Galileo Lead Space Segment Engineer (2 posts) - European Space Agency (Noordwijk)

Contract TypeOther
Deadline4 September 2026

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.

Job Requisition ID:20809

Date Posted:30 July 2026

Closing Date:4 September 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication:Internal & External

Directorate:Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity

**Location**

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

## **Description**

Galileo Lead Space Segment Engineers in the G2A and G2B Space Segment Management Services, Galileo Space Segment Management Office, Galileo and EGNOS Programme Department, Directorate of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity.

Currently, we are looking for Lead Space Segment Engineers for two different units:

G2SB1-A Satellite Platform Unit

You will report to the G2SB1-A Satellite Platform Manager and will be responsible for monitoring the design, development, implementation and validation of the subsystems and units that form part of the communication chain of the Galileo Second Generation satellites.

These include the C-band mission receiver, the intersatellite link subsystem and the S-band transponder. The role also covers the associated ground test campaigns, as well as the in-orbit commissioning and in-orbit follow-up phases.

G2SB1-B Satellite Payload Unit

You will report to the G2SB1-B Satellite Payload Manager and will be responsible for leading and coordinating the monitoring of the design, development, implementation and validation of the subsystems and units which are part of the navigation payload of the Galileo Second Generation satellites, including the ground test campaign, in-orbit commissioning and in-orbit follow-up phases.

## **Duties**

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

* contributing to the management of the industrial activities by leading the specification, design, procurement, development and verification/acceptance of spacecraft, platform/payload and equipment hardware throughout the project lifetime, from ITT to flight commissioning; * monitoring the industrial progress and design evolution at spacecraft, platform/payload and equipment levels, ensuring consistency with the technical and programmatic requirements; * monitoring industrial verification activities to ensure proper verification including resolving non-conformances, and supporting the assessment of deviations and waivers; * coordinating with PA and AIT during integration and testing activities for the resolution of activity deviations; * contributing to the autonomy and operability concept, and supporting the FDIR definition (when requested); * monitoring platform/payload and equipment competitiveness/roadmap as necessary; * 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 risk mitigation actions; * monitoring the industrial preparation for launch and coordinating in-flight spacecraft commissioning and verification activities in collaboration with project teams and ground teams; * coordinating various project engineering domains to cover the procurement of the hardware under your responsibility; * potentially being delegated responsibility from project management regarding programmatic aspects; * potentially supporting interactions with delegations and partners as required; * leading a team of engineers and specialised engineering support from the Technology, Engineering and Quality and the Operations Directorates at ESA; * contributing to the control and management of the satellite budgets in your areas of responsibility; * coordinating and ensuring the timely delivery of the deliverable items (to enable the preparation of in-orbit operations) in your domain of responsibility, as set out in the industrial activities included in the statement of work; * coordinating the preparation of the inputs in your area of expertise for the Satellite Verification Control Board and Space Segment Control Boards’ processes; * participating in Agency project reviews and lower-level reviews in the relevant field of competence.

In performing these duties, you will cooperate closely with the relevant G2 system security engineers, systems engineers and ground segment engineers.

## **Technical competencies**

Multidisciplinary technical knowledge and experience in space segment engineering, including related PA standards.

Knowledge and experience in platform/payload unit design, development, integration and verification.

Experience in managing and monitoring industrial activities in ESA project environments.

Knowledge of ESA development, verification and procurement processes.

Relevant experience in the technical domain specific to the project.

## **Behavioural competencies**

## **Education and professional experience**

A master’s degree in electrical engineering 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**

G2A Satellite Platform Unit

* a minimum of 10 years of experience in TT&C and/or ISL spaceflight hardware design, development and testing; * extensive experience in platform communication subsystems and units engineering; * knowledge of satellite platform communication security engineering.

G2B Satellite Payload Unit

* a minimum of 10 years of experience in payload engineering, AIT and/or test beds, of which a minimum of 5 years in navigation; * experience in navigation payload design, particularly in the areas of on-board signal generation and/or advanced antenna technologies and concepts; * experience in navigation payload system budget and performance analyses, including the use of required associated simulation tools; * experience in navigation payload verification and validation concepts, as well as the associated test facilities.

Experience of cooperating with industry would be an asset.

You should be able to demonstrate that you can handle pressure and conflict as may typically occur in a project team.

You should be results-oriented, able to set priorities, and capable of presenting practical solutions both verbally and in writing. You should have good leadership, interpersonal and communication skills.

You should have the ability to work autonomously, effectively and cooperatively in a diverse, international team environment, defining and implementing solutions in line with team and individual objectives and project deadlines.

You should also have good technical, analytical, organisational and reporting skills, a proactive attitude to solving problems and an interest in innovative approaches.

Position details

Reference
1420196733
Last Verified
6 August 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Galileo Lead Space Segment Engineer (2 posts) at ESA based in Noordwijk (Other). The vacancy reference is 1420196733.

Job Requisition ID:20809

Date Posted:30 July 2026

Closing Date:4 September 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication:Internal & External

Directorate:Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity

Location

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

## Description

Galileo Lead Space Segment Engineers in the G2A and G2B Space Segment Management Services, Galileo Space Segment Management Office, Galileo and EGNOS Programme Department, Directorate of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity.

Currently, we are looking for Lead Space Segment Engineers for two different units:

G2SB1-A Satellite Platform Unit

You will report to the G2SB1-A Satellite Platform Manager and will be responsible for monitoring the design, development, implementation and validation of the subsystems and units that form part of the communication chain of the Galileo Second Generation satellites.

