as the focal point for LEO-PNT payload aspects within the Agency and with external partners.
• ensuring the coherence and consistency of the payload aspects of LEO-PNT activities, in coordination with other teams in the Directorate of Navigation, in preparation of the following operational phases, either with institutional or commercial entities.
• leading, managing and motivating the LEO-PNT Payload Engineering team, including the specialised engineering support from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality and the Directorate of Operations, including annual objective setting, management, daily supervision and annual assessments.
• coordinating work and resource allocation to ensure the timely execution of relevant activities in coordination with the LEO-PNT System Manager.
• reporting, both on a regular and ad hoc basis, to the Head of the LEO-PNT project on all aspects of satellite payload development, proactive monitoring of relevant schedules, identifying risks and problem areas, and proposing mitigation actions.
• generating status reporting, conclusions, recommendations and lessons learned for LEO-PNT.

You will also be responsible for:

• identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

Technical competencies
Knowledge and experience in payload engineering

Knowledge and experience in product development and industrialisation

Knowledge and experience in satellite navigation systems

Knowledge of and experience in managing industrial activities in space domains

Knowledge and experience in project risk management

Knowledge of ESA and/or industrial development, verification and procurement 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
A master's degree in a relevant engineering or scientific discipline is required for this post.

Additional requirements

• Several years of experience in payload engineering and product design, development and verification;
• Experience in the industrialisation of space products and New Space processes would be a distinct advantage;
• Experience in LEO-PNT systems and/or GNSS systems, signals and performances would be considered an asset;
• The potential to manage individuals or a team;
• 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 result 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.

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, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.

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 [email protected].

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 technology and hardware which is subject to European and US export control regulations and for 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 can only be 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, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates and secondly to external candidates from under-represented 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.

*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.

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