Navigation Systems Evolution 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:

• Contributing, leading and/or providing expert technical support to ESA projects, programmes and general studies in positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) and geolocation for Earth and space applications
• Contributing, leading and/or providing expert technical support to the definition, design and development of PNT system evolutions, including multilayer systems and related technologies
• Contributing, leading and/or providing expert technical support to the definition, design and development of multilayer and multidomain resilience and governmental satellite systems, techniques and technologies
• Contributing, leading and/or providing expert technical support to the definition, design and evolution of current and future ESA and EU projects and programmes
• Participating in and/or leading feasibility studies, project reviews and the evaluation of procurement proposals
• Defining and performing internal R&D activities within the field of competence of the Section
• Contributing to the definition of technology development requirements and work plans for the Agency's technology programmes
• Fostering new application areas for multidisciplinary activities, with an emphasis on innovative concepts, cutting-edge technologies and system architectures

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: Master's degree in telecommunications, electronics, aerospace engineering or similar
• Experience: Solid expertise and several years of professional experience in several of the following areas: GNSS/PNT systems, architecture, signals, performance, algorithms, receiver techniques, payload system architecture and all related technologies; Galileo PRS and non-PRS; LEO-PNT; Deep-space navigation for Moon/Mars/Solar System; RFI monitoring and geolocation; Governmental satellite systems; EO/SAR sat…
• Key skills: General background and specific experience in the technical domains covered by the position, Understanding of related technologies, R&D trends and the industrial landscape, Project support experience in a relevant domain, Experience with laboratory or field testing of relevant technical equipment, Experience in the management and monitoring of industrial activities, including participation in reviews

Contract and working arrangements

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

Hiring unit: Navigation Systems Definition Section, End to end Systems Division, Systems Department, Directorate of Technology, Engi….

Position details

Reference

1372683433

Last Verified

18 October 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Navigation Systems Evolution Engineer at ESA based in Noordwijk (Other). The vacancy reference is 1372683433.

Job Requisition ID:20368

Date Posted:8 October 2026

Closing Date:22 October 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication Method: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

Navigation Systems Evolution Engineer in the Navigation Systems Definition Section, End to end Systems Division, Systems Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

The Navigation Systems Definition Section (TEC-SEN) leads or provides support to the Agency’s activities that require expertise in the definition, design and development of positioning, navigation, timing and geolocation systems.

The positioning, navigation, timing and geolocation domain covers the end-to-end engineering of positioning, navigation, timing and geolocation systems at system, space, ground and user segment level, covering links, elements and equipment, system concepts, and all related techniques and technologies for Earth, space and Solar System applications, system/segment/payload system architectures and performance, signal-in-space and signal processing, GNSS receivers, algorithms, OD&TS, formation-flying and RF/optical metrology.

Duties

You will report to the Head of the Navigation Systems Definition Section and, in the technical fields above, your main tasks and responsibilities will involve:

- contributing, leading and/or providing expert technical support to ESA projects, programmes and general studies in the field of positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) and geolocation for Earth and space applications, throughout all project phases, with a focus on the definition, design and development phases; - contributing, leading and/or providing expert technical support to the definition, design and development of PNT system evolutions, including multilayer systems and related technologies, and covering end-to-end system, architecture, signal, performance, receiver, algorithms and payload system architecture aspects, among others; - contributing, leading and/or providing expert technical support to the definition, design and development of multilayer and multidomain (PNT, Earth observation and telecommunications) resilience and governmental satellite systems, techniques and technologies; - contributing, leading and/or providing expert technical support to the definition, design and evolution of current and future ESA and EU projects and programmes, covering open and governmental services, as well as integrated systems, including ESA/EU PNT (Galileo, LEO-PNT, EGNOS, Opstar), European Resilience from Space (ERS) and ERS SoS (EO/SAR, Comms and PNT), deep-space PNT (Moonlight, Novamoon, Lightship, SSI Navigation), future demonstrators (RFI geolocation, formation-flying satellite systems), and R&D and innovation programmes; - participating in and/or leading feasibility studies, project reviews and the evaluation of procurement proposals; - defining and performing internal R&D activities within the field of competence of the Section; and initiating and managing R&D activities covering both long- and short-term needs; - contributing to the definition of technology development requirements and work plans for the Agency’s technology programmes; - fostering new application areas for multidisciplinary activities, with an emphasis on innovative concepts, cutting-edge technologies and system architectures; - defining, initiating, implementing and/or managing laboratory activities as required; - monitoring applicable scientific and technology trends and maintaining state-of-the-art expertise; - contributing to the dissemination of the results of activities performed and the transfer of knowledge across the Agency.

Your duties may also include supporting and/or leading other activities within your field of competence and the transfer of knowledge across the Agency.

Technical competencies

General background and specific experience in the technical domains covered by the position

Understanding of related technologies, R&D trends and the industrial landscape

Project support experience in a relevant domain

Experience with laboratory or field testing of relevant technical equipment

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

Behavioural competencies

Education

A master's degree in telecommunications, electronics, aerospace engineering or similar is required for this post.

Additional requirements

You have solid expertise and several years of professional experience in several of the following areas:

- GNSS/PNT systems, architecture, signals, performance, algorithms, receiver techniques, payload system architecture and all related technologies; - Galileo PRS and non-PRS; - LEO-PNT; - Deep-space navigation for Moon/Mars/Solar System; - RFI monitoring and geolocation; - Governmental satellite systems; - EO/SAR satellite systems, signals, techniques and payload system architecture; - Telecom satellite systems, signals, techniques and payload system architecture; - Fused PNT; - Integrated PNT/telecom/remote sensing; - Signal processing applied to PNT, geolocation, telecom and/or EO/SAR systems and applications.

Experience in the design and evolution of ESA and EU navigation/geolocation systems, signals and/or receivers would be considered an asset. You have experience of working in international and multidisciplinary environments.

Application timeline

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

The application deadline is 22 October 2026, 2 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.