Job Description

Lead Mission Procurement Engineer

Job Requisition ID: 20523

Date Posted: 29 April 2026

Closing Date: 20 May 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication: Internal & External

Type of Appointment: 4 years, extendable to indefinite

Directorate: Connectivity and Secure Communications

Workplace:

Noordwijk, NL

Grade Band: A2 - A4

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

The Lead Mission Procurement Engineer reports to the Sunrise Partnership Project Manager within the LEO Satellites Programme Office, with a functional reporting line to the PHOENIX Partnership Project Manager in the Satellite Programmes Department within the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communication (D/CSC).

The Lead Mission Procurement Engineer is responsible for the overall mission aspects of the assigned projects, including all its segments, for the ELSA-M Active Debris Removal (ADR) and the PHOENIX In-Orbit Servicing (IOS) missions with satellite development, AIT&V and the associated ground segment, and in-orbit demonstration, ensuring overall coherence and end-to-end performance in accordance with schedule and cost requirements.

You will be the focal point and day-to-day interface with the ELSA-M and PHOENIX industrial contractors, and, under the leadership and authority of the relevant project managers, will lead the mission development, as well as AIT&V aspects.

You will coordinate a team of engineers specialising in telecom partnerships and debris removal and will be supported by CSC project control staff, as well as by specialist engineers from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality and the Directorate of Operations.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

acting as a focal point for
- the development, AIT&V and validation of the missions in partnership with the industry team;
- the procurement of the satellites, related ground segment and in-orbit demonstration, in coordination with the client satellite operators;
leading the end-to-end missions, including the design, development, qualiﬁcation, deployment, on-ground verification and in-orbit validation of the systems, including all segments and services;
interfacing with industry counterparts to review contractors’ plans, system specifications, baseline system design, analyses and budgets, as well as the implementation of activities;
interfacing with industry counterparts to review contractors’ concept of operations, trade-offs, design drivers, technical and performance indicators, as well as system internal and external interfaces;
leading the preparation and implementation of all ESA corporate mission-/system-level reviews in cooperation with the project team, and supporting the other project team engineers with other lower-level project reviews;
supporting industry tailoring as required and leading the subsequent application of ECSS, international and industry standards;
responsibility for space debris mitigation in accordance with internal ESA instructions;
ensuring close coordination and support with other project functions, such as PA&S and Security, as needed;
processing non-conformances, waivers, deviations, requests for approval, anomalies and requirement closure data, as well as supporting the evaluation of change notices;
contributing to ESA procurement processes, such as RFQ/ITT data packs, TEBs and negotiations;
proactively monitoring the overall project schedule, identifying risks and problem areas, providing assessments and proposing mitigation actions from industry and on the ESA side;
supporting the completion of activities in accordance with schedule, specification and cost requirements;
supporting the Sunrise Project Manager for the regular technical, programmatic and financial reporting to ESA management and Participating States;
supporting meetings with delegations and partners as required;
identifying, leading and efficiently coordinating specialised engineering support required from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality and the Directorate of Operations in the appropriate areas of competence;
contributing to project communications and promotion activities;
supporting ad hoc activities of the Department as required and relevant to your experience.

Technical competencies

Experience in SatCom satellites procurement, specification, design, development, verification, AIT&V and end-to-end in-orbit validation

Knowledge of ESA and industrial space development, verification and quality assurance processes

Knowledge of ESA or large industrial procurement processes and contract negotiation

Experience with complex project risk management processes, industrial costs and schedule control

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 and professional experience

A master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline is required for this post together with 4 years of relevant professional experience. Alternatively, candidates with a bachelor’s degree, complemented by an additional four (4) years of relevant professional experience can be considered.

Additional requirements

Experience in NewSpace aspects and agile system engineering is a distinct advantage.

Strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills
Ability to understand and clearly and concisely communicate complex technical issues to the team and external parties
Experience of working in a team within a project and coordinating cross-disciplinary topics

Direct experience of working with a commercial telecommunications prime contractor and/or operator will be a distinct advantage.

Experience with ESA’s partnership projects would be 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.

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.