FDIR System 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, focusing on various aspects of space exploration, including Earth observation, human spaceflight, and satellite navigation. ESA's mission is to provide Europe with a space capability and to foster international cooperation in space exploration.

Job Overview:
The FDIR System Engineer will be a key member of the FDIR System Group (TEC SY) at ESA, which serves as the center of excellence for Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery (FDIR) within the Systems Department of the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality. This role involves working within a transversal team that provides FDIR expertise across all ESA missions and directorates, covering the entire mission lifecycle from early design through operations and lessons learned. The engineer will lead the definition, harmonization, and validation of FDIR concepts, requirements, and architectures, while supporting projects in close coordination with system engineering, avionics, software, and operations. The position requires providing functional support to assigned ESA projects as an FDIR expert, contributing to project reviews, architectural trade-offs, verification strategies, standardization activities, research and development, and training provision.

Duties and Responsibilities:
As an FDIR team member in TEC-SY, the engineer will be responsible for providing technical leadership and support to ESA projects regarding Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery across all system elements and project lifecycle phases. This includes acting as the focal point for FDIR within projects, leading the integration of FDIR aspects across system design, implementation, and verification, and ensuring consistency across all project artifacts. The engineer will own, prepare, review, and consolidate FDIR documentation for all mission phases, ensuring compliance with ESA internal processes and applicable standards. They will define, maintain, and validate the FDIR concept in alignment with overall system design and engineering constraints, provide guidance to project teams, and promote rigorous engineering processes to demonstrate the adequacy of FDIR solutions. Additional responsibilities include supporting project reviews, coordinating FDIR-related information, analyzing operational data, contributing to the definition of FDIR standards, and leading research and development activities related to FDIR techniques.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a master's degree in aerospace engineering or a relevant scientific discipline. A minimum of 4 years of relevant experience is required, with solid experience in system-level fault management and FDIR activities. Experience with complex satellite systems, system engineering, software, and operations interfaces is considered an asset. Candidates should also have experience in requirements engineering, traceability, and engineering data management tools, along with strong analytical skills to assess failures and risks at the system level. The ability to coordinate and engage with various internal and external partners while considering programmatic constraints is essential, as is the capability to anticipate issues and propose pragmatic solutions.

Educational Background:
A master's degree in aerospace engineering or a relevant scientific discipline is required for this position. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of space systems and the engineering principles that govern their design and operation.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience in the field. Candidates should have substantial experience in defining, integrating, and verifying FDIR for complex space systems, as well as experience in functional verification, system validation, or operational preparatory activities. Familiarity with advanced FDIR techniques, including model-based and AI-supported approaches, is also beneficial.

Languages:
The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these languages is mandatory, while knowledge of another Member State language would be considered an asset. This linguistic requirement is essential for effective communication within the diverse workforce at ESA.

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

• Recruitment will be conducted within this advertised grade band, but if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience, the position may be filled at the A1 level. Applicants must be eligible to access information and technology subject to European or US export control regulations. 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.