Lead End-to-End Performance Engineer

Job Posting Organization:
The European Space Agency (ESA) is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to the exploration of space. Established in 1975, ESA has grown to include 22 member states and employs over 2,200 staff members. The agency operates across multiple countries in Europe and collaborates with various international partners to advance space science and technology. ESA's mission encompasses a wide range of activities, including Earth observation, human spaceflight, and satellite navigation, with a commitment to fostering innovation and scientific discovery in the field of space exploration.

Job Overview:
The Lead End-to-End Performance Engineer will be a pivotal figure in the Alpstar project, which aims to develop a federated, resilient Earth observation system that integrates both space and ground assets. This role is crucial for ensuring the technical coherence and performance of the Alpstar system, focusing on the definition, verification, and validation of interfaces between the space segment, ground segment, and operational elements. The engineer will report directly to the Alpstar Project Manager and will work closely with various engineering disciplines, including satellite engineering, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security engineering, mission analysis, and ground segment engineering. The position requires direct interaction with end users to understand their needs, discuss performance metrics, and address any compliance issues, ensuring a smooth transition to operational phases.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Lead End-to-End Performance Engineer will be responsible for a comprehensive set of tasks, including: defining and maintaining end-to-end system performance requirements, allocating these to subsystems, and establishing performance budgets related to latency, availability, throughput, and tasking responsiveness. The engineer will support the Alpstar Users Forum regarding mission and instrument performance aspects, ensuring consistency with the approved concept of operations. Responsibilities also include establishing and maintaining the end-to-end system architecture, coordinating the performance verification program, reviewing requirements consistency from system to subsystem levels, and preparing and maintaining the requirements database. The engineer will analyze and validate performance interfaces between space and ground components, support the implementation of the end-to-end mission simulator, supervise industrial suppliers, monitor data flow, coordinate project engineering domains, and provide regular reporting to project management on competence aspects, risks, and proposed mitigation actions.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a solid knowledge of space systems engineering principles and lifecycle, experience in software systems engineering from requirements engineering to design, development, and verification, and familiarity with ground segment architectures and mission operations. Proven abilities in interface engineering and management, as well as knowledge of ESA system engineering standards, are essential. Candidates should also demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, effective communication abilities, and a proactive attitude towards problem-solving and innovative technologies.

Educational Background:
A master’s degree in engineering or a related discipline is required for this position, along with four years of relevant professional experience. Alternatively, candidates with a bachelor’s degree and an additional four years of relevant experience may also be considered. This educational background ensures that candidates have the necessary technical foundation to handle the complexities of the role effectively.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of four years of relevant professional experience in the field of engineering, particularly in areas related to space systems, software systems engineering, and interface management. Candidates with less experience may be considered for a lower grade level, depending on their qualifications and the specific requirements of the role.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory, as it is one of the working languages of the Agency. A good knowledge of French is also required. Additionally, knowledge of another language from a Member State would be considered an asset, enhancing communication and collaboration within the diverse international environment of ESA.

Additional Notes:
The position is a four-year appointment, extendable to indefinite, and is classified within the grade band A2-A

• Recruitment will primarily be within this grade band, but candidates with less than four years of relevant experience may be considered for a lower grade. Applicants must be eligible to access information subject to European or US export control regulations and must be able to acquire security clearance. The recruitment process may include selection tests, and successful candidates will undergo basic screening before appointment. ESA is committed to diversity and inclusiveness, welcoming applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability, or other characteristics.