Head of Mission Analysis Section

Description

Head of the Mission Analysis Section in the Flight Dynamics Division, Ground Systems Engineering and Innovation Department, Directorate of Operations.

You will report to the Head of the Flight Dynamics Division and lead the mission analysis activities supporting future projects, ground segment design and operations preparation. These currently encompass terrestrial, lunar, interplanetary and libration point missions.

The emphasis of the activities is on orbit-related analysis, such as operational orbit selection, design and optimisation of low- and high-trust transfer trajectories (including rocket ascent and descent trajectories), computation of atmospheric entry trajectories, launch window and target definition, fuel budget analysis, prediction of orbit-derived data, navigation analysis, design of satellite constellations and formation flight. Lunar surface analysis is a non-orbital field required for future lunar landers and rovers.

These mission analysis solutions are provided by a technical team of ESA staff and industrial services.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• leading an international team of expert staff and coordinating the work of industrial service teams;
• ensuring a positive and motivating working environment for the Section;
• maintaining and developing the expertise and technical competence of the Section’s members to meet current and future strategic needs, taking into account their motivation, aspirations and professional development;
• negotiating and agreeing mission-analysis activities in terms of levels of support and required resources in close cooperation with the Ground Segment Manager in ESOC’s Mission Operations Department and the project/study managers in the relevant directorates;
• leading and coordinating mission-analysis activities in close cooperation with the Flight Dynamics Team, the flight control teams of the Mission Operations Department and the project/study teams in the relevant directorates;
• leading the development and maintenance of the software tools needed to carry out the requested mission analysis activities in close cooperation with the rest of the Flight Dynamics Division;
• defining and conducting R&D activities in the area of mission analysis with a focus on future project needs in close cooperation with other ESA units working in astrodynamics within and external to the Directorate of Operations;
• managing work packages carried out by service providers under the Division’s framework contracts;
• contributing to the ongoing refurbishment of the flight dynamics systems and to the evolution of the flight dynamics system infrastructure, in line with divisional policy and in collaboration with the relevant units;
• establishing and maintaining good working relationships and technical networks with users, project groups and other organisational bodies both within and external to the Agency;
• supporting standardisation efforts;
• maintaining a high level of expertise within the Section in all areas of competence.

You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

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

*(esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/careers/ESA_Competency_Framework.pdf)

Education

A master's degree in mathematics, physics or a relevant engineering discipline is required for this post.

Additional requirements

You must have several years of relevant experience in mission analysis. Experience in flight dynamics operations will be a strong advantage.

Furthermore, you should have:

• the potential to manage individuals or a team of experts in mission analysis;
• the ability to organise individual and team activities and ensure a motivating work environment;
• strong leadership capabilities, with proven relationship management and communication skills;
• the ability to drive your team’s performance, developing your people by encouraging learning, delegating responsibility and giving regular and constructive feedback;
• strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills;
• a strong results orientation with the ability to set priorities and present practical solutions both orally and in writing;
• the ability to manage challenging situations proactively and constructively and to be customer-focused.

People management experience is an asset, as is international experience, i.e. outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.