EO Systems Engineer
Rome | Frascati
- Organization: ESA - European Space Agency
- Location: Rome | Frascati
- Grade: Mid level - A2/A4 - Grade band
-
Occupational Groups:
- Engineering
- Information Technology and Computer Science
- Closing Date: 2025-09-17
EO Systems Engineer
Frascati, IT
Location
ESRIN, Frascati, Italy
Description
You will report to the Head of the Digital Innovation Section in the Green Solutions Division, Climate Action, Sustainability and Science Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes (D/EOP), and will work in close cooperation with other Directorate staff in performing your tasks.
You will be part of a dynamic team leading EO research and application activities, in partnership with European and international industry and academia, using satellite data to understand, mitigate and adapt to climate change, to preserve the health of our planet and to better manage natural resources through smarter and more efficient practices while anticipating potential scarcities and future challenges.
As part of the Digital Innovation Section, you will be responsible for advancing the EO ecosystem to implement the transition and acceleration from open science to open innovation as described in the new EO Science Strategy, and in particular for harnessing the power of cutting-edge digital technologies to implement and manage FAIR (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability and Reusability) environments for data management and algorithm preservation and maturation. This extends to commercial approaches and environments to operationally roll out information as a service to support a wide range of sectors in their green transition efforts.
Duties
Your tasks and responsibilities will include:
- identifying, assessing and implementing innovative ideas for shared platform services and tools, leveraging leading-edge ICT innovation that facilitates EO exploitation from data science to operational information provisioning to green transition stakeholders;
- managing innovative projects with downstream industry and academia to develop horizontal tools and industrial services to accompany the R&D chain, from science to operational applications, to deliver actionable and timely information for relevant stakeholders in the implementation of the green transition policies and their monitoring;
- engaging with international activities in the geospatial sector on standardisation and open-source provisioning, for example OGC, OSGeo and community standards such as OpenEO, Zarr and Stack;
- cooperating with EOP colleagues engaged in related thematic activities;
- engaging with related ESA and non-ESA activities carried out by national, European and international stakeholders to ensure a coordinated approach, and representing ESA, the Division and the Department in international forums.
Technical competencies
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
For more information, please refer to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.
Education
A master's degree or PhD in a relevant engineering discipline is required for this post.
Additional requirements
Five years' experience in job-related development and/or research activities.
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 contact.human.resources@esa.int.
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.
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, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.
According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates and secondly to external candidates from under-represented 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.
*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.