System Engineer

Are you looking for a new opportunity to take your career to a higher orbit? To join an international group with a successful track record in Space Engineering? A job adapted to your career ambitions and in which you could have an impact for the years to come?

We are looking for a System Engineer to work at ESTEC’s premises in Noordwijk, Netherlands. Where you will be responsible for providing system engineering support in relation to ESA in-house activities for EuroQCI Entrusted Tasks.

About the client

ESA’s Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications (CSC) drives innovation in satellite telecommunications by coordinating research, supporting the development of advanced technologies, and fostering strong industrial partnerships across Europe and Canada. It plays a key role in enabling the creation of cutting-edge satellite-based products and services, while also investing in public-private partnerships to develop and demonstrate next-generation communication systems.

CSC is expanding its involvement in externally funded initiatives, notably contributing to the Union Secure Connectivity Programme (IRIS²), aimed at enhancing resilience, interconnectivity, and security through satellite infrastructure

Tasks and activities

• Requirements engineering and consolidation.
• Functional and physical architecture definition.
• Design trade‑off analysis.
• Interface definition.
• Model requirements verification and validation.

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• Technical risk assessment.
• Supporting in tailoring the MBSE approach to the aerospace sector.

The scope of technical support will include system engineering activities in the following areas:

• Quantum Key Distribution (QKD).
• Ground Segment Engineering.
• Satellite and Constellation Engineering.
• User Segment Engineering.
• Communication Engineering.

Skills and experience

The following skills and experience are mandatory:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Aerospace Engineering or equivalent.
• At least 5 years of experience ground segment system engineering activities.
• Systems Engineering documentation experience: In collaboration with the technical teams, experience in preparing and documenting throughout the development life cycle, including specifications, design, validation and supporting documentation.
• Experience in the space domain, preferably with ESA projects, including satellite communications, ground stations, mission operations centers, link budgets and mission planning.
• Previous experience with System Engineering methodologies, standards, languages and tools (e.g. SysML, ECSS-E-TM-10-25A).
• The candidate must either hold, or be willing to undergo, a NATO and/or EU security clearance procedure.
• Solution oriented mindset, with a customer focused communication skill.
• Ability to travel on missions when required occasionally.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.

The following skills and experience would be highly desirable:

• Experience with optical communications (fibre and particularly free space optical), including link budgets and simulation of links.
• Experience in project execution following international standards, such as space (ECSS, CCSDS, IDSIS), military (MIL-STD, NATO) or regulatory (ETSI, ITU, 3GPP) standards.

Why should you apply?

• You will have the opportunity to work within leading space organisations across Europe.
• We encourage everyone to think outside the box and to push the boundaries of traditional knowledge. This role is an opportunity to join a forward-thinking company and allows for a deeper understanding of the industry.
• To be part of a company that values integrity, inspiration, care and collaboration.
• Benefits include: competitive remuneration packages; unique career opportunities, including working in other countries; access to training and development programmes; flexible relocation support.