Vega-C Launch System and Operations Engineer - European Space Agency (Frascati)

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 to harmonisation of launch campaign engineering approaches across Vega-C, Vega-E, and Space Rider programmes
• Supporting definition, validation and continuous improvement of operational concepts and exploitation processes
• Following up industrial activities relating to launch campaign operations, launcher processing, and integration activities
• Supporting preparation, execution and post-flight assessment of launch campaigns
• Monitoring technical issues, anomaly investigations, corrective actions and lessons learned
• Supporting maintenance and qualification status of launch system operational products
• Supporting specification, development, validation and evolution of operational concepts for future launcher developments
• Coordinating preparation and maintenance of launcher-to-ground segment interface requirements documents and interface control documents

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: Master's degree in a relevant engineering field
• Experience: 5 years of relevant professional experience
• Key skills: System engineering, Multidisciplinary knowledge of area of responsibility, Knowledge of industrial costs and schedule aspects, ESA space system development, verification and review processes and standards, Launch campaign operations

Contract and working arrangements

Hiring unit: Vega and Space Rider Launch System and Engineering Division, Flight Programmes Department, Directorate of Space Transpo….

Position details

Reference

1433553533

Last Verified

16 September 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Vega-C Launch System and Operations Engineer at ESA based in Frascati (Other). The vacancy reference is 1433553533.

Job Requisition ID:20847

Date Posted:3 September 2026

Closing Date:24 September 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication:Internal & External

Directorate:Space Transportation

Location

ESRIN, Frascati, Italy

Description

Vega-C Launch System and Operations Engineer in the Vega and Space Rider Launch System and Engineering Division, Flight Programmes Department, Directorate of Space Transportation.

Under the direct authority of the Vega and Space Rider Launch System and Engineering Manager, you will be responsible for the launcher-to-ground interfaces and launch campaign operations in line with the role and responsibilities assigned to the Vega and Space Rider Integrated Project Team. You will also support the technical coordination and implementation of common technical activities across the Vega and Space Rider Programmes, with particular responsibility for launch system operations, launch campaign engineering, operational validation and launcher-to-ground segment integration.

Duties

Your task and responsibilities will include:

- contributing to the harmonisation of launch campaign engineering approaches across Vega-C, Vega-E, and Space Rider programmes, supporting the definition, validation and continuous improvement of operational concepts and exploitation processes; - following up industrial activities relating to launch campaign operations, launcher processing, integration activities, operational validation and associated developments aimed at improving system competitiveness, launch cadence and operational efficiency; - supporting the preparation, execution and post-flight assessment of launch campaigns, contributing to the monitoring of technical issues, anomaly investigations, corrective actions and lessons learned; - supporting the maintenance and qualification status of launch system operational products, ensuring consistency between launch system definition, operations engineering, launcher qualification status and operational documentation; - supporting, under the coordination of the Technical Coordinator, the specification, development, validation and evolution of operational concepts for future launcher developments, including Vega-E and subsequent launcher evolutions; - coordinating the preparation and maintenance of launcher-to-ground segment Interface requirements documents, interface control documents, operational procedures and related technical documentation; - contributing to launcher system trade-offs relating to operational concepts, ground segment integration, launch campaign optimisation, industrialisation and exploitation readiness; - supporting the monitoring of technical risks, operational constraints and interface issues affecting launch campaigns and exploitation activities, proposing mitigation actions and supporting their implementation; - supporting the harmonisation and digitalisation of engineering and operational processes, including requirements management, configuration management, interface management, model-based engineering and operational data management activities.

Technical competencies

System engineering

Multidisciplinary knowledge of your area of responsibility

Knowledge of industrial costs and schedule aspects

ESA space system development, verification and review processes and standards

Launch campaign operations

Behavioural competencies

Education and professional experience

A master's degree in a relevant engineering field is required for this post together with 5 years of relevant professional experience.

Additional requirements

Direct experience in the development of Vega-related programmes, as well as in launch campaigns, will be considered an asset.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 4 September 2026, 12 days ago.

The application deadline is 24 September 2026, 7 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 16 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 Frascati see our Frascati 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.