Print / save as PDF

VN 24/56 Metop Spacecraft Operations Engineer

The EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS) is currently providing global observations used for Numerical Weather Prediction and Climatology via its two remaining satellites - Metop-B & Metop-C - in a sun-synchronous polar orbit. The EPS – Second Generation (EPS-SG) programme will bring these observations to a new standard, with the first pair of Metop Second Generation satellites – Metop-SGA1 and Metop-SGB1 - due for deployment in the same sun-synchronous polar orbit as Metops B & C in 2025 and 2026 respectively.

Reporting to the Metop SG Spacecraft Operation Team Leader within the Flight Operations (FLO) Division, the post-holder will play an integral part in leading the final launch preparation activities and operations of several instruments embarked on the Metop-SG satellites. The post holder may also provide support to Metop first generation when needed.

Duties

In coordination with industrial suppliers and partner agencies and with support from a service team at EUMETSAT, the post holder will be responsible for the following activities on the relevant instruments:

  • Development and maintenance of the operational baseline (Flight Control Procedures, Operational Database etc) in order to ensure safe and efficient operations during all mission phases;
  • Development of automated monitoring, reporting and trend analysis;
  • Organisation of bi-annual in-orbit performance reviews; 
  • Maintenance of relevant external interfaces;
  • Provide on-call support of routine operations;
  • Coordinate / support anomaly investigations for both satellite and supporting ground systems, and follow up their resolution.

Additionally, the post holder will:

  • Support operations and configuration of flight operations ground segment elements including mission control system and satellite simulator;
  • Support the definition and implementation of training for operations personnel;
  • Support EPS and EPS SG system evolutions from a satellite operations perspective;
  • Contribute to the concept definition and preparatory activities for future LEO satellite systems.
 

LOCATION

Darmstadt, Germany

QUALIFICATIONS

University degree or equivalent in aerospace engineering or other relevant discipline.

LANGUAGES

The official languages of EUMETSAT are English and French. Candidates must be able to work effectively in English and have some knowledge of French.

DEADLINE

14 January 2025

Duties

In coordination with industrial suppliers and partner agencies and with support from a service team at EUMETSAT, the post holder will be responsible for the following activities on the relevant instruments:

  • Development and maintenance of the operational baseline (Flight Control Procedures, Operational Database etc) in order to ensure safe and efficient operations during all mission phases;
  • Development of automated monitoring, reporting and trend analysis;
  • Organisation of bi-annual in-orbit performance reviews; 
  • Maintenance of relevant external interfaces;
  • Provide on-call support of routine operations;
  • Coordinate / support anomaly investigations for both satellite and supporting ground systems, and follow up their resolution.

Additionally, the post holder will:

  • Support operations and configuration of flight operations ground segment elements including mission control system and satellite simulator;
  • Support the definition and implementation of training for operations personnel;
  • Support EPS and EPS SG system evolutions from a satellite operations perspective;
  • Contribute to the concept definition and preparatory activities for future LEO satellite systems.

Skills and Experience

  • Proven experience in the field of satellite operations gained during both operations preparation and routine operations of a complex space system;
  • Solid understanding of satellite design principles, platform subsystems and/or instruments, preferably as applied to Low Earth Orbit satellites;
  • Ability to use scripting languages such as Python or MATLAB to perform data analysis and develop ad-hoc or prototype tools;
  • Additionally, the following skills and experience would be a distinct advantage:
  • Experience in the use of a satellite Mission Control System based on SCOS-2000;
  • Experience developing an operational baseline around an ECSS Packet Utilisation Standard (PUS) compliant satellite;
  • Experience configuring and maintaining satellite simulators for support of system testing and team training;
  • Ability to work to broad objectives with minimal supervision;
  • Proven interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to synthesise complex technical concepts for presentation to non-experts;
  • Proven coordination skills and the ability to work within and between teams.

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 7146 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 Now