Space Safety Functional and Validation Architect - 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:

• Define and validate several complete Space Safety missions including GNC, AOCS and robotics from Phase A to Phase E1
• Review design and interfaces at system and architecture/functional level during Phase A/B1
• Ensure proper verification/validation logic and acceptance methods are proposed
• Help establish industrial organisation, cost at completion, project risks and schedule
• Define, maintain and coordinate end-to-end AIT/AIV approach, logic and schedule
• Ensure timely procurement of space equipment, GSE and facilities
• Monitor production of space segment and ground segment
• Oversee spacecraft assembly and integration activities at subsystem and system levels

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: Master's degree in engineering or a related field
• Experience: More than 10 years of relevant professional experience in spacecraft development with significant involvement in verification and validation; experience in AIT/AIV and managing complex system validation campaigns; experience in managing spacecraft production and delivery within budget and schedule; experience in procurement of equipment; experience in risk management of complex projects
• Key skills: Good knowledge of ECSS standards, Verification/validation methodologies, Product assurance processes, Capable of working autonomously, Strong leadership capabilities, Proven relationship management and communication skills, Ability to anticipate problems, Flexibility when seeking solutions, Pragmatic and timely decision-making, Result-oriented with ability to set priorities

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: 4 years, extendable to indefinite.

Working arrangements: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands.

Hiring unit: Space Safety Mission Implementation Division.

Position details

Reference

1454843333

Last Verified

6 November 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Space Safety Functional and Validation Architect at ESA based in Noordwijk (Other). The vacancy reference is 1454843333.

Job Requisition ID:21196

Date Posted:5 November 2026

Closing Date:26 November 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication Method:Internal & External

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

Location ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

The Space Safety Programme aims to establish European capabilities and services in the domains of Planetary Defence, Space Weather, and Active Debris Removal [ADR] and In-Orbit Servicing [IOS]. One of the ways it achieves this goal is by carrying out various space missions, some of which are handled by the Mission Implementation Division when in Phase B2/C/D/E.

As part of the Space Weather domain, for example, ESA plans to implement a four-satellite constellation called “Aurora” for monitoring continuously and in real-time the auroral oval, as a key means of enhancing space weather nowcasting and forecasting capabilities in Europe. A first step consists of a single demonstrator satellite mission (“Aurora-D”).

The ever-increasing number of satellites in orbit poses a significant risk to operational spacecraft and the sustainability of space activities. The ADRIOS (Active Debris Removal and In-Orbit Servicing) missions aim to develop and flight-prove capabilities for rendezvous, inspection, capture, life extension, relocation, de-orbiting and repair of satellites.

The Mission Implementation team works very closely with the Mission Study team in the CleanSpace and Circular Economy Office in charge of Phase A/B1.

Space Safety missions often involve companies that are relative newcomers to the space field with ambitions for the private market, which requires the ESA project teams to provide specific expertise and to follow a pragmatic approach.

Your role will provide you with an opportunity to contribute to pioneering space technologies in-orbit, enabling future safe and sustainable orbital operations.

Duties

As Space Safety Functional and Validation Architect, you will be responsible, from Phase A to Phase E1, for the definition and validation of several complete Space Safety missions including GNC, AOCS and robotics in the loop when applicable. You may contribute in paralle to several missions at different development stages.

You will fulfil a cross-cutting role within the Space Safety Mission Implementation Division, between projects and also between the Mission Implementation teams and the Mission Study teams from the CleanSpace and Circular Economy Office. You will report to the Project Manager(s) and you will work in close collaboration with the System Technical Lead(s) and, for certain cross-cutting tasks, to the Division Head directly.

Your key responsibilities will include the following:

Support Phase A/B1 studies and interface with the mission study lead(s) in the Mission Study team in order to ensure a smooth and efficient transition to the implementation phases:

- reviewing design and interfaces at system and architecture/functional level; - ensuring that proper verification/validation logic and acceptance methods are proposed; - helping establish the industrial organisation, the cost at completion, and the project risks and schedule; - making ad hoc contributions to critical technology development activities to ensure smooth integration in later phases.

For Phase B2/C/D/E, support the Project Manager(s) with the following:

Technical execution

- Define, maintain and coordinate the end-to-end AIT/AIV approach, logic and schedule led by industry, including integration flows, verification/validation approaches, environmental test campaigns and facilities; - Ensure the timely procurement of all space equipment, GSE and facilities; - Closely monitor the production of the space segment and ground segment; - Oversee spacecraft assembly and integration activities performed by industry at subsystem and system levels, including mechanical, electrical, and functional integration processes; - Ensure a proper spacecraft verification/validation campaign, including: - functional and performance testing; - environmental testing (vibration, acoustic, thermal-vacuum, EMC); - system validation, including the end-to-end guidance, navigation and control (GNC) and robotics chain relevant to rendezvous and capture when applicable; - possible verification/validation activities specific to the customer satellite when applicable;

- Coordinate with the Operations Manager regarding flight operations procedures and satellite databases in relation to system-level tests; support operations planning and execution as needed; - Procure the launch service for ESA or support industry for the launch service selection when applicable; - Follow-up the preparation of the spacecraft for delivery to the launch site; - Participate in the launch campaign activities.

Management

- Support the Project Manager(s) for risks identification and mitigation, schedule control and cost control and propose recovery actions when needed; - Identify and prioritise the points for attention; report regularly to the Project Manager(s); - Apply pragmatic decision-making processes to balance ideal solutions with project constraints; - Support and coordinate with the mission Product Assurance manager to fulfil adequately the mission product assurance requirements; - Support anomaly resolution and non-conformance management, as well as change management; put in place early recovery actions when necessary; - Participate actively in reviews; - Provide guidelines to industry relevant to verification and validation activities; - Share experience and knowledge with industry in a constructive and result-oriented manner; - Capture and share the lessons-learned with other missions of the Division.

Technical competencies

More than 10 years of hands-on experience in spacecraft development, with significant involvement in verification and validation

Experience in AIT/AIV and managing complex system validation campaigns

Experience in managing spacecraft production and delivery within budget and schedule

Experience in the procurement of equipment

Experience in risk management of complex projects

Good knowledge of ECSS standards, verification/validation methodologies and product assurance processes

Behavioural competencies

Education and professional experience

A master's degree in engineering or a related field is required for this post, together with more than 10 years of relevant professional experience in spacecraft development, with significant involvement in verification and validation.

Additional requirements

Experience in the following would be an asset:

- implementing small missions with significant schedule and price constraints - tailoring the ECSS - launch campaigns - coordinating multidisciplinary engineering teams and working with large industrial consortiums - participating in reviews

And strong background in the following would be an asset:

- robotic systems validation - GNC and AOCS validation - software - in-flight operations

You should also:

- have an interest in working with companies that are relatively new to the space field; - be capable of working autonomously, taking initiatives and following hands-on approach; - show strong leadership capabilities, with proven relationship management and communication skills; - be able to anticipate problems, show flexibility when seeking solutions and be capable of reaching pragmatic and timely decisions; - be result-oriented with the ability to set priorities.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 6 November 2026, 1 day ago.

The application deadline is 26 November 2026, 17 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 November 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.