Copernicus LSTM Satellite Engineering and AIV 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:

• Responsible for satellite engineering and AIV aspects of the space segment
• Consolidate and maintain satellite requirements, design, development, test and verification
• Monitor industrial work for satellite and ground support equipment procurement
• Define, implement and monitor AIT/AIV activities of satellites, platforms, subsystems and units
• Consolidate and maintain internal/external satellite interfaces and technical engineering budgets
• Technically responsible for design and procurement of spacecraft subsystems
• Support LSTM System Section for onboard software development and validation
• Define launcher-satellite interfaces with launcher authority

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: Master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline required, or bachelor's degree with additional four years of relevant professional experience
• Experience: Four years of relevant professional experience; experience in spacecraft design, development, and assembly, integration and verification/testing; experience in management and monitoring of industrial activities; experience in satellite early operations (launch and early orbit phase and in-orbit commissioning); knowledge of all phases of the software development lifecycle; experience in performanc…
• Key skills: Spacecraft design and development, Assembly, integration and verification/testing, Industrial activity management and monitoring, Satellite early operations, Software development lifecycle knowledge, Performance evaluation, Team leadership and motivation, Strategic direction, Relationship management, Oral and written communication

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: 4 years, extendable to indefinite.

Working arrangements: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands.

Hiring unit: Earth Observation Projects Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.

Position details

Reference

1444621533

Last Verified

18 October 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Copernicus LSTM Satellite Engineering and AIV Manager at ESA based in Noordwijk (Other). The vacancy reference is 1444621533.

Job Requisition ID:20959

Date Posted:6 October 2026

Closing Date:27 October 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

Satellite Engineering and AIV Manager in the Copernicus Land Surface Temperature Monitoring (LSTM) Project, within the Copernicus Space Segment Programme in the Earth Observation Projects Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.

We are recruiting a Satellite Engineering and AIV Manager for the Copernicus Land Surface Temperature Monitoring (LSTM) mission, which is currently in Phase D.

You will report to the LSTM Project Manager for all technical, programmatic and financial matters and you will work within the LSTM Project team. You will interface with and receive support from other project engineers, and will also receive specialised technical support from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

The assignment covers activities relating to Phases B2/C/D/E1 for prototype and recurrent satellite(s), including storage, where applicable.

Duties

Your principal tasks and responsibilities will include:

- being responsible for satellite engineering (including classic engineering disciplines) and AIV aspects of the space segment, ensuring full consistency with system requirements and operational interfaces; - consolidating and maintaining the satellite requirements, as well as the design, development, test and verification; - monitoring the industrial work associated with satellite and ground support equipment procurement, ensuring full compliance with technical and programmatic requirements; - defining, implementing and monitoring AIT/AIV activities of the satellite(s), platform(s), subsystems and units; - consolidating and maintaining internal/external satellite interfaces and technical engineering budgets; - being technically responsible for the design and procurement of spacecraft subsystems, including structure, thermal, propulsion, mechanisms, power (generation and storage) and avionics (AOCS, data handling and communications); - supporting the LSTM System Section for all aspects related to onboard software development and validation; - being responsible for defining, with the launcher authority, all interfaces between launcher and satellite; - managing launch campaign preparation activities and execution; - ensuring satellite in-orbit verification, contributing to overall mission system commissioning; - leading, managing and motivating the Section engineering team; - liaising closely with other project sections, providing engineering support and ensuring a consistent approach to the satellite and payload procurement, verification, launch- and in-orbit operations preparation and overall satellite performance; - being responsible for anomaly handling and coordinating, with other Project sections, the handling of NRBs, the NCR process, RFD/W, etc.; - coordinating and managing the necessary specialist technical support from other directorates; - coordinating the Common Platform development together with the CRISTAL mission; - coordinating with the Satellite Engineering and AIV Managers of the other Copernicus missions and the Copernicus Technical Coordinator to ensure a harmonised approach to the understanding, management and implementation of common engineering requirements and procurements; - regularly reporting to the Project Manager on all aspects of satellite development, identifying risks and problem areas, and proposing mitigation actions; - supporting the general project reporting tasks (monthly, QSR/QIR) and other Department-level support activities as required.

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

Technical competencies

Experience in spacecraft design, development, and assembly, integration and verification/testing

Experience in the management and monitoring of industrial activities, including participation in reviews

Experience in satellite early operations (launch and early orbit phase and in-orbit commissioning)

Knowledge of all phases of the software development lifecycle

Experience in performance evaluation at mission and spacecraft level

Behavioural competencies

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

For more information, please refer to theESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

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

Education and professional experience

A master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline is required for this post together with four years of relevant professional experience. Alternatively, candidates with a bachelor’s degree and an additional four years of relevant professional experience may be considered.

Additional requirements

You will lead a section of engineers and liaise closely with other project sections and other relevant Copernicus entities.

You will be supported by a team of engineers distributed across the Copernicus Space Component and will receive specialised engineering support from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

You must also:

- have proven experience of leading, motivating and developing a team in a project; - provide strategic direction to the individuals and teams within the project and relate team objectives to the overall and evolving organisational goals and context; - drive performance and foster cooperation within and across teams throughout the organisation - have demonstrated excellent leadership, relationship management, and oral and written communication skills; - have a proven track record of representing the Agency’s interests to external interfaces; - have excellent cognitive, analytical, delegation, planning and organisational skills; - anticipate problems, solve complex issues and relate situations to their context; - reach solution-oriented, pragmatic and timely decisions to a high standard and with integrity as well as supporting others (team members, upper management, other stakeholders) in this process.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 18 October 2026, today.

The application deadline is 27 October 2026, 7 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 18 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.