End-to-End Navigation System 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:

• Act as Technical Officer for commercial R&D contracts, overseeing activities from idea pitch phase through final review
• Evaluate commercial landscape and business plans for proposed technologies, monitoring market success risks
• Provide technical expertise across positioning, navigation and timing landscape, including hybrid positioning techniques and multi-sensor data fusion
• Drive technology developments related to PNT resilience against GNSS threats (jamming, spoofing, meaconing)
• Define, guide, and support test campaigns within ESTEC Navigation Laboratory to evaluate and verify new PNT technologies
• Manage end-to-end procurement processes, including preparing statements of work and leading Tender Evaluation Boards
• Identify and mitigate project risks throughout lifecycle, interacting with industrial partners
• Engage in cross-directorate cooperation and disseminate technical knowledge across the Agency

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: Master's degree in telecommunication engineering or another relevant domain
• Experience: 4 years of relevant professional experience
• Key skills: Broad understanding of GNSS technologies and commercial industrial landscape, Solid technical background in resilient navigation systems, physical layer security, anti-jamming/anti-spoofing techniques, Experience in technology business development and commercial viability assessment, Experience in procurement preparation for technology development, Experience in management and monitoring of industrial activities and formal technical reviews, Strong technical, analytical, organisational, and reporting skills, Good interpersonal and communication skills, Understanding of ESA procurement process, Experience with satellite navigation and PNT systems

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: 4 years, with possible extension up to maximum 8 years.

Hiring unit: Navigation Systems Implementation and Validation Section, End-to-End Systems Division, Systems Department, Directorate….

Position details

Reference

1413740333

Last Verified

24 July 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for End-to-End Navigation System Engineer at ESA based in Noordwijk (Other). The vacancy reference is 1413740333.

Job Requisition ID:20661

Date Posted:10 July 2026

Closing Date:16 August 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication:Internal & External

Directorate:Technology, Engineering and Quality

​

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

End-to-End Navigation System Engineer in the Navigation Systems Implementation and Validation Section, End-to-End Systems Division, Systems Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

Our team and mission

You will be based in the Navigation Systems Implementation and Validation Section. The Section provides expert technical support and consultancy to ESA projects, programmes and general studies in the field of radio navigation systems and techniques (positioning, navigation and timing, in particular global navigation satellite systems) throughout all project phases.

The Section manages a vast portfolio of R&D and commercial technology development activities, spanning programmes such as the Navigation Innovation and Support Programme (NAVISP), the General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) and InCubed. We actively explore multidisciplinary application areas, focusing on innovative concepts, cutting-edge technologies and strengthening European commercial competitiveness.

## Duties

As an End-to-End Navigation System Engineer, your primary responsibilities will focus on the implementation and management of commercial technology development projects under GSTP Element 2 and NAVISP Element 2. Your duties will include:

* acting as Technical Officer for a diverse portfolio of commercial R&D contracts, overseeing activities from the idea pitch phase through to the final review, enhancing project outcomes and ensuring continuous improvement; * evaluating the commercial landscape and business plans for proposed technologies (e.g. NewSpace initiatives, autonomous systems, maritime and railway PVT applications), monitoring market success risks and maintaining alignment with programme objectives; * providing broad technical expertise across the evolving positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) landscape, including hybrid positioning techniques, multi-sensor data fusion, LEO-PNT concepts, and alternative PNT solutions; * driving technology developments related to PNT resilience against modern global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) threats (jamming, spoofing and meaconing), including the evaluation of systems based on controlled reception pattern, robust receiver designs, and advanced resilient navigation concepts; * defining, guiding, and supporting hands-on test campaigns within the ESTEC Navigation Laboratory to evaluate, prototype and verify new commercial PNT technologies, resilient systems and third-party equipment; * managing end-to-end procurement processes, which entails preparing statements of work, leading Tender Evaluation Boards, conducting contract negotiations and monitoring industrial milestone execution; * continuously identifying potential risks throughout the project lifecycle, interacting proactively with industrial partners to implement mitigation strategies that minimise impacts on deliverables and timelines; * engaging actively in cross-directorate cooperation, proposing new and innovative R&D activities, and capturing and disseminating technical knowledge across the Agency.

## Technical competencies

Broad understanding of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) technologies, R&D trends, and the commercial industrial landscape.

Solid technical background in resilient navigation systems, including physical layer security, anti-jamming/anti-spoofing techniques, and alternative/complementary PNT

Proven experience in technology business development, assessing commercial viability, and business plan management for Earth observation or navigation commercial applications

Experience in the preparation of procurement activities for technology development and innovation (Statements of Work, proposal evaluation)

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

## Behavioural competencies

## Education and professional experience

A master's degree in telecommunication engineering or another relevant domain is required for this post together with 4 years of relevant professional experience.

## Additional requirements

Experience of working with satellite navigation in particular and PNT in general;

* Strong technical, analytical, organisational, and reporting skills, with a proactive attitude to solving problems; * Good interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work in a multicultural environment, both independently and as part of a team; * Understanding of the ESA procurement process.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 10 July 2026, 16 days ago.

The application deadline is 16 August 2026, 19 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 24 July 2026 (2 days ago).

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.