EO Systems Architect Officer
Noordwijk, NL
Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
Description
We are looking for an Earth Observation Systems Architect Officer who will report to the Head of the System Architect Office.
The European Earth observation ecosystem of today has emerged from a range of programmatic foundations, including research missions, operational missions, multilateral, national and commercial systems, non-orbiting platforms, and in-situ assets and their synergies.
ESA requires a forward-looking system-of-systems architectural framework for the 2035–2060 timeframe, not to replace the real-world European EO ecosystem, but to offer a coherent, system-level perspective to guide its strategic evolution notably in the context of machine learning/artificial intelligence numerical, weather, ocean and climate prediction systems.
By providing architectural coherence, reference capabilities and trusted coordination across institutional, national and commercial actors, ESA enables Europe to preserve scientific credibility, policy relevance and strategic autonomy in an increasingly complex and contested environment.
As part of the System Architect Office team and working across the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes, you will foster the unique role of the European Space Agency as a neutral architect and long-term steward of Europe’s EO capability. You will develop and drive activities that will explore diverse architectural elements to evolve and maintain a reference architecture up to 2060. Your work will map the EO programmatic vision of Member States and stakeholders and, using different scenarios for a future world, you will develop architectural approaches to optimise the future EO ecosystem. As part of your work, you will conduct periodic EO gap analyses and impact studies, and explore new and future EO domains with an observatory function.
Duties
Your tasks and responsibilities will include:
- in close dialogue with users and stakeholders, developing and driving activities to explore diverse architectural elements in order to evolve and maintain a European Earth Observation Ecosystem Reference Architecture (blueprint) for the 2030–2060 timeframe;
- preparing new architectures addressing the paradigm shifts in Earth observation driven by artificial intelligence/machine learning in the upstream (i.e. on board spacecraft) and downstream (e.g. numerical prediction application) domains;
- conducting periodic observation gap analyses and/or impact studies to support the formulation of architectural options for the European EO strategy;
- establishing high-level user needs, constraints and interests for different mission types across a wide spectrum of different actors (including national and commercial entities) to inform architectural options;
- identifying programmatic capacities, overlaps and links, and the means to foster their transformation into synergies;
- leveraging active external networks, exploring new and future EO domains with an observatory function, permanently searching for innovation and gathering information on technology evolution, including benchmarking activities in relation to other organisations/systems;
- analysing technical and economic issues and trends under new EO sector initiatives to assess the relevant feasibility, i.e.:
- estimating the scientific, operational, strategic and economic impact of new services and products and their applications;
- trading off different scenarios in terms of cost, risk, affordability and available programmatic lines to facilitate integration into existing infrastructure;
- identifying an appropriate procurement scheme and private sector involvement.
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 engineering, mathematics or physics is required for this post.
Additional requirements
- A minimum of five years of experience in EO activities is required.
- Demonstrated ability for the collection, analysis and synthesis of information that pertains to various fields (technical, scientific or economic) and is drawn from various sources.
- Experience of machine learning/artificial intelligence for numerical, weather, ocean and climate prediction systems.
- A thorough knowledge of synergies between complementary Earth observation techniques would be an asset.
- You will be familiar with current and future planned satellite missions including instruments, technologies, user and stakeholder needs/plans, both within ESA and within relevant international programmes and commercial Earth observation entities.
- Particular importance will be attached to your capabilities to work closely with international experts, relevant scientific/industrial and political organisations and bodies, as well as to function in a team environment.
- Familiarity with the programmatic outlook in the ESA FutureEO, Earth Watch and Copernicus domains will also be a key 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 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, 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.