Head of the Secure Connectivity System Architecture Section

Description

Head of the Secure Connectivity System Architecture Section in the Secure Connectivity System Office within the Secure Connectivity Programme Department in the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications.

The ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity, hereinafter referred to as “Secure Connectivity”, is intended to support the effective development and validation of the EU Secure Connectivity governmental infrastructure and the services provided by it. Reporting to the Head of the Secure Connectivity System Office, you will be responsible for all system engineering tasks to support the effective design and development for the overall Secure Connectivity system of systems. 

Duties

Your tasks and responsabilities will include:

• managing all IRIS² system-level engineering activities, including the Space, Ground and User Segments; 
• supervising the technical requirements, including functional, performance, operational, service and security requirements, applicable to the procurement of the overall system infrastructure, namely the Space Segment, the Ground Segment and the User Segment, and the associated operations and services, including launch services, and ensuring their overall traceability; 
• monitoring and ensuring the compliance of the IRIS² system with the mission technical and performance requirements, including maintaining all system-level technical budgets; 
• ensuring end-to-end technical consistency of all procurement activities at project level, namely those carried out at system and segment levels, including security, as well as external interfaces such as service facilities; 
• ensuring the implementation of system security engineering activities, including security requirements flow-down, implementation follow-up, security operations engineering and maintenance of the System Security Requirements Statement of Compliance; 
• defining and implementing technology developments required to support the development of the system, assessing industrial and technological supply chain vulnerabilities and defining corrective actions; 
• preparing and implementing all engineering and R&D activities directly relating to the development and implementation of the system; 
• managing reviews relating to Secure Connectivity at system level; 
• providing services engineering, including the concept of operations and the associated qualification tools, such as test user receivers; 
• proactive monitoring of relevant schedules, identifying risk and problem areas, providing assessments and proposing mitigation actions from industry and on the ESA side; 
• proposing corrective measures to respond to deviations from mission requirements established at programme level; 
• contributing to the reporting to ESA management and the European Commission in accordance with the Contribution Agreement in close coordination with the Head of the Secure Connectivity Programme Department and the Business Control and Programme Management Support Office; 
• close coordination with other project disciplines, including the Ground Segment and Operations Office, the Security Office, the Space Segment Office and the Product Assurance and Safety Team. 

You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

A master’s degree in physics, electrical or telecommunications/aerospace engineering or a related field is required for this post.

Additional requirements

Experience working with a commercial telecommunications company and/or operator is desirable. 
Experience working in secure environments or projects is desirable.

You should also have:

• the potential to manage individuals or a team of experts in a project setting; 
• the ability to organise individual and team activities and ensure a motivating work environment;
• strong leadership capabilities, with proven relationship management and communication skills;
• the ability to drive your team’s performance, developing your people by encouraging learning, delegating responsibility and giving regular and constructive feedback;
• strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills;
• a strong result orientation with the ability to set priorities and present practical solutions both orally and in writing;
• the ability to manage challenging situations proactively and constructively and to be customer-focused.

People management experience is an asset, as is international experience, i.e. outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.