Job Description

Lead Payload Engineer

Job Requisition ID: 19822

Date Posted: 3 October 2025

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

Publication: Internal & External

Type of Contract: Permanent

Directorate: Human and Robotic Exploration

Workplace:

Noordwijk, NL

Grade Band: A2 - A4

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

The Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration (D/HRE) is a programme directorate within the ESA matrix structure. Through a partnership between humans and robots, the Directorate is dedicated to exploring destinations in space in which humans are already living and working – or will live and work in the future – for the purpose of scientific research, economic development, international cooperation and public inspiration.

The Lead Payload Engineer will serve as the Technical Officer responsible for the comprehensive development of lunar payloads, overseeing all phases from initial definition through to commissioning. The scope of this role encompasses lunar surface payloads, payloads designed for orbital platforms such as Gateway, and those associated with lunar small missions, in addition to select system engineering tasks. You will ensure that projects are executed in accordance with technical requirements and programme milestones, contributing to the advancement of lunar exploration initiatives within the Agency.

Duties

You will be primarily responsible, as Technical Officer, for the definition, integration, verification, and support to operations of lunar surface and orbital (including Gateway) payloads and payload suites.

Reporting to the Team Leader and interacting closely with the Lunar Science Team and experts from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality (D/TEC), your main tasks will include:

leading the development of the deliverable payloads in line with agreements with international partners, including
- establishing and agreeing the requirements baseline in collaboration with science, product assurance, industry and international partners;
- supporting the industrial contracting process in line with ESA contracting practices;
- leading the industrial development activities, from prototyping to deliverable model development, including calibration, verification and validation;
- ensuring delivery to and acceptance of the deliverable items by ESA and, if necessary, ESA’s international partners;
- applying appropriate methods for managing risks, achieving budget compliance, and maintaining the schedules agreed with international partners;
- coordination of project support activities with D/TEC;
preparing and leading the initial operations (commissioning phase) of assigned payloads;
continuously monitoring the status of payload activities, identifying development risks and critical issues, assigning corrective actions, resolving resource conflicts, and implementing necessary changes to established requirements;
organising, conducting, and supporting project reviews at system, ground segment, and payload levels;
supporting and providing input to Operations teams, lunar project scientists and the Science Team in preparing for the operational phase of the payloads;
supporting the Team Leader for additional tasks to be jointly agreed.

In addition, your responsibilities will include:

providing support for the early assessment of the feasibility of potential new payloads;
supporting the Team Leader in establishing a payload programme, including setting up a potential payload pool;
supporting line management in identifying areas of improvement, suggesting ways forward and potential changes;
providing support for other team activities as required and relevant to your knowledge;
supporting ESA outreach, communication and education activities.

Technical competencies

Knowledge of industrial costs and schedule aspects

Knowledge of ESA and industrial development, verification and procurement processes

Knowledge of system engineering requirements and processes

Complex project risk management processes

Multi-disciplinary knowledge of your area of responsibility

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 is required for this post.

Additional requirements

Experience with experiment instrumentation, developing payloads and managing industrial activities will be an asset.
A strong background in mechanical, electronic, software or thermal engineering is highly desirable.
Proven experience of collaborating with international partners, including export control handling, and experience working on projects that span multiple scientific disciplines is also beneficial.

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 access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations and eligible to acquire 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.