14 January 2016 Industry News

Job Opportunities at ESTEC

Electrical Power Conditioning and Distribution Engineer

Close Date

25-01-2016

Permanent, Full-time

Tasks and Responsibilities

The Key Person will be responsible for the following tasks:

  • The design, development and test of spacecraft power systems for on-board applications. Encompasses, definition of centralised power systems with overall power levels up to 25 kilowatts, their interfaces, with respect to solar arrays and batteries, the attendant power distribution/protection equipments and pyrotechnic activation functions. Detailed tasks include the overall system design necessary for the development of fault-tolerant power control and distribution concepts, the detailed design of the power regulators and the identification/use of tools and methods for ensuring dependable design and verification.
  • The development of simulation blocks for system analysis; batteries, solar cells & arrays, power control and distribution units, useful for the independent evaluation of critical power and energy budgets.
  • Support to laboratory activities concerning design and development or verification of circuits for power management and distribution; solar array and battery conversion electronics, power distribution and protection electronics, power conversion for generic and specific purposes, including redundancy and protections
  • Involvement in critical R&D activities support, by simulation, worst-case analysis and laboratory testing of the overall system or of the most critical sub-units
  • Assisting to the development and validation of worst-case simulation blocks for electrical equipment analysis; converters, shunt regulators, current limiters, protections, critical telemetry or telecommand functions; for the independent check of the most critical equipment functionality and performances, in support to all programmes reviews where the power conditioning section is involved.
  • The development and verification of high voltage design technologies and associated power converters, suitable for application as Electronic Power Conditioners, EPCs, for specialized spacecraft payloads such as Travelling Wave Tube Assemblies, TWTA`s, and Electric Propulsion Concepts.

Essential skills

Requirements

Applicants shall bring an Engineering PhD or Masters in in Electrical or Electronic Engineering or Physics, at least 4 years of working experience and the following:

  • good electrical power processing background, together with a good experience of digital and analogue electronics and control theory;
  • specific experience in the domain of power conditioning electronics together, with `hands on` knowledge of the circuit design of such systems;
  • good experience in the development of computer models, especially with SPICE-based simulators;
  • knowledge and experience on High Voltage power conditioning for space application constitute an asset.

Important: All applicants must hold a current valid work permit for the Netherlands or be EU nationals

Apply online here:www.careershub.serco.eu

Radio Navigation Engineer

Close Date

08-02-2016

Fixed Term Contract, 9 months, Full-time

Tasks and Responsibilities

As Radio Navigation Engineer you will have the following tasks and responsibilities:

  • support to Navigation Projects (e.g. EGNOS and GALILEO) for signal design for current and future evolution of the systems;
  • participation in studies supporting current and future radio navigation system definition and/or analysis (EGNOS/GALILEO evolutions and GPS modernisation) regarding system, signals-in-space design and ground processing;
  • Design, definition and follow up of industrial contract related to the procurement of GNSS receiver for infrastructure or user applications;
  • Design, definition and follow up of R&D contract related to the procurement of GNSS future ground/space infrastructure receiver and user technology;
  • Support implementation, maintenance and operation of complex Radio Navigation simulation and test facilities for testing receivers and applications;
  • Support design and testing of Radio Navigation equipment;
  • Support End to End GALILEO/EGNOS System Integration, Validation and Qualification activities in particular in the area of receiver and user equipment testing.

Essential skills

Requirements

A Master Degree in Telecom Engineering and 4 years of experience as a minimum are required as well as background and experience on GNSS navigation performance and spacecraft system engineering will be required.

You should also bring the following:

  • Specific knowledge in the design and testing of Radio Navigation systems and equipment;
  • strong knowledge on the design of satellite navigation systems, ranging and positioning techniques, RF, signal processing techniques, and digital navigation receivers;
  • several years experience relevant with the GNSS1 and GALILEO systems and equipment and have and good knowledge of Radio Navigation simulation and testing systems;
  • be specialised in the implementation, maintenance and operation of complex Radio Navigation simulation and test facilities for spacecraft, aircraft, maritime and land mobile applications.

Important: All applicants must hold a current valid work permit for the Netherlands or be EU nationals.

Apply online here: www.careershub.serco.eu

Galileo Service and Planning Operations Engineer

Close Date

01-02-2016

Permanent, Full-time

Tasks and Responsibilities

You will be assigned to the System and Flight Operations Unit of the Galileo Operations Procurement Service Division and will report to the Head of System and Flight Operations Section. Your tasks will include the following:

  • Follow the definition and implementation of the overall Service KPIs to be applied to Galileo during the Initial Service Validation and Provision phases, and coordinate the technical definition, implementation and validation of the specific operational KPIs;
  • Support the preparation and validation the operational procedures to interface with the external service providers;
  • Manage the Operational Interfaces with the Service Centres, and the delivery of the agreed products (OSM, OSP, ORSI, etc.), also in the frame of the Galileo Early Services;
  • Organise resource management meetings (OSMBs) and coordinate with the Long Term Plan preparation, ensuring that the OSMB outcomes are properly taken into account and flown down also at Mid Term Plan level;
  • Manage Planning Requests affecting service provision and Service related incidents analysis investigation;
  • Support the enhancing of operational planning processes and operational interfaces;
  • Active participation to the Service Anomaly Review Boards for the investigation of planned and unplanned outages affecting the service availability and reporting of the analysis results as input to the NAGU process;
  • Attendance of Anomaly Review Boards and Configuration Control Board following in particular the technical issues related to Services provision;
  • Support the achievement of Operations readiness for GALILEO Services Provision;
  • Support the organisation of the GALILEO Project Operations Service Reviews;
  • Development in collaboration with the G2G Project Experts the definition of the G2G services.

Essential skills

Requirements

As successful candidate you should bring a university degree and the following:

  • Significant experience in operations engineering, operations and / or service provision related activities, with some experience in management tasks;
  • Fluency in English, both in speech and writing;
  • Familiar with Spacecraft and Ground Segment subsystem knowledge;
  • Able to carry on activities and interact in a complex teamwork environment;
  • A proven experience in in a commercial / industrial environment is required;
  • Able to work independently;
  • Familiarity with the ESTEC environment;
  • Some experience dealing with external interfaces;
  • The ability to multi-task efficiently; working on multiple activities;
  • Experience related to developments in the Galileo project (GIOVE, IOV, FOC) will be considered an asset.

The appointment is subject to the selected key personnel having or obtaining personal security clearance from his / her national security authority.

This work requires frequent travels within Europe.


Important: All applicants must hold a current valid work permit for the Netherlands or be EU nationals.

Apply online at: www.careershub.serco.eu

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