Location
ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany
Description
Flight Dynamics Engineer in the Science Mission Support Section, Flight Dynamics Division, Ground Systems Engineering and Innovation Department, Directorate of Operations.
You will provide flight dynamics support to satellite projects, including study, development, test, operations, evaluation and maintenance activities, addressing infrastructure and project-specific issues.
Duties
You will be a member of the Science Mission Support Section, which is responsible for:
* mission preparation, launch support, critical and routine operations in the field of flight dynamics for future interplanetary and Lagrange missions, including Plato, the Rosalind Franklin mission, Ramses, Comet Interceptor, Ariel, Envision and Argonaut;
* critical and routine flight dynamics operations support for inner solar system missions Bepi-Colombo and Solar-Orbiter; critical and routine flight dynamics operations support for Jupiter moons mission Juice; critical and routine flight dynamics operations support for asteroid mission Hera; and routine operations support for Mars missions ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter and Mars Express;
* routine operations support for the Euclid observatory mission;
* development, validation and utilisation of operational software for the above science missions, in the field of orbit determination.
Your duties will include:
* gathering and managing requirements for flight dynamics support to interplanetary and Lagrange missions;
* developing, adapting and maintaining generic and project-specific operational systems in the field of orbit determination;
* conducting orbit determination operations for interplanetary and Lagrange missions;
* coordinating the flight dynamics activities at Division level for preparing and carrying out the Launch and Early Orbit phase of missions, critical operations, routine operations and contingency recovery activities;
* coordinating the Division-external representation for mission operations.
You will primarily support the above missions. Involvement in other Division tasks is possible.
Technical competencies
Analysing, formulating and solving astrodynamics problems
Flight dynamics systems engineering
Software design and development
Flight dynamics operations preparation for interplanetary and Lagrange missions
Flight dynamics operations support for interplanetary and Lagrange missions
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
For more information, please refer to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook
*(esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/careers/ESA_Competency_Framework.pdf)
Education
A master's degree in mathematics, physics or engineering is required for this post.
Additional requirements
Several years of active participation in flight dynamics support for interplanetary and Lagrange missions, in particular in the field of deep-space orbit determination, is mandatory. You must be able to establish working relationships 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 contact.human.resources@esa.int.
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.