FDIR 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:

• Provide technical leadership and support to ESA Projects with respect to Fault Detection, Isolation and Recovery across all system elements and project lifecycle phases
• Lead integration and ensure full traceability of FDIR aspects across system design, implementation and verification
• Own, prepare, review and consolidate FDIR documentation for all mission phases
• Define, maintain and validate the FDIR concept in alignment with overall system design and engineering constraints
• Promote and apply rigorous, traceable engineering processes to demonstrate adequacy of FDIR solutions
• Provide expert support to project reviews and internal technical discussions
• Coordinate collection, organisation and consistency of FDIR related information within projects
• Support analysis of operational data and lessons learned from missions

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: Master's degree in aerospace engineering or relevant scientific discipline
• Experience: Minimum of 4 years of relevant experience; solid experience in system level fault management and FDIR activities, including involvement in functional verification, system validation or operational preparatory activities
• Key skills: Experience in defining, integrating and verifying FDIR for complex space systems, Strong system level engineering knowledge across avionics, subsystems, software, operations, Experience with FDIR documentation, traceability and compliance with ESA/ECSS processes, Ability to assess robustness and suitability of FDIR solutions and risk mitigation, Experience with operational data analysis and lessons learned for FDIR improvement, Knowledge of ECSS standards and ESA FDIR practices, Familiarity with advanced FDIR techniques, including model based and AI supported approaches, Strong analytical skills with ability to assess failures, risks and recovery strategies at system level, Ability to proactively coordinate and engage with internal technical disciplines and external partners, Capability to anticipate issues and propose pragmatic, technically sound solutions

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: 4 years, extendable to indefinite.

Working arrangements: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands.

Hiring unit: FDIR System Group (TEC SY), Systems Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

Position details

Reference

1437497533

Last Verified

17 September 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for FDIR System Engineer at ESA based in Noordwijk (Other). The vacancy reference is 1437497533.

Job Requisition ID:20836

Date Posted:16 September 2026

Closing Date:7 October 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication:Internal & External

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

Directorate:Technology, Engineering and Quality

Location ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

FDIR System Engineer in the FDIR System Group (TEC SY): the group acts as ESA’s centre of excellence for Fault Detection, Isolation and Recovery, within the Systems Department of the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

You will work within a transversal team providing FDIR expertise across all ESA missions and directorates, covering the full mission lifecycle from early design through operations and lessons learned. The group leads the definition, harmonisation and validation of FDIR concepts, requirements and architectures, and supports projects in close coordination with system engineering, avionics, software and operations.

You will provide functional support to assigned ESA projects as FDIR expert, contributing to project reviews, architectural trade offs, verification strategies, standardisation activities, R&D and training provision

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities as FDIR team member in TEC-SY will include:

- provide technical leadership and support to ESA Projects with respect to Fault Detection, Isolation and Recovery across all system elements and all project lifecycle phases, acting as the focal point for FDIR within projects; - lead the integration and ensure full traceability of FDIR aspects across system design, implementation and verification, ensuring consistency across all project artefacts; - own, prepare, review and consolidate FDIR documentation for all mission phases, ensuring compliance with ESA internal processes, applicable standards and best engineering practices; - define, maintain and validate the FDIR concept in close alignment with overall system design and engineering constraints, providing guidance to project teams; - promote and apply rigorous, traceable engineering processes to demonstrate the adequacy and fitness for purpose of FDIR solutions and associated risk mitigation strategies; - provide expert support to project reviews and internal technical discussions, including residual risk identification and evaluation of FDIR strategies; - coordinate the collection, organisation and consistency of FDIR related information within projects, ensuring alignment across disciplines; - support the analysis of operational data and lessons learned from missions, contributing to the continuous improvement of FDIR concepts, methods and documentation; - contribute to the definition, review and maintenance of FDIR related standards, guidelines and best practices, including the maintenance and update of the ESA FDIR Handbook; - participate in and lead FDIR related research and development activities, including the assessment and application of novel techniques and tools such as AI based approaches; - support the design and delivery of internal FDIR training activities and knowledge transfer initiatives across the Agency; - contribute to unit activities focused on knowledge consolidation, tool harmonisation and cross directorate alignment, fostering synergies across ESA projects.

Your duties may also include support to other activities within your field of competence.

Technical competencies

Experience in defining, integrating and verifying FDIR for complex space systems

Strong system level engineering knowledge across avionics, subsystems, software, operations

Experience with FDIR documentation, traceability and compliance with ESA/ECSS processes

Ability to assess robustness and suitability FDIR solutions and risk mitigation

Experience with operational data analysis and lessons learned for FDIR improvement

Knowledge of ECSS standards and ESA FDIR practices

Familiarity with advanced FDIR techniques, including model based and AI supported approaches

Behavioural competencies

Education and professional experience

A master's degree in aerospace engineering or relevant scientific discipline is required for this position. A minimum of 4 years of relevant experience is required.

Additional requirements

- solid experience in system level fault management and FDIR activities, including involvement in functional verification, system validation or operational preparatory activities; - experience working with complex satellite systems, with exposure to system engineering, software and operations interfaces considered an asset; - experience in requirements engineering, traceability and engineering data management tools considered an asset; - strong analytical skills with the ability to assess failures, risks and recovery strategies at system level; - ability to proactively coordinate and engage with a wide range of internal technical disciplines and external partners, while considering programmatic constraints; - capability to anticipate issues and propose pragmatic, technically sound solutions in line with project and group objectives; - flexibility in handling day to day technical priorities and competing demands, with strong planning and organisational skills; - high level of motivation, ownership and proactivity; - ability to work independently while maintaining regular technical exchange with line management; - excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly present complex FDIR concepts and issues.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 16 September 2026, 1 day ago.

The application deadline is 7 October 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 17 September 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.

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