These include the C-band mission receiver, the intersatellite link subsystem and the S-band transponder. The role also covers the associated ground test campaigns, as well as the in-orbit commissioning and in-orbit follow-up phases.

G2SB1-B Satellite Payload Unit

You will report to the G2SB1-B Satellite Payload Manager and will be responsible for leading and coordinating the monitoring of the design, development, implementation and validation of the subsystems and units which are part of the navigation payload of the Galileo Second Generation satellites, including the ground test campaign, in-orbit commissioning and in-orbit follow-up phases.

## Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

* contributing to the management of the industrial activities by leading the specification, design, procurement, development and verification/acceptance of spacecraft, platform/payload and equipment hardware throughout the project lifetime, from ITT to flight commissioning; * monitoring the industrial progress and design evolution at spacecraft, platform/payload and equipment levels, ensuring consistency with the technical and programmatic requirements; * monitoring industrial verification activities to ensure proper verification including resolving non-conformances, and supporting the assessment of deviations and waivers; * coordinating with PA and AIT during integration and testing activities for the resolution of activity deviations; * contributing to the autonomy and operability concept, and supporting the FDIR definition (when requested); * monitoring platform/payload and equipment competitiveness/roadmap as necessary; * 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 risk mitigation actions; * monitoring the industrial preparation for launch and coordinating in-flight spacecraft commissioning and verification activities in collaboration with project teams and ground teams; * coordinating various project engineering domains to cover the procurement of the hardware under your responsibility; * potentially being delegated responsibility from project management regarding programmatic aspects; * potentially supporting interactions with delegations and partners as required; * leading a team of engineers and specialised engineering support from the Technology, Engineering and Quality and the Operations Directorates at ESA; * contributing to the control and management of the satellite budgets in your areas of responsibility; * coordinating and ensuring the timely delivery of the deliverable items (to enable the preparation of in-orbit operations) in your domain of responsibility, as set out in the industrial activities included in the statement of work; * coordinating the preparation of the inputs in your area of expertise for the Satellite Verification Control Board and Space Segment Control Boards’ processes; * participating in Agency project reviews and lower-level reviews in the relevant field of competence.

In performing these duties, you will cooperate closely with the relevant G2 system security engineers, systems engineers and ground segment engineers.

## Technical competencies

Multidisciplinary technical knowledge and experience in space segment engineering, including related PA standards.

Knowledge and experience in platform/payload unit design, development, integration and verification.

Experience in managing and monitoring industrial activities in ESA project environments.

Knowledge of ESA development, verification and procurement processes.

Relevant experience in the technical domain specific to the project.

## Behavioural competencies

## Education and professional experience

A master’s degree in electrical engineering 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

G2A Satellite Platform Unit

* a minimum of 10 years of experience in TT&C and/or ISL spaceflight hardware design, development and testing; * extensive experience in platform communication subsystems and units engineering; * knowledge of satellite platform communication security engineering.

G2B Satellite Payload Unit

* a minimum of 10 years of experience in payload engineering, AIT and/or test beds, of which a minimum of 5 years in navigation; * experience in navigation payload design, particularly in the areas of on-board signal generation and/or advanced antenna technologies and concepts; * experience in navigation payload system budget and performance analyses, including the use of required associated simulation tools; * experience in navigation payload verification and validation concepts, as well as the associated test facilities.

Experience of cooperating with industry would be an asset.

You should be able to demonstrate that you can handle pressure and conflict as may typically occur in a project team.

You should be results-oriented, able to set priorities, and capable of presenting practical solutions both verbally and in writing. You should have good leadership, interpersonal and communication skills.

You should have the ability to work autonomously, effectively and cooperatively in a diverse, international team environment, defining and implementing solutions in line with team and individual objectives and project deadlines.

You should also have good technical, analytical, organisational and reporting skills, a proactive attitude to solving problems and an interest in innovative approaches.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 30 July 2026, 7 days ago.

The application deadline is 4 September 2026, 28 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 6 August 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.

Career trajectory

Career progression for this grade staff is governed by Articles 44 to 46 of the Staff Regulations (consolidated text on EUR-Lex) and Annex IB on the promotion procedure. Step increases are automatic every two years (Art. 44); grade promotion is competitive, based on the appraisal exercise (Art. 45) and the Career Development Review. For roles at ESA, progression to the next grade typically takes three to five years on merit, with two-yearly step increases in between. Article 46 governs the classification at recruitment, which sets the starting step within the grade (usually step 1 for external recruits without prior EU service, step 2 or 3 where relevant professional experience is recognised).
Mobility within the institutions is encouraged via the inter-institutional and intra-institutional vacancy publication system: temporary agents who pass the probation period and reservists from EPSO laureate lists can typically apply to internal vacancies after one year of service. Lateral moves between Directorates-General reset the seniority clock for promotion only if the new post carries a different grade.

Language profile

Beyond the formal language requirements stated in the vacancy notice, the day-to-day working languages at this employer are English and French in roughly equal measure, with German appearing in some technical files. Internal meetings and most policy drafting in Brussels run in English; French remains the preferred internal language in Luxembourg-based services and parts of DG TRADE.

Application cadence

ESA has not advertised another comparable role with the same grade and subject signature in the past twenty-four months. This opening has rarely been seen on the EU Careers feed and may be the first such posting in our two-year window. Applicants who pass the eligibility checks should not assume the same profile will reopen on a predictable cadence.

Source: This job listing was sourced from the officialEU Careers portal (EPSO). First published: .

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