Vacature Principal Instrument Engineer

EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY

ICI Principal Instrument Engineer

Job Requisition ID: 18498

Closing Date: 1 March 2024 23:59 CET/CEST

Establishment: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Directorate: Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes

Publication: Internal & External

Vacancy Type: Permanent

Date Posted: 9 February 2024

Vacancy in the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.

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.

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

Meteorological Operational Second Generation (MetOp-SG) is a collaborative programme together with EUMETSAT for six low Earth orbiting meteorological satellites. This covers two series of satellites with three satellites in each series. The Satellite-A series carries visible/infrared imagers, infrared/microwave sounders, a radio occultation sounder and the Sentinel-5 instrument, and the Satellite-B series carries microwave imagers, an active C-band scatterometer, a radio occultation sounder and a data collection payload. The first Satellite-A and Satellite-B launches are both planned in 2025.

You will report to the MetOp-SG Payload and be responsible for all aspects of the Ice Cloud Imager (ICI) instrument's design, development, testing, performance and in-orbit activities under the MetOp-SG Programme.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• managing and monitoring all aspects of the instrument specification, design, implementation and testing, ensuring full compliance is maintained (and demonstrated) with the system-level technical and programmatic requirements;
• monitoring the industrial progress and design evolution at instrument- and equipment-level, ensuring they remain consistent with MetOp-SG technical and programmatic requirements;
• completing delivery and acceptance of the remaining instrument flight models and flight spares;
• providing early warnings of potential problem areas and ensuring appropriate mitigation actions are identified and implemented;
• ensuring that the operability of the instrument is fully compatible with the overall MetOp-SG satellite operations, observability and availability requirements;
• coordinating specialist support as necessary;
• monitoring the definition and execution of instrument calibration, ensuring availability of key data for processing;
• preparing for the recurrent instrument long-term storage as well as the necessary recalibration;
• ensuring timely availability of inputs for on-ground characterisation and in-orbit commissioning campaigns;
• participating in instrument and satellite project reviews, coordinating all aspects relating to the instrument;
• monitoring, for the three microwave radiometer instruments (MicroWave Sounder, MicroWave Imager and Ice Cloud Imager), the development of performance assessment tools, including instrument simulators and models in industry or in-house, and analysing impacts on the mission performance resulting from deviations during the development of the instrument or of the system;
• monitoring the development of level 1 processing algorithms for data from the radiometer instruments and associated ground processor prototype;
• processing payload level-0 data received from industry to check consistency with the system simulator and support any anomaly investigations;
• processing and analysing the necessary data required for the product generation;
• interfacing and coordinating with the Science Team and user groups in conjunction with EUMETSAT;
• supporting the satellite AIV activities and the preparation of the launch campaign, and performing the in-orbit commissioning of the radiometer instruments;
• reporting regularly on progress, issues, risks and the schedule to the MetOp-SG Manager.

Experience in the management and monitoring of industrial activities

Technical knowledge of microwave radiometer instruments

Experience in instrument performance, verification and in-orbit commissioning

System awareness (e.g. accommodation of instrument on satellite, end-to-end aspects)

Experience in multi-agency cooperative projects

Knowledge/experience of technical support within ESA, ensuring best-level technical support for the project

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

Education

A master's in a relevant engineering or scientific discipline is required.

Additional requirements

Previous experience working on a multi-agency, cooperative programme would be an advantage.

You should also have:

• solid hands-on experience in instrument development;
• 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;
• the ability to manage challenging situations proactively and constructively;
• good oral, written and presentational communication skills.

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.

The Agency may require applicants to undergo selection tests.

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 email .

Please note that applications are only 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.

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.

Functie:	principal instrument engineer
Startdatum:	10-02-2024
Ervaring:	Ervaren
Educatielevel:	HBO
Contracttype:	Vast
Salaris:	onbekend – onbekend
Uren per week:	1 – 40

Heb je interesse in deze vacature en wil je graag op deze functie solliciteren? Neem dan contact op met ARES - (Association of Retired ESA Staff in Nederland). via onbekend of onbekend. Of bezoek hun website onbekend.