Copernicus Sentinel-2 NG Instrument Optical and Performance Lead Engineer - 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:

• Manage industrial activities by supervising specification, design, procurement, development and verification/acceptance of all instrument optical elements
• Lead instrument optical elements requirements, specifications, technical and performance budgets, and related performance models
• Coordinate end-to-end instrument performance verification and characterisation, pre-flight and during in-flight commissioning
• Monitor industrial progress and design evolution of all instrument optical elements
• Monitor instrument optical elements and relevant technology development roadmaps
• Monitor industrial verification activities and resolve non-conformances
• Provide regular reporting to project management and identify technical risk areas
• Contribute to management of schedule and propose schedule optimisation and risk mitigation actions

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: Master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline, or bachelor's degree complemented by an additional four years of relevant professional experience
• Experience: 4 years of relevant professional experience
• Key skills: Multidisciplinary technical knowledge in remote sensing instrument optical design and performances, Design, development, integration, verification, characterisation and testing of optical space-borne instruments, Managing technical interfaces between subsystems within ESA project team environment or with industrial consortium, Project risk management processes, Knowledge of industrial costs and schedule aspects, Space system development and engineering and product assurance standards

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: 4 years, extendable up to a maximum of 8 years.

Working arrangements: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands.

Hiring unit: Payload Management Section, Copernicus S2 and S2 Next Generation Project, Copernicus Space Segment Programme, Projects….

Position details

Reference

1449842733

Last Verified

21 October 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Copernicus Sentinel-2 NG Instrument Optical and Performance Lead Engineer at ESA based in Noordwijk (Other). The vacancy reference is 1449842733.

Job Requisition ID:21083

Date Posted:21 October 2026

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

Publication Method:Internal & External

Directorate:Earth Observation Programmes

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This is a fixed-term appointment with an initial duration of 4 years. Depending upon performance and organisational needs, the appointment may be extended up to a possible maximum duration of 8 years.

Location ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

Copernicus Sentinel-2 NG Instrument Optical and Performance Lead Engineer in the Payload Management Section, Copernicus S2 and S2 Next Generation Project, Copernicus Space Segment Programme, Projects Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.

The Sentinel-2 Next Generation (S2 NG) mission will ensure enhanced continuity of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 first-generation measurements into the 2030s. The project has completed its Phase A/B1 and is entering the Phase B2/C/D implementation phase.

In that context, you will serve as Instrument Optical and Performance Lead Engineer for the Copernicus S2 NG mission. You will report to the S2 NG Payload Manager for all technical and programmatic matters and will work within the relevant project team. You will be responsible for the procurement, timely delivery and integration of all S2 NG instrument optical elements, as well as all instrument optical-related performances, during Phase B2/C/D/E1. You will work in close cooperation with other engineers within the S2NG project and will coordinate specialised technical support from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality (D/TEC).

You will also support additional Copernicus projects featuring optical instruments, such as LSTM and/or CHIME.

Duties

Under the supervision of the Payload Manager, you will bear technical responsibility for the delivery of the optical elements of the S2 NG instrument.

Your responsibilities will include the supervision of the design, development, manufacturing, integration, verification, test and characterisation of all instrument optical elements. These encompass detector filters, optical beam splitter, mirrors, on-board calibration unit, and optical ground support equipment (OGSE).

As part of the project team, you will cooperate with the other elements of the system, supported as required by experts from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality (D/TEC), in the relevant engineering domains.

Your main tasks and responsibilities will include:

- managing the industrial activities by supervising the specification, design, procurement, development and verification/acceptance of all instrument optical elements, including coordination across functional teams and end-user organisations/operators throughout the project lifetime, from the procurement tender to in-flight commissioning; - leading the instrument optical elements requirements and specifications, technical and performance budgets, related performance models, design drivers, internal and external payload interfaces, spacecraft-level payload performance and calibration operational concepts, including their consistency with the mission requirements, specifications and technical budgets; - coordinating the end-to-end instrument performance verification and characterisation, pre-flight and during in-flight commissioning; - monitoring the industrial progress and design evolution of all instrument optical elements, ensuring that the instrument remains consistent with the technical and programmatic requirements; - monitoring the instrument optical elements and relevant technology development roadmaps, as necessary; - monitoring the industrial verification activities to ensure proper verification, including resolving non-conformances and supporting the assessment of deviations and waivers; - providing regular reporting to project management and identifying technical risk areas, proposing and monitoring mitigation measures; - contributing to the management of the schedule and proposing schedule optimisation and risk mitigation actions; - coordinating the optical-related instrument AIV activities and supporting the spacecraft AIV activities, including validation of instrument operational modes and control functions, the preparation of the launch campaign and the in-orbit commissioning of the instrument; - delegated responsibility from project and/or payload management on programmatic aspects, as necessary; - leading a team of engineers and specialised engineering support from D/TEC and the Directorate of Operations (D/OPS).

A relevant subset of the above tasks applies also to the Sentinel-2 first generation instrument. You may also support additional Copernicus optical projects by contributing to a subset of the activities and responsibilities outlined above.

Technical competencies

Multidisciplinary technical knowledge and experience in your area of responsibility, in particular in relation to remote sensing instrument optical design and performances

Knowledge of and experience in the design, development, integration, verification, characterisation and testing of optical space-borne instruments

Experience of managing technical interfaces between subsystems within ESA project team environment or with the industrial consortium

Knowledge of and experience in project risk management processes, industrial costs and schedule aspects

Knowledge of and experience in space system development and engineering and product assurance standards

Behavioural competencies

Education and professional experience

A master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline is required for this post together with 4 years of relevant professional experience. Alternatively, candidates with a bachelor’s degree, complemented by an additional four (4) years of relevant professional experience be considered.

Additional requirements

Extensive knowledge of the optical design, integration and performance evaluation of optical space-borne instruments is considered an asset.

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.