Head of the Space Systems Section

Description

Head of the Space System Section in the Space Segment Systems Engineering Division, Systems Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

Leading the Space System Section within the Space Segment Systems Engineering Division offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of space exploration and innovation. As the driving force behind a multidisciplinary team of experts, you will orchestrate the design, development and operational excellence of cutting-edge space systems—from platforms and rovers to advanced landers. Your leadership will empower the team to tackle complex challenges, pushing the boundaries of engineering and science while fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. By developing forward-looking strategies, nurturing talent and advancing sustainability practices, you will contribute to groundbreaking and inspiring missions that strengthen ESA’s position as a global leader in space technology. This is a role that combines vision, technical competences and people-centred leadership to make a lasting impact on the implementation of space projects.

Reporting to the Head of the Space Segment Systems Engineering Division, you, as Head of the Space System Section, will be responsible for the management of the Section, its resources and its activities. In addition, you will be accountable within the Agency for the outcome of operational activities conducted within the Section’s technical domain.

The Section covers the systems engineering of the space segment to support space projects, covering the following in particular:
- Space segment system (platform, rover, lander, etc.) activities, including system design, trading and evaluation, requirements management comprising traceability, consistency, flowdown to subsystem/unit level and internal/external interfaces, VCD, system budgets, coordination of verification activities, support for the FDIR definition and system mode management;
- Support for the operations concept, launch and in-flight commissioning;
- Support for the implementation of space sustainability practices and policies;
- Support for interdisciplinary and cross-cutting initiatives;
- Support for the development of future space platforms.

The Section works in coordination with the other two sections of the Space Segment Systems Engineering Division, covering the following:
- Payload/instrument system activities, including payload design at spacecraft level in collaboration with optical/RF chain experts, payload requirements management and support for payload AIV/AIT.
- Space segment system AIV/AIT activities, covering all system-level and payload verification aspects, including assembly integration, and environmental and functional testing.

Duties

Within the technical domains defined above, your tasks and responsibilities will include the following:

• Developing the competences and skills to support the most innovative and complex space systems, keeping abreast of future trends and needs in the field. 

 
Workload assessment and assignment:

• Establishing the multiyear plan of activities for the Section, covering required competences and assignment of resources;
• Establishing annual objectives and managing/coordinating on a day-to-day basis specialised technical support in the Section’s fields of expertise, in full collaboration with the functional managers;
• Actively contributing to increasing the agility/flexibility required to meet the short-notice and peak-period resource needs of projects;
• Being accountable for all activities and resources delegated to the Section, and for resolving possible conflicting demands on the use of the Section’s resources.

Talent management:

• Maintaining state-of-the-art expertise in the Section—identifying, developing, maintaining and tracking the technical competences needed to meet current and future strategic needs;
• Establishing individual talent management (competence and development) plans for the Section's members, covering technical and behavioural aspects;
• Collaborating with functional managers whenever needed;
• Driving the development of people within your area of responsibility, facilitating the development of people beyond your area of responsibility, and encouraging mobility when it serves the organisation's interests;
• Encouraging the integration of newcomers and contributing to their initial development plans, in particular in the first three years of their contracts;
• Managing staff functional mobility and changes (arrivals, departures, reassignments, probation and contract extensions) with minimum disruption to the activities of the Section.

Support management:

• Monitoring, measuring and reporting on performance at individual and team level, in particular regarding the Section’s objectives;
• Being accountable to the hierarchy for all the daily matters within the Section and for the achievement of the Section’s objectives;
• Being accountable for the Section members' career management, as well as for performing individual performance assessments and merit recognition exercises, and for providing regular feedback.

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Expertise offering: management of tools/processes/working methods:

• Ensuring regular interaction between the Section members, supporting teamwork, the exchange of experience and lessons learned, and the gathering of feedback;
• Contributing to the continuous improvement of working procedures, tools, processes, expert working methods and delivery methods (lessons learned, knowledge management) and to the reflection on the evolution of the Section's role and activities;
• Contributing to the independent technical assessment capability and supporting project reviews;
• Representing the Agency in your area(s) of expertise within ESA and with external entities (industry, delegations, etc.);
• Coordinating the dissemination of the Section’s results within and beyond ESA, in particular via conferences, workshops and R&D presentation days.

R&D/technology management:

• In line with anticipated technology trends and project needs, defining, promoting and implementing the Section’s contributions to ESA technology programmes and R&D activities;
• Coordinating, where applicable, the requirements of technology elements in your domain of expertise with the overall requirements of the systems developed under the responsibility of other areas in the Directorate;
• Liaising with relevant technology expert groups and coordination mechanisms.

 
General and leadership:

• Ensuring a positive and motivating working environment for the Section;
• Communicating ESA values and ensuring compliance with all ESA policies;
• Representing the Section when brokering agreements with other parties and actively encouraging cross-unit cooperation;
• Anticipating and resolving sensitive or difficult situations, detecting and managing health and safety issues, and liaising with HR as required;
• Establishing good working relationships and technical networks with users, project groups and other organisations both inside and outside the Agency;
• Reporting to high-level management and flowing down communication from management.

Interface management:

• Coordinating with the various technical engineers and architects in the design, development and verification of the space segment system;
• Coordinating the evolution of standards in the context of the ECSS system related to the technical domains of the Section.

 
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
People Management

Education

A master's degree in engineering is required for this post.

Additional requirements

• Extensive experience in the domain of systems engineering for space missions;
• Strong experience in systems engineering design development and verification;
• Strong experience in systems engineering processes, tools and approaches;
• The potential to manage individuals or a team of systems engineers; 
• The ability to organise their 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;
• Strong results 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 would be an asset, as would international experience, i.e. outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.