Flight Dynamics Engineer

Job Requisition ID: 20061

Date Posted: 14 November 2025

Application Deadline: 5 December 2025 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication: Internal & External

Type of Appointment: 4 years, extendable to indefinite

Directorate: Operations

Workplace: Darmstadt, DE

Grade Band: A2 - A4

Location
ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany

Description
Flight Dynamics Engineer in the Earth Observation Mission Support Section of the Flight Dynamics Division, Ground Systems Engineering and Innovation Department, Directorate of Operations.

Duties
You will help to provide flight dynamics solutions to the satellite projects entrusted to the Section, including study, development, test, operations, evaluation and maintenance activities, addressing infrastructure and project-specific issues.

The responsibilities of the Earth Observation Mission Support Section are:

• critical and routine operations support for ESA Earth observation missions such as CryoSat-2, SWARM, EarthCARE and Biomass, as well as other missions in preparation such as FLEX, FORUM and Harmony;
• flight dynamics support for Sentinel missions supported from ESOC under the joint ESA/European Commission Copernicus Programme;
• routine operations support for legacy science and observatory missions Cluster-II, XMM-Newton and Integral;
• early orbit operations for third-party Earth orbiting missions;
• the development, validation and utilisation of operational software for Earth observation missions in the areas of orbit and attitude determination and control and command generation.

Your duties will include the following main tasks:

• gathering and managing requirements for flight dynamics support for projects;
• gathering and managing software requirements;
• performing and supervising studies;
• developing, adapting and maintaining generic and project-specific software elements;
• coordinating Division-internal support and Division-external representation;
• coordinating, at Division level, and participating in launch preparation activities and operations;
• coordinating routine and contingency recovery support activities.

In addition to your main responsibilities listed above, you might be required to participate in other Division tasks, and to handle the technical management of work packages carried out by industrial service providers.

Technical competencies
Strong background in mathematics and orbital mechanics

Flight dynamics systems engineering and software systems development

Experience in flight dynamics operations support and coordination for Earth observation missions

Knowledge of modern software design methodologies

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 mathematics, physics or a relevant engineering field.

Additional requirements
Several years of active participation in flight dynamics support for space missions is essential.

You must be able to establish working interfaces in a multi-disciplinary and multi-project operational environment.

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 [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 information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.

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, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

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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