Avionics and Software Engineer

Description

You will work in the Flight Software Systems Section, a group of about 30 highly motivated experts in embedded software for space systems. The Section provides technical support for the development and functional verification and validation of the on-board software for all missions and satellites at ESA, in domains such as space science, human and robotic exploration, Earth observation, telecommunications and integrated applications, navigation, space transportation, space engineering and technology, operations and space safety. The Section contributes to the success of ESA missions such as Rosetta, Galileo, Juice, Sentinel Earth observation missions, meteorological missions and many others.

The Section is also responsible for defining, initiating and managing technology research and development (R&D) activities in its field of expertise to ensure that future missions use state-of-the-art technologies in an efficient manner to guarantee the quality necessary for space systems and to enable increased functionality subject to the appropriate verifications, covering areas such as software verification and validation methods and processes, modern software architectures and frameworks, new-generation processors and model-based engineering. The Section also participates actively in standardisation activities by influencing the evolution of the various applicable standards and ensuring their proper application across ESA projects.

As a first assignment, you will provide support as Avionics and Software Engineer to the Vega and Space Rider development programmes, Flight Programmes Department, Directorate of Space Transportation and will report to the Vega and Space Rider Avionics, GNC and Software Manager. The Section, composed of a small group of experienced engineers in the domain of European space transportation, is responsible for all developments carried out in respect of the avionics, electronic flight hardware and harness, software and guidance, navigation and control algorithmic aspects for the different programmes and for all the phases of the project, from initial trade-off to recurrent production, covering Vega, Vega-C exploitation, Vega-E and future launcher developments, Space Rider Orbital and the Re-entry vehicle.

Duties

During your initial assignment reporting to STS-PVA, you will be responsible for all Vega family (Vega, Vega-C and Vega-E) and Space Rider technical activities in the areas of flight software (FSW) and on-board computer (OBC) development, including hardware-dependent interfaces and all the related tools.

In respect of avionics, you will support the operations aspects in the area of vehicle assembly, and in integration and testing (AIT). The range of activities encompasses the production of Vega and Vega-C and the development of Vega-E and Space Rider.

In particular, your duties will include: 

• managing the technical activities within the Vega family and Space Rider programme framework: definition of the technical requirements specifications, architecture and interfaces with other subsystems and design definition, development, validation and qualification relevant to the Vega family and Space Rider software;
• apportioning technical requirements from system level to the software and the on-board computer, defining the relevant internal and external interface specifications;
• contributing to the Vega family and Space Rider verification and validation strategy within your area of responsibility (FSW and OBC) in coordination with the system and avionics, including simulation and test facilities, such as SWIL and HWIL test campaigns;
• technical supervision of the software aspects relating to the exploitation of the Vega family, in particular for the mission acceptance process, providing support to the process of flight anomalies and non-conformances, assessment of requests for waiver or deviations, and monitoring of the change proposal process and impacts on the Vega family launcher qualification status;
• monitoring the Vega family and Space Rider OBC/OBDH manufacturing and acceptance, ensuring in particular the compliance of the as-built configuration with the product qualification perimeter;
• drafting the relevant statements of work, evaluating the industrial offers and supporting the negotiation process for industrial contracts within your area of responsibility;
• evaluating the industrial deliverables and their formal acceptance by the Agency within your area of responsibility (FSW and OBC);
• contributing to the preparation of milestones and reviews, including those specific to software, for the various programmes.

You may also be called upon to participate in activities of the parent Section, TEC-SWF, relating for example to project support and technology and standardisation activities in your area of expertise. 
 

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

A master’s degree in computer science, electronic engineering or a related discipline is required for this post.

Additional requirements

• Strong experience in real-time embedded software, for example SPARC LEON processors, ARM and RISC-V,  as well as multicore platforms, IMA/TSP, RTOS, C/C++, Ada and assembly programming languages.
• Strong experience in software development projects, including software development environments and validation facilities, ground testbeds and support equipment, and knowledge of all phases of the software development life cycle.
• Proven experience in avionics and data-handling systems, with hands-on hardware experience in at least one of the following: on-board computers, instrument computer units, mass memories or remote terminal units, as well as experience in the development of data-handling architectures.
• Proven experience in functional verification and validation activities, such as the specification and development of test means and simulation models, definition of test plans, specifications and procedures, functional validations performed on avionics and instrument test benches and support to system validation test campaigns.
• Proven experience in the management and monitoring of industrial activities, including the preparation of statements of work, user specifications, proposal evaluations, supplier interactions, monitoring of progress and quality, and acceptance.
• Hands-on experience in space software engineering standards and their application, or in equivalent standards in other domains. Experience with specific standards and guidelines such as ECSS-E-ST-40C, ECSS-Q-ST-80C, ISVV guide, ECSS-E-ST-70-41C, ECSS-E-ST-10C, ECSS handbooks or Savoir specifications is an additional asset.
• Knowledge of spacecraft systems engineering and/or experience in the development and qualification of launchers and possibly operations of launch systems.
• Good understanding of modern software engineering methods and tools, R&D trends and the industrial landscape, including verification and validation methods and tools, code generation tools, model-based software engineering, agile development approaches and autocoding.