Job Description

VEGA-C Mission Performance Engineer

Job Requisition ID: 20521

Date Posted: 22 April 2026

Closing Date: 13 May 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication: Internal & External

Type of Appointment: 4 years, extendable to indefinite

Directorate: Space Transportation

Workplace:

Frascati, IT

Grade Band: A2 - A4

Location
ESRIN, Frascati, Italy

Description

Vega-C Flight Analysis and Mission Performance Engineer in the Vega and Space Rider Launch System and Engineering Division, Flight Programmes Department, Directorate of Space Transportation.

Under the direct authority of the Vega and Space Rider Launch System and Engineering Manager, you will be responsible for leading and centralising the analysis, assessment, verification and evolution monitoring of the key performance indicators of the Vega-C Launch System, in line with the role and responsibilities assigned to the Vega and Space Rider Integrated Project Team.

You will perform systematic evaluations of the Launch System’s observed performances across all missions, including detailed reviews of flight data and outcomes as presented during the flight exploitation reviews. You will ensure that performance results are accurately interpreted, consolidated and compared against technical requirements and historical trends, identifying potential deviations and improvement opportunities, proposing corrective or optimisation actions.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

Collection and consolidation of flight data from Vega C missions, enabling identification of key performance parameters across all relevant engineering disciplines (e.g., environment, trajectory, safety, GNC, performance achievement).
Exploitation and detailed analysis of flight data, with particular focus on detecting correlations and interactions among parameters in the domains of GNC, environments and system performances.
Participation in and follow up of post flight LEVEL 0 and LEVEL 1 reviews, ensuring verification, traceability, and correctness of all data exploitation outcomes.
Monitoring of mission preparation phases, with special emphasis on verification of the compliance of their definition with respect to the qualification perimeter. This includes analysing each mission’s specific characteristics and criticalities regarding trajectory, GNC, safety aspects, and required performance.
Surveillance of the mission coherency on the industry side, through active participation in Mission Analysis and Readiness Review loops and processes for both institutional and commercial missions, to ensure alignment with system and customer requirements as well as with all the operational constraints.
Identification and documentation of mission specific lessons learned, including the proposal of practical improvement actions and their potential integration into the ongoing Vega C development and evolution activities.
Contribution to the management of Vega-C Launch System High Level Requirements, including their formal introduction, structuring, and traceability within a requirements management tool, as well as the continuous maintenance and update of these requirements throughout the system evolution lifecycle

Technical competencies

Knowledge of systems and mission engineering: Launch System architecture, mission analysis fundamentals, requirements engineering, verification and validation activities, key performance indicator (KPI) definition and management.

Knowledge of flight data exploitation and performance evaluation: trajectory and performance reconstruction, correlation analysis across domains, anomaly trend analysis.

Knowledge of trajectory, aerodynamics and environment models with specific focus on payload comfort aspects.

Knowledge of requirements and data management tooling: traceability best practices, configuration management tools, dashboarding and reporting.

Knowledge of data analysis, modelling and software for analysis (matlab/Simulink), statistics and estimation.

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.

Education and professional experience

A master's degree in a relevant engineering field is required for this post together with 10 years of relevant professional experience.

Additional requirements

Direct experience in the development of Vega-related products as well as in the management of lessons learned databases will be considered an asset.

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 & 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, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the 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.