VN 25/22 Flight Dynamics Engineer
The Flight Operations (FLO) Division is tasked with conducting spacecraft flight operations and supporting the development of future missions, including flight dynamics and mission analysis activities. This post is for the role of Flight Dynamics engineer in the Flight Dynamics & Mission Analysis team in FLO.
The post holder is responsible for, and contributes to, the flight dynamics and mission analysis aspects of system development and operations preparation, validation and routine operations of current and future missions. She/he participates in the engineering, operations and maintenance of Flight Dynamics operational systems for current low Earth orbit satellites, as well as support the development of future missions.
Duties
- Provide mission analysis support to early mission feasibility and definition phases;
- Provide flight dynamics support to system requirements specifications and operations concept definitions;
- Provide flight dynamics support to flight dynamics facility and conjunction management requirement specifications, procurements, development and verification phases;
- Provide flight dynamics support to the definition, operations preparation and execution of pre-launch Satellite System Verification Testing (SSVT), Launch & Early Orbit Phase (LEOP), Satellite In-orbit Verification (SIOV), and System Commissioning activities for new and recurrent satellites;
- Perform flight dynamics activities in support of routine, special, contingency and end of life/disposal operations of LEO satellites, including: determination of satellitesโ attitude and orbit; generation of flight dynamics products for onboard and ground segment use;
maintenance of the operational orbits through implementation of manoeuvres; monitoring, management and, where necessary, mitigation of collision risks; satellite housekeeping activities such as sensor and actuator maintenance; evaluation of satellite performance, including fuel lifetimes; satellite anomaly investigation and resolution;
- Provide flight dynamics support to the maintenance, re-engineering and enhancement of ground segments and flight dynamics facilities, including: anomaly investigation and resolution; optimisation and enhancement of Flight Dynamics functionality, performance, efficiency and robustness; removal of system obsolescence; specification, development, integration and acceptance of system evolutions;
- Ensure readiness of operational flight dynamics and conjunction management systems, and related engineering team personnel, for introduction of recurrent satellites within existing missions.
LOCATION Darmstadt, Germany
QUALIFICATIONS
A university degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. computer sciences, physics, aerospace engineering, mathematics).
LANGUAGES Candidates must be able to work effectively in English and have some knowledge of French.
DEADLINE
20 April 2025
Duties
- Provide mission analysis support to early mission feasibility and definition phases;
- Provide flight dynamics support to system requirements specifications and operations concept definitions;
- Provide flight dynamics support to flight dynamics facility and conjunction management requirement specifications, procurements, development and verification phases;
- Provide flight dynamics support to the definition, operations preparation and execution of pre-launch Satellite System Verification Testing (SSVT), Launch & Early Orbit Phase (LEOP), Satellite In-orbit Verification (SIOV), and System Commissioning activities for new and recurrent satellites;
- Perform flight dynamics activities in support of routine, special, contingency and end of life/disposal operations of LEO satellites, including: determination of satellitesโ attitude and orbit; generation of flight dynamics products for onboard and ground segment use;
maintenance of the operational orbits through implementation of manoeuvres; monitoring, management and, where necessary, mitigation of collision risks; satellite housekeeping activities such as sensor and actuator maintenance; evaluation of satellite performance, including fuel lifetimes; satellite anomaly investigation and resolution;
- Provide flight dynamics support to the maintenance, re-engineering and enhancement of ground segments and flight dynamics facilities, including: anomaly investigation and resolution; optimisation and enhancement of Flight Dynamics functionality, performance, efficiency and robustness; removal of system obsolescence; specification, development, integration and acceptance of system evolutions;
- Ensure readiness of operational flight dynamics and conjunction management systems, and related engineering team personnel, for introduction of recurrent satellites within existing missions.
Skills and Experience
- In-depth knowledge of space flight mechanics, covering both orbit and attitude dynamics, for Earth-orbiting spacecraft;
- Proven professional experience in operations and maintenance of Earth Observation LEO space flight dynamics systems;
- Knowledge of system engineering standards and methodologies in aspects relevant to space operational systems;
- Familiarity with software libraries and tools specific for flight dynamics & mission analysis of LEO satellites (e.g. NAPEOS, Orekit, Godot);
- Familiarity with Linux systems and programming languages with focus on mathematical applications (e.g. Java, Python, MatLab);
- Strengths in analysis, synthesis and presentation, coupled with very good interpersonal skills and a proven ability to apply these to the interactions within a team and between teams.
Employment Conditions
The initial contract will be of 4 yearsโ duration, with subsequent 5 year contracts being awarded thereafter, subject to individual performance and organisation requirements. There is no limit to the amount of follow-up contracts a staff member can receive up to the EUMETSAT retirement age of 63 and there are certainly opportunities to establish a long career perspective at EUMETSAT.
This post is graded A2/A4 on the EUMETSAT salary scales. The minimum basic salary for this post is EURO 7,340 per month (net of internal tax but excluding pension contribution and insurances) which may be negotiable on the basis of skills and experience