Secure Connectivity 5G NTN End-to-End System and Validation 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:

• Follow the implementation of 5G within the end-to-end system architecture, system behaviour, concept of operations, system scenarios and use cases
• Establish and maintain the IRIS2 5G roadmap, describing the incremental implementation of the system capabilities through successive 3GPP releases
• Ensure technical end-to-end consistency of the satellite access network, notably considering the resource management and 5G end-to-end implementation
• Ensure the derivation and traceability of the 5G system and segment requirements including functional, performance, operational, service and security requirements
• Propose corrective measures to respond to deviations from mission requirements established at programme level
• Define, specify and maintain end-to-end performance requirements, KPIs and associated verification and validation strategies for 5G NTN services across the space, ground and user segments
• Lead and coordinate end-to-end performance validation activities, including system-level simulations, testbeds, ground testing and in-orbit validation campaigns
• Monitor and assess system-level performance against defined budgets (capacity, latency, availability, reliability, QoS/QoE), identifying deviations and ensuring consistency with mission and service requirements

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: A master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline is required, or alternatively a bachelor's degree with an additional four years of relevant professional experience
• Experience: Four years of relevant professional experience required; experience in the design and implementation of 5G NTN systems, including end-to-end validation at different project phases; experience in the implementation of large space programmes or projects, ideally in the area of telecommunications satellite constellations; experience in the 3GPP standardisation process including security aspects; ext…
• Key skills: System of systems architecture design and definition, Technical requirements definition, On-ground and in-orbit validation activities, 5G NTN systems design and implementation, 3GPP standardisation process knowledge, Industrial activity management and monitoring, Technical and contractual negotiations, Technical review management, Pressure and conflict handling, Result-oriented approach

Contract and working arrangements

Hiring unit: System Architecture Section, Secure Connectivity System Office, Secure Connectivity Programme Department, Directorate f….

Position details

Reference

1428607633

Last Verified

27 August 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Secure Connectivity 5G NTN End-to-End System and Validation Lead Engineer at ESA based in Noordwijk (Other). The vacancy reference is 1428607633.

Job Requisition ID:20845

Date Posted:21 August 2026

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

Publication:Internal & External

Directorate:Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity

Location

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

Secure Connectivity 5G NTN End-to-End System and Validation Lead Engineer in the System Architecture Section, Secure Connectivity System Office, Secure Connectivity Programme Department, Directorate for Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity.

The ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity, referred to as Secure Connectivity, is intended to support the effective development and validation of the EU Secure Connectivity governmental infrastructure and the services provided by it, as well as the validation and demonstration of services based on the commercial infrastructure developed by the contractor(s) delivering the EU Secure Connectivity governmental infrastructure. This includes the follow-up of the system design and development for IRIS2.

The System Architecture Section in the Secure Connectivity System Office is responsible for all systems engineering tasks to support the effective design and development of the overall Secure Connectivity system of systems. This includes the follow-up of the 5G implementation in the IRIS2 system.

Reporting to the Head of the Secure Connectivity System Architecture Section, you will be responsible for the implementation and validation in IRIS2 of 5G NTN (non-terrestrial networks), considered as an end-to-end product covering the space segment, ground segment and user terminal.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

- following the implementation of 5G within the end-to-end system architecture, system behaviour, concept of operations, system scenarios and use cases; - establishing and maintaining the IRIS2 5G roadmap, describing the incremental implementation of the system capabilities through successive 3GPP releases; - ensuring technical end-to-end consistency of the satellite access network, notably considering the resource management and 5G end-to-end implementation; - ensuring the derivation and traceability of the 5G system and segment requirements including functional, performance, operational, service and security requirements; - proposing corrective measures to respond to deviations from mission requirements established at programme level; - defining, specifying and maintaining end-to-end performance requirements, KPIs and associated verification and validation strategies for 5G NTN services across the space, ground and user segments; - leading and coordinating end-to-end performance validation activities, including system-level simulations, testbeds, ground testing and in-orbit validation campaigns; - monitoring and assessing system-level performance against defined budgets (capacity, latency, availability, reliability, QoS/QoE), identifying deviations and ensuring consistency with mission and service requirements; - supporting the definition and execution of performance test plans, validation scenarios and measurement methodologies in coordination with industrial partners and internal ESA stakeholders; - ensuring traceability between performance requirements, system architecture design choices and validation results; - following the user terminal development to ensure the correct end-to-end implementation of the 5G air interface; - liaising with the Ground Segment Office, the Security Office, the Space Segment Office, the PA and Safety Office, and the relevant industrial actors in order to ensure a proper understanding and implementation of the 5G NTN; - supporting the preparation and participation of reviews relating to Secure Connectivity at system and segment level; - supporting all engineering and R&D activities directly relating to the development and implementation of the system; - supporting the preparation of future generations of the Secure Connectivity system of systems; - monitoring relevant schedules in a proactive manner, identifying risk and problem areas in the System Office, providing assessments and proposing mitigation actions from industry and on the ESA side; - providing regular reporting to project management on all aspects of your competence; - supporting technical interaction with national delegations, the IRIS2 programme (the European Commission), the European Union Agency for the Space Programme and the different standardisation bodies such as 3GPP; - taking on responsibility for programmatic aspects if delegated from project management.

Technical competencies

Experience in the design and implementation of 5G NTN systems, including end-to-end validation at different project phases (from testbed to in-orbit testing).

Experience in the implementation of large space programmes or projects, ideally in the area of telecommunications satellite constellations.

Multidisciplinary and comprehensive knowledge of system of systems architecture, definition of related technical requirements and on-ground and in-orbit validation activities.

Experience in the 3GPP standardisation process including security aspects.

Extensive experience in the management and monitoring of industrial activities, including technical and contractual negotiations, and management of technical reviews.

Behavioural competencies

Education and professional experience

A master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline 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

Experience of working with a commercial telecommunications company and/or operator is desirable.

Experience of working in secure environments or projects is desirable.

You should be able to demonstrate that you can handle pressure and conflict as may typically occur in a project team. You should be result-oriented, able to set priorities, and capable of presenting practical solutions both verbally and in writing.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 21 August 2026, 7 days ago.

The application deadline is 11 September 2026, 13 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 27 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.

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