Description

D2D 5G/6G Network Lead Mission Engineer in the D2D Project within the Communication Constellations and NG 5G6G NTN Partnerships Division in the Commercial Partnerships Department within the Directorate of Commercialisation and Industry Partnerships.

Reporting to the D2D Mission Manager, you will be responsible for all 5G/6G network development and procurement aspects for the Direct-to-Device (D2D) Partnership Projects (ELEOSYS and SELYCE) under the same Department.

You will be the focal point and day-to-day interface with the satellite operators and industrial prime contractors, and, under the leadership and authority of management, will be responsible for decision-making on behalf of the ESA Partnership Projects and for the design, development, qualification, on-ground verification and in-orbit validation of 5G/6G network elements, ensuring overall consistency with the mission requirements and end-to-end performances within schedule and cost.

Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) connectivity for Direct-to-Device (D2D) presents one of the greatest potential growth opportunities in satcom. The objective of the D2D partnership projects is to design, develop, qualify, integrate and validate satellite payload, platform and ground network innovative technologies using ESA Member States’ supply chain solutions in a pre-operational system showcasing emerging D2D services.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• leading and coordinating the definition, procurement, design, development, qualification, acceptance, deployment and ground- and in-orbit validation of the 5G/6G NTN system architecture for the D2D Partnership Projects;
• ensuring the alignment of the mission performances with the system requirements for the space, ground and user segments, and compliance with the specified requirements;
• supervising the development and validation of the 5G/6G NTN software protocol stack, both on board and on the ground, including end-to-end system integration and validation through testbeds and in-orbit demonstrations;
• leading the end-to-end integration of NTN payloads, RAN and core subsystems, and O-RAN/NTN-with the different ground architectures;
• ensuring technical consistency and effective coordination across the various project areas under the responsibility of the project team;
• interfacing with industrial counterparts to review, monitor and support contractors’ technical progress and implementation status;
• supporting, as required, industry tailoring and leading the subsequent application of ESA, international and industry standards;
• responsibility for the requirements and specifications, technical budgets, design drivers, internal and external interfaces, system performance and operational concepts, including their consistency with the mission requirements, specifications and technical budgets;
• managing, together with the operators and the industrial prime contractors, the system, subsystem and equipment reviews in your area of competence;
• participating in all level reviews as lead 5G/6G network representative of the department D2D projects;
• leading the preparation and implementation of mission, system, and lower-level reviews in cooperation with the project team and supporting the other project team engineers in other project lower-level reviews;
• leading a team of engineers and specialised engineering support from the Directorates of Technology, Engineering and Quality (D/TEC) and Operations (D/OPS);
• proactively monitoring the overall system schedule, identifying risks and problem areas, providing assessments and proposing mitigation actions from industry and the ESA side;
• monitoring the completion of system activities within technical performance, schedule and cost;
• monitoring system competitiveness through regular competitiveness meetings;
• supporting the Project Manager for regular technical, programmatic and financial reporting to ESA management and the Participating States;
• supporting meetings with delegations and partners, as required;
• contributing to relevant communication and outreach activities;
• identifying challenges and opportunities associated with system evolutions and proposing corresponding updates to the mission architecture and interfaces;
• supporting other activities of the Department, such as the preparation of future mission opportunities, as required, and relevant to your experience.

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

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 working in a cross-functional team and in promoting innovation through a creative collaboration process;
• Strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills;
• Ability to understand, and to clearly and concisely communicate complex technical issues to the team and external parties;
• Direct experience of working with a commercial telecommunication’s prime contractor and/or operator will be a distinct advantage. Experience with ESA’s Partnership Projects would be an asset.