Job Description

VN 26/13 Copernicus System Operations Team Leader

EUMETSAT is an intergovernmental organisation based in Darmstadt, Germany, with 30 member states. Our vision is to be the leading user-driven operational agency in Europe and a trusted global partner for weather and Earth system monitoring from space. We are at the forefront of providing near-real-time (NRT) data that are crucial for saving lives, protecting property, and fostering economic growth and productivity in Europe. By operating state-of-the-art systems for managing our satellites, data processing and providing real-time distribution services to users worldwide, we are making a tangible difference in people's lives and contribute to the thriving European economy.

As part of our mandate, EUMETSAT also operates several Copernicus missions on behalf of the European Union and provides services to the Copernicus marine and atmospheric services, and their users.

To operate these 24/7 operational systems and services, we are looking for a Copernicus System Operations Team Leader to join our team. Reporting directly to the System Operations Manager in the Real-Time Services and System Operations (RSO) division. The Copernicus System Operations Team Leader will have responsibility for the end-to-end (E2E) system operations engineering and coordination across the Copernicus programme ground segments and systems.

Duties

Team leader of the Copernicus System Operations Team (System Operations and Operations Preparation) supervising a team of dedicated EUMETSAT employees and coordinating activities of outsourced services;
Support to the System Operations Manager in the system engineering and coordination of the E2E operations of the Copernicus system and ground segments to ensure compliance with the Service Level Specifications (SLS);
Coordination of the definition and implementation of the E2E service monitoring for each Copernicus programme;
Coordination across programmes to maximise synergies and use of generic multi-mission operations in support of an overall EUMETSAT Multi-Mission Ground System (MMGS);
Interaction with the teams in the Operations and the Technical and Scientific Support Departments for E2E operations across the recurrent and new programmes;

Act as the primary Point-Of-Contact for Copernicus programmes ground operations to external entities, including ESA, NOAA, NASA and CNES;
Contribute to the definition of the system (including both satellite and ground segment) operations concepts and preparations for the future EUMETSAT satellites and programmes;
Support the planning, preparation and execution of System Level Verification and Validation activities for future satellites and programmes;
Participate in the Functional Area Management Boards (FAMBs) and Mission Management coordination groups, for system level operations engineering change requests and evolutions;
Deputise, as required, to the System Operations Manager.

LOCATION

Darmstadt, Germany

QUALIFICATIONS

University degree in remote sensing, meteorology or equivalent

LANGUAGES

Candidates must be able to work effectively in English and have some knowledge of French.

DEADLINE

3 April 2026

Duties

Team leader of the Copernicus System Operations Team (System Operations and Operations Preparation) supervising a team of dedicated EUMETSAT employees and coordinating activities of outsourced services;
Support to the System Operations Manager in the system engineering and coordination of the E2E operations of the Copernicus system and ground segments to ensure compliance with the Service Level Specifications (SLS);
Coordination of the definition and implementation of the E2E service monitoring for each Copernicus programme;
Coordination across programmes to maximise synergies and use of generic multi-mission operations in support of an overall EUMETSAT Multi-Mission Ground System (MMGS);
Interaction with the teams in the Operations and the Technical and Scientific Support Departments for E2E operations across the recurrent and new programmes;

Act as the primary Point-Of-Contact for Copernicus programmes ground operations to external entities, including ESA, NOAA, NASA and CNES;
Contribute to the definition of the system (including both satellite and ground segment) operations concepts and preparations for the future EUMETSAT satellites and programmes;
Support the planning, preparation and execution of System Level Verification and Validation activities for future satellites and programmes;
Participate in the Functional Area Management Boards (FAMBs) and Mission Management coordination groups, for system level operations engineering change requests and evolutions;
Deputise, as required, to the System Operations Manager.

Skills and Experience

Experience of complex spacecraft and ground segment operations.
Experience of team leading and team coordination.
Experience of System Engineering and System Development.
Experience in large project management and project coordination.
Strong inter-personal skills (both within a team and between teams).
Competent in planning, scheduling and other managerial skills.
Some experience of International cooperation projects will be a distinct advantage.

Employment Conditions

The initial contract will be of 4 years’ duration, with subsequent 5 year contracts being awarded thereafter, subject to individual performance and organisation requirements. There is no limit to the amount of follow-up contracts a staff member can receive up to the EUMETSAT retirement age of 63 and there are certainly opportunities to establish a long career perspective at EUMETSAT.
This post is graded A2/A4 on the EUMETSAT salary scales. The minimum basic salary for this post is EURO 7,553 per month (net of internal tax but excluding pension contribution and insurances) which may be negotiable on the basis of skills and experience. The salary scale provides for increments on the anniversary of taking up employment, and scales are reviewed by the EUMETSAT Council with effect from 1 January each year. In addition to basic salary, EUMETSAT offers attractive benefits. Further information, including salary details, is available on the EUMETSAT web site.

EUMETSAT is committed to providing an equal opportunities work environment for men and women.
Please note that only nationals of EUMETSAT Member States may apply. The EUMETSAT Convention requires that Staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, account being taken of the international character of EUMETSAT.

Applicants are required to disclose all nationalities they have held and currently hold in order to determine whether they can exercise the role as advertised in compliance with applicable export control regulations.

About EUMETSAT

EUMETSAT is Europe’s meteorological satellite agency. Its role is to establish and operate meteorological satellites to monitor the weather and climate from space - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This information is supplied to the National Meteorological Services of the organisation's Member States in Europe, as well as other users worldwide.

EUMETSAT also operates several Copernicus missions on behalf of the European Union and provide data services to the Copernicus marine and atmospheric services and their users.

As an intergovernmental European Organisation, EUMETSAT has 30 Member States (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.)

Apply on Organization Website

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