Job Description

Project Controller

Job Requisition ID: 19783

Date Posted: 3 October 2025

Closing Date: 24 October 2025 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication: Internal & External

Type of Contract: Permanent

Directorate: Navigation

Workplace:

Toulouse, FR

Grade Band: A2 - A4

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands with a resident assignment to Toulouse, France

Description

Project Controller in the Galileo and EGNOS Programme Management Support Office, Navigation Programme Management Support Office, Directorate of Navigation.

You will report to the Head of the Galileo and EGNOS Project Management Support Office with a functional reporting line to the Head of the EGNOS and SBAS Division and direct interfaces with ESA Corporate Control, Finance, and Procurement, as well as with the industrial contractors for all matters in their domain of activity.

You will initially be assigned to the EGNOS and ASECNA projects.

You will be responsible for supporting the project manager(s) on all activities relating to project cost, schedule and risks, as well as project management processes.

You will hold key responsibilities in the preparation, procurement and monitoring of complex procurements, from the preparation of work plans and tendering to the closure of contracts, and for management, reporting, financial and planning aspects. You will have multiple interfaces within and outside ESA, including negotiations with industrial contractors, and will play a key role in supporting the project manager(s) in programmatic decision-making.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

preparing, developing and maintaining the overall programmatic aspects of the project and missions in support of the project manager. The programmatic aspects include work breakdown structure, cost, finance, schedule, reporting, risks, logistics, configuration, documentation, progress control and industrial organisational statistics, as well as general project administration;
implementing and operating planning and control procedures to provide full visibility on the progress of all activities using established procedures and information systems;
supporting inventory control and asset management for the assigned projects;
assisting in the preparation of tender documents with respect to cost, management, risk and schedule/planning requirements and participating in the evaluation of proposals;
preparing information required for subsequent contract negotiations and participating in all tasks related to the placing of contracts, including negotiations with industry, the European Commission/European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) and other third parties;
supporting the closure of industrial contracts and the financial year closure exercise;
implementing, within the framework of the Agency-wide risk management policy, risk management procedures and identifying potential problem areas therein, proposing mitigation actions and preparing risk reports as required;
supporting the organisation of project reviews and participating in reviews in your areas of project control-related responsibility;
preparing reports as required and providing inputs for periodic reporting to the Commission, EUSPA, ESA Member States, project management and the Business Unit Controller;
contributing to preparing preliminary change implementation proposals in response to Commission and/or EUSPA change requests for agreements in place and procurement work plans;
interfacing with industry on financial, programmatic and schedule control matters;
ensuring industry compliance with established formal requirements for management, costs, schedule and risk reporting;
coordinating the configuration management function that provides support for the establishment and maintenance of the project’s technical and programmatic baselines;
contributing to the establishment and maintenance of the EGNOS schedules;
assisting in the definition and implementation of planning and control procedures and tools to provide visibility on all activities relating to the project.

Technical competencies

Experience in space project management principles and processes

Understanding of space system architectures

Experience in supplier management, including progress monitoring, change control, negotiation and stakeholder management

Understanding of the relevant ESA and/or EU procurement regulations

Knowledge of cost and financial regulatory frameworks, including accounting standards and auditing

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 is required for this post.

Additional requirements

The following are considered assets for this position:

At least five years of experience in the application of project management and project control principles and advanced project control techniques, as well as in the preparation, negotiation and implementation of major industrial procurements;
Engineering experience in a project or programme setting;
Previous experience as a manager or a controller in a project or programme setting, preferably at Agency or industry level.

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.

Applicants must be eligible to aquire the security clearance by their national security administrations.

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.