Moonlight Navigation Space Segment Manager

Description

Moonlight Navigation Space Segment Manager in the Moonlight Programme Office, Future Navigation Department, Directorate of Navigation.

Under the direct authority of the Moonlight Navigation Manager, you will be integrated into the Moonlight Programme Office and will report functionally to the Moonlight Programme Manager in the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications on a day-to-day basis.

You will be responsible for all navigation-related space segment aspects of the Moonlight programme’s activities aimed toward the development of a dedicated lunar-based communication and navigation infrastructure and the provision of the associated lunar services.
You will ensure the satisfactory implementation of the Navigation Space Segment of the Moonlight programme in accordance with the defined cost, schedule and technical objectives. 

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• leading, managing and motivating the Moonlight Navigation Space Segment Team;
• managing the development of the Navigation Space Segment, consisting of a constellation of satellites, including the associated platform, payload and launch services;
• monitoring industrial work associated with the Navigation Space Segment procurement down to subsystem level, ensuring full compliance with technical, programmatic and schedule requirements;
• assuming responsibility for Navigation Space Segment requirements and specifications, design definition and justification, performance indicators and operational concepts, including the FDIR (Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery) strategy, and ensuring their alignment with the system requirements and specifications;
• managing the Navigation Space Segment engineering aspects, such as navigation payload performance, budgets, margins and internal and external Navigation Space Segment interfaces;
• ensuring that navigation satellite technology developments are completed in a timely manner for injection into the production workflow;
• managing the Navigation Space Segment manufacturing, assembly, integration, launch campaign and verification and on-ground pre-validation activities with an emphasis on the end-to-end performance;
• monitoring the compliance and timely distribution of deliverable items from the Navigation Space Segment to the Moonlight System and Ground Segment as well as other stakeholders;
• acting as the focal point for the Navigation Space Segment for project- and industry- level reviews;
• supporting the System Manager for service and system operational requirements and interfaces, design drivers, launch services and operational and performance indicators;
• ensuring the coherence of the Navigation Space Segment with the security-related aspects and requirements, coordinating with the project-nominated PSSO (Project/System Security Officer), the contractor and the external stakeholders, as well as supporting the successful conduct of the internal ESA security certification process;
• supporting the end-to-end system integration, testing and service validation in coordination with the System Manager and Ground Segment Manager, including navigation chain aspects;
• assuming responsibility for the evolution of the Navigation Space Segment beyond the in-orbit verification and validation of the first elements, paying due attention to its operational significance for ESA and partner missions and commercial service provision cost-effectiveness;
• supporting the industry tailoring and leading the subsequent application of Navigation Space Segment-related ECSS, international and industry standards;
• ensuring close cooperation on all satellite-to-launcher interface activities, including potential ESA-provided launch or rideshare activities;
• ensuring close coordination and support with other project functions, such as Moonlight system- and segment-level reviews, PA&S and security activities;
• technical responsibility for Navigation Space Segment anomaly-handling, NRBs, the NCR process and RFDs/RFWs, among other things, in close coordination with all other relevant disciplines and with the PA&S Manager;
• proactive monitoring of relevant schedules, identifying risk and problem areas, providing assessments and proposing mitigation actions from industry and on the ESA side;
• ensuring the completion of the Navigation Space Segment within schedule, specifications and cost;
• identifying, leading and efficiently coordinating specialised engineering support from the Directorates of Operations and Technology, Engineering and Quality in the appropriate areas of competence;
• regular and ad hoc reporting to the Moonlight Joint Management 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

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education

A master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline is required for this post. A master’s degree in business administration is considered an asset.

Additional requirements

Experience in managing complex space programmes up to launch and in-orbit testing, preferably in the navigation and/or telecommunications domain, is desirable.
Direct experience of working with a commercial telecommunications company and operator will be a distinct advantage.
Experience in Public Private Partnership projects would be an asset.

• The potential to manage individuals or a team in a project environment;
• 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.