Production and Satellites Officer in IRIS² Integrated Programme Team in Secure Connectivity Programme Department in the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications.

On 15 March 2023, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopted Regulation (EU) 2023/588 establishing the Union Secure Connectivity Programme for the period 2023–2027.
The objective of the EU Secure Connectivity Programme is to deploy an EU satellite constellation, IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite). The Programme will provide an EU satellite‐based, multiorbital communication infrastructure for governmental use while integrating and complementing existing and future national and European capacities in the framework of the GOVSATCOM component of the EU Space Programme.
The ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity is intended to support the effective development and validation of the EU Secure Connectivity (IRIS²) governmental infrastructure, which is to be developed, deployed and operated under a concession contract signed by the EU with a private consortium, and the services provided by it, as well as the validation and demonstration of services based on the commercial infrastructure developed by the contractors delivering the EU Secure Connectivity governmental infrastructure.

The European Commission and ESA will set up an Integrated Programme Team (IPT) to manage the EU IRIS² Programme and, in particular, the related concession contract, and to ensure close coordination between all activities relating to IRIS².

Reporting to the Deployment Manager of the Integrated Programme Team, you will be responsible for the timely deployment and entry into operations of the specified space segment. You will conduct activities aiming to build up EU manufacturing capabilities both at satellite and at supply chain level. You will oversee the definition and development of the satellites, relying on ESA for supervision of the industrial activities relating to the development and validation and aiming to ensure coordination in accordance with the agreements between ESA and the European Commission. You will support the Development and Validation Officer for aspects relating to the validation of the satellites. You will conduct all activities relating to launch services with ESA support. As such, you will interface with industry on matters relating to satellite production and the launchers of the IRIS² concession.

Initial assignment to Brussels is until Q1 2028 with a possible extension, within the framework of the 12 year Contribution Agreement between ESA and EC. At the end of the assignment, you will be reassigned to a position within CSC Directorate.

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

Strong technical background in space segment and satellite design, development, validation and manufacturing, preferably in the telecommunications or constellations domain

Experience with the implementation of large space programmes or projects, ideally in the telecommunications domain

Demonstrated experience of working as part of a team of technical, contractual and legal specialists working towards a common goal

Experience in the management and monitoring of industrial activities, including technical and contractual negotiations, and management of technical reviews.

Multi-disciplinary and comprehensive knowledge of Space Segment architecture, definition of related technical requirements, and on-ground and in-orbit validation activities.

Experience in managing industrial activities from a cost and schedule point of view.

Experience with product assurance and safety standards and their application in a project environment.

Experience with complex project risk management processes

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

A master’s degree in engineering or a related technical or scientific discipline is required for this post.