Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
The Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration Programmes (D/HRE) is a programme directorate within the ESA matrix structure. Through a partnership between humans and robots, D/HRE is dedicated to exploring destinations in space where humans are already living and working —– or will live and work in the future —– for the purpose of scientific research, economic development, international cooperation and public inspiration.
As Lead Payload Engineer, you will join the LEO Payloads Team as part of the LEO and Suborbital Utilisation team, LEO Services Group, Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration Programmes.
Reporting to the leader of the LEO Payload Team, you will be responsible for the programmatic and systems engineering activities related to the payloads under development or service implementation assigned to the section.
You will liaise closely with the industrial prime contractors, systems engineers, project scientists and various teams, including the engineering and operations team in the LEO Services Group.
You will act as Technical Officer for several payload development and service contracts, as defined by the LEO Utilisation and Suborbital Team. Your role will span the entire lifecycle of payloads, from specification and design to commissioning and in-orbit operations, ensuring technical and programmatic requirements are met.
Key responsibilities:
- Payload specification and development: lead the preparation of the statement of work for payloads, ensuring the clear definition of requirements and specifications in line with mission objectives. Establish technical and programmatic requirements from Phase A to Phase E1 based on the Activity Requirements Description of assigned payloads, in cooperation with the science and operations teams. Oversee the specification, design, procurement and verification of payload hardware and software, coordinating with internal teams and external partners. Define technical and programmatic requirements for Service Level Agreements with industry partners, ensuring end-to-end service delivery.
- Project lifecycle management: manage industrial activities during all phases of payload development, from invitation to tender through to flight commissioning, ensuring compliance with the schedule, technical requirements and budget. Ensure the smooth integration of payloads and oversee the coordination between cross-functional teams, end users and operational organisations, such as user support and operations centres (USOCs).
- Contract and risk management: define technical and programmatic requirements for Service Level Agreements with industry partners, ensuring end-to-end service delivery. Negotiate contracts and manage relationships with partners to ensure adherence to technical, budgetary and schedule requirements. Identify risks, propose mitigation measures and monitor their resolution. Organise, conduct and support project reviews at system, ground segment and payload levels, ensuring alignment with mission objectives.
- Verification and compliance: monitor the industrial progress of payload design and/or readiness, ensuring compliance with mission specifications and technical requirements. Oversee industrial verification activities and manage non-conformances, deviations and waivers. Ensure payload safety and operational readiness through proper testing and verification.
- Interface and coordination: support industrial contractors in defining and implementing functional specifications, manage payload interfaces (both external and internal), ensure safety compliance, and verify alignment with scientific requirements. Manage the coordination of internal and external payload interfaces, ensuring alignment between payload and outpost integration. Assist the LEO/ISS Utilisation and Operations Teams, including ESA, industry partners and the USOCs, in preparing for the operational phase of payloads, providing technical inputs as needed.
- Project reporting and schedule management: provide regular technical and programmatic reports to the LEO Payload Team Leader, highlighting risk areas and proposing corrective actions. Manage the project schedule, identify potential delays and propose schedule risk mitigation actions.
- Collaboration and team leadership: coordinate with the ESA Technology, Engineering and Quality and Operations Directorates, ensuring the provision of specialised engineering support as needed. Provide support for other LEO Payloads Team activities as required, based on your expertise and professional experience.
- Innovation and feasibility: contribute to early feasibility assessments of potential payloads, including innovative systems such as free-flyers and commercial LEO destinations, by providing technical insights and evaluations.
Knowledge of industrial costs and schedule aspects
Knowledge of ESA and industrial development, verification and procurement processes
Knowledge of other technical domains interfacing with your area of responsibility
Knowledge of risk management principles and the ability to identify, assess and mitigate potential risks throughout the project lifecycle
Extensive knowledge of ESA space system development, product assurance and ISS safety standards
Multidisciplinary knowledge of your area of responsibility
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook
Education and professional experience
A master's degree in a relevant domain is required for this post together with four years of relevant professional experience.
- Thorough knowledge of the ISS programmatic and technical environment and experience with ESA procurement and industry/supplier management would be a strong asset;
- You should demonstrate experience in the management and delivery of aerospace or similarly complex projects within budget and schedule;
- You are expected to demonstrate excellent technical and system-level coordination skills, and the ability to sum up complex technical and programmatic information;
- Good interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively in a diverse team environment;
- Proactive attitude to solving problems and achieving solutions in line with team objectives and customer needs;
- Good communication skills, both verbal and written;
- Interest in innovative technologies;
- Vision for improving the overall efficiency of the development process and service implementation;
- Industrial experience in LEO payload development for crewed missions would be considered a strong asset.
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
[email protected].
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, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.
According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the 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.
