Product Assurance and Safety Manager

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Position Title: Product Assurance and Safety Manager
Location: Noordwijk
Country: Netherlands
Deadline Date: 5 December 2024 23:59 CET/CEST

Job Details

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 encompass 22 member states and employs over 2,200 staff across various locations. The agency's mission is to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA operates in multiple countries and collaborates with various international partners to advance space science and technology.

Job Overview:
As the Product Assurance and Safety Manager, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and reliability of exploration payloads within the Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration Programmes. Your responsibilities will include managing the Product Assurance and Safety (PA&S) aspects, which encompass safety assurance, reliability, availability, maintainability, quality assurance, and software product assurance. You will work closely with payload developers and project teams to establish and maintain PA&S requirements, monitor compliance, and ensure that all safety protocols are adhered to throughout the project lifecycle. This position requires a proactive approach to problem-solving and the ability to coordinate effectively with various stakeholders to achieve project goals.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Your main tasks and responsibilities will include: establishing and maintaining the relevant PA&S requirements baseline in compliance with ESA policies; ensuring the implementation of the PA&S requirements by payload developers; supporting milestone reviews and participating in the verification process; monitoring the implementation of approved plans and specifications; planning, coordinating, and monitoring the assigned PA&S workforce; participating in boards for the disposition of deviations from the requirements baseline; representing ESA in boards for non-conformances and anomalies; ensuring the implementation of the Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (RAMS) programme; monitoring the selection and procurement of components and materials; conducting acceptance reviews of contractual deliverables; reviewing safety data packages; supervising PA&S activities during launch campaigns; and performing any other necessary PA&S tasks to ensure mission success.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a master’s degree in a relevant engineering or scientific discipline. Proven experience in payload development and systems engineering is essential. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate strong teamwork skills, the ability to coordinate without direct authority, and effective relationship management capabilities. Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, are required, along with strong cognitive, analytical, planning, and organizational skills. The ability to anticipate problems and make timely, solution-oriented decisions is crucial for this role.

Educational Background:
A master’s degree in a relevant engineering or scientific discipline is required for this position. This educational background provides the necessary foundation for understanding complex engineering principles and safety protocols relevant to space projects.

Experience:
Candidates should have proven experience in managing Product Assurance for space projects, with a strong understanding of human spaceflight safety certification. Experience in monitoring industrial activities, participation in audits, and familiarity with Space Quality Standards is also required. Previous experience working with international partners, such as other space agencies, is considered an advantage.

Languages:
The working languages of ESA are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these languages is mandatory, while knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset. This linguistic proficiency is essential for effective communication within the agency and with international partners.

Additional Notes:
This position is a permanent contract within the grade band A2-A

• However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of their master’s degree, the position may be filled at the A1 level. Applicants must be eligible to access technology and hardware subject to European and US export control regulations and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security-clearance" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security clearance by their national security administrations. The recruitment process may include selection tests, and successful candidates will undergo basic screening before appointment. ESA is committed to diversity and inclusiveness, encouraging applications from all qualified candidates, particularly women and individuals with disabilities.