ALTIUS Project Manager - European Space Agency (Noordwijk)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Space Agency on the official vacancy notice. Our own analysis — salary realism, comparable openings, career trajectory, language profile — follows further down the page.

Key responsibilities

According to the vacancy notice, the role centres on the following duties:

• End-to-end technical management of the ALTIUS project in accordance with agreed technical specifications, cost and schedule
• Completion of remaining instrument- and satellite-level integration and testing activities under Phases D and E1 for space and ground segments
• Launch and successful in-orbit commissioning management
• Managing all industrial contracts relating to area of responsibility and interfacing with industry
• Representing the project and reporting progress to ESA technical authorities, Mission Advisory Group, ESA subordinate bodies, and ESA delegates of ALTIUS Participating States
• Managing ALTIUS ESA project teams and associated support from multiple directorates
• Identifying, assessing, managing and reporting health and safety risks in area of responsibility

Are you eligible?

Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:

• Education: Master's degree in a relevant scientific or engineering field
• Experience: In principle, 10 years of relevant professional experience
• Key skills: Knowledge of Space system development and PA standards, Knowledge of space projects, including instrumentation and operations, Knowledge of ESA and industrial development, verification and procurement processes, Knowledge of industrial costs and schedule aspects, Delivery of complex projects within cost and schedule, Complex project risk management processes, Result Orientation, Operational Efficiency, Fostering Cooperation, Relationship Management

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: 4 years, extendable to indefinite.

Hiring unit: Earth Observation Programmes.

Position details

Reference

1449768533

Last Verified

21 October 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for ALTIUS Project Manager at ESA based in Noordwijk (Other). The vacancy reference is 1449768533.

Job Requisition ID:21108

Date Posted:21 October 2026

Closing Date:11 November 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication Method:Internal & External

Type of Appointment (learn more):4 years, extendable to indefinite

Directorate:Earth Observation Programmes

Location ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

ALTIUS is an Earth Watch mission under the European Space Agency’s Earth Observation Living Planet Programme. It is a limb-sounding mission designed to monitor the 3D distribution and evolution of stratospheric ozone at high vertical resolution in support of operational services and long-term trend monitoring. ALTIUS is currently in Phase D, with instrument-level integration and testing activities under way.

You will report to the Earth Explorer Missions Programme Manager within the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes. You will be responsible for managing the remaining implementation activities for ALTIUS under Phases D/E1, covering both the space and ground segments.

Duties

Your specific responsibilities and duties will include:

- end-to-end technical management of the ALTIUS project in accordance with the agreed technical specifications, cost and schedule. This includes completion of remaining instrument- and satellite-level integration and testing activities under Phases D and E1 for the space and ground segments, as well as launch and successful in-orbit commissioning; - managing all the industrial contracts relating to your area of responsibility and interfacing with industry for all project matters; - representing the project and reporting on its progress to ESA technical authorities, such as the Inspector General, those responsible for audit and frequency coordination, the Security Office and the Independent Safety Office, as well as the Mission Advisory Group, ESA subordinate bodies, such as DOSTAG and the IPC, and ESA delegates of ALTIUS Participating States; - managing the ALTIUS ESA project teams and associated support from all departments of the Directorates of Earth Observation Programmes; Technology, Engineering and Quality; Operations; and Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness, ensuring that all appropriate information is available to all project participants so that they can discharge their responsibilities efficiently within the agreed framework.

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

Technical competencies

Knowledge of Space system development and PA standards

Knowledge of space projects, including instrumentation and operations

Knowledge of ESA and industrial development, verification and procurement processes

Knowledge of industrial costs and schedule aspects

Delivery of complex projects within cost and schedule

Complex project risk management processes

Behavioural competencies

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

For more information, please refer to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.

*(esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/careers/ESA_Competency_Framework.pdf)

Education and professional experience

A master’s degree in a relevant scientific or engineering field is required for this post, together with, in principle, 10 years of relevant professional experience.

Additional requirements

- The potential to manage individuals or a team in a project setting; - The ability to organise individual and team 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; - A 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.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 21 October 2026, today.

The application deadline is 11 November 2026, 20 days from today. Late applications are not accepted, so submit through the official EU Careers portal well in advance.

Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 21 October 2026.

Where to learn more

For headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at ESA see the ESA institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Noordwijk see our Noordwijk location page.

New to EU careers? Our beginner's guide walks through entry routes, EPSO competitions, and what to prepare. For application logistics see application tips and EPSO competitions.