Argonaut AIV/AIT and Launch Campaign Team Leader

Vacancy in the Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration Programmes.

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, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.

This post is classified A2-A4 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale.

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

Argonaut is the vehicle that will deliver a campaign comprising multiple exploration missions to the Moon throughout the 2030s as part of the Terrae Novae programme. Some missions may be ESA contributions to the NASA-led Artemis programme, while others may be purely European or undertaken in partnership with other global space agencies. Discussions are under way with NASA to have the Argonaut missions undertaken as part of Artemis recognised by the US partner as also enabling one or more European astronauts to travel to the Moon’s surface on US human landers.

Each Argonaut mission will use a common vehicle, the Lander Descent Element (LDE). The LDE will be compatible with very different specific missions such as logistic cargo support to Artemis, infrastructure deployment such as charging station, and science at the south pole or even on the far side at the equator. The Cargo Platform Element (CPE), mounted on the LDE and specific to each mission, will provide the services required to operate the payload and for its survival.

LDE development (B2/C/D/E0) will be initiated in Q4 2023, while the first mission Argo-1 (and corresponding CPE) definition phase (A/B1) will start in 2024. Five missions are planned to take place in the next decade, with an evolution of the capabilities of the LDE in 3 stages, leading to increased landing capabilities as well as enhanced precision landing and Moon global access.

Duties

Reporting to the Argonaut Team Leader, your main duties will include:

• managing the team activities related to AIV for the LDE and at mission level (Argo-1 being the first), namely:
• chairing the Verification Control Board for review and approval of the system verification documentation in coordination with the Engineering team and PA/S manager;
• coordinating with all stakeholders regarding the resolution of verification issues;
• ensuring the successful finalisation and close-out of the Qualification Review for LDE-1 and ARGO-1;
• coordinating with the prime contractor and internally regarding evolutions of the requirement baseline documentation (SRD and IRDs), including identification and definition of associated impacts arising from industry;
• participating, as needed, in Configuration Change Boards for assessing changes related to AIT;
• providing inputs for the definition of needs for delta system functional qualification tests and being the Agency AIT manager for any associated Test Readiness Reviews and Post-Test Reviews;

  managing the team activities related to AIT for the LDE and at mission level (Argo-1 being the first), namely:

  • reviews of AIT task organisation and scope:
    • organising and following LDE formal reviews with the prime contractor and acting as secretary to those reviews in the area of AIT;
    • ensuring the proper definition of all the test campaigns related to the Argonaut programme, including:
      • LDE test campaign
      • CPE test campaign
      • LDE/CPE/payload integration test campaign;
      • AIT campaigns at the prime contractor’s premises for LDE and mission:
        • reviewing and approving the AIV/AIT plans in terms of work definition and flow of activities; identifying potential risks to the schedule and defining workaround solutions and risk mitigation actions to ensure timely provision of LDE AIV/AIT activities;
        • reviewing and approving test plans, specifications and procedures;
        • monitoring the timely completion of AIV/AIT activities to be performed on the prime contractor’s premises;
        • follow-up of AIV/AIT activities at subsystem and spacecraft levels and ensuring consistency of these activities across equipment, subsystem and spacecraft levels;
        • being responsible for the AIT project – during Integration Readiness; reviews, Test Readiness Reviews and Post-Test;
        • reviews of the AIT programme at system level;
        • reviewing and approving AIT test reports and run procedures as deliverables to the Agency;
        • participating in Test Review Boards and Non Conformance Review Boards as the Agency AIV manager;
        • ensuring implementation of corrective actions at AIV level for non-conformances and anomalies.
        • Test facilities and Ground Support Equipment:
          • Ensuring that all test facilities (and ground support equipment (electrical, mechanical, fluidic) are complete, configured and verified properly in time for AIT activities at subsystem and system levels and that all software and automated procedures required for tests are consistent with needs.

            Duties Continued

            managing the launch campaign for the Argonaut missions:

            • Being the AIT project manager during the stack integration test campaign at the prime contractor’s premises;
            • Being the AIT project manager during the launch campaign in Kourou (or alternative launch site if applicable);
            • Monitoring the timely completion of Argonaut-1 AIV/AIT activities to be performed at the launch site (Kourou) and supporting nuclear safety related (if applicable);
            • Supporting discussions with international partners (in particular NASA in the context of Artemis) on the definition and implementation of future Argonaut missions;
            • Supporting the negotiation with industry of contract change notices;
            • Supporting Argonaut evolution and acting as product lead for the programme beyond Argo-1; Coordinating and ensuring appropriate team support to relevant working groups and boards; Managing the AIV/AIT and launch campaign team workforce and ensuring that its professional competencies are enhanced;
            • Supporting the development of innovative tools and methods for the project (e.g. MBSE); Regular reporting of the status and schedule of the AIV/AIT and launch campaign tasks to the Argonaut Team Leader;
            • Contributing to and documenting (yearly) Argonaut lessons learned;
            • Other duties in your area of competence as may be required by your line manager in support of your activities.

              You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

              Technical competencies Multi-disciplinary knowledge of area of responsibilityComplex project risk management processesKnowledge of space systems procurement, development and verification processes and standards (incl. code of best practices and project reviews)

              Behavioural competencies

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

              Education

              A master’s degree in a scientific or engineering discipline is required for this post

              📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

              ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

              Additional requirements

              Candidates should also be able to demonstrate:

              • proven relationship management and oral/written communication skills;
              • excellent cognitive, analytical, delegation planning and organisational skills;
              • willingness to drive change and adapt to the new industrial, commercial and international context in which the project will be undertaken;
              • the ability to anticipate problems, solve complex issues and relate situations to their context;
              • the ability to reach solution-oriented, pragmatic and timely decisions of high standards and integrity as well as to support others in this process;

                You should further have:

                • the potential to manage individuals or a team of experts in a project setting;
                • the ability to organise their activities and ensure a motivating work environment;
                • strong leadership capabilities, with proven relationship management and communication skills;
                • the ability to drive your team’s performance, developing your people by encouraging learning, delegating responsibility and giving regular and constructive feedback;
                • strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills;
                • strong result orientation with the ability to set priorities and present practical solutions both orally and in writing;
                • the ability to manage challenging situations proactively and constructively and to be customer-focused.
                • people management experience is an asset, as is international experience, i.e. outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.

                  Other information

                  For behavioural competencies expected from ESA staff in general, please refer to the ESA Competency Framework.

                  For further information please visit: Professionals, What we offer and FAQ

                  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.

                  The Agency may require applicants to undergo selection tests.

                  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 email contact.human.resources@esa.int.

                  Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

                  According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates and secondly to external candidates from under-represented Member States*.

                  In accordance with the European Space Agency’s security procedures and as part of the selection process, successful candidates will be required to undergo basic screening before appointment conducted by an external background screening service.

                  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.

                  *Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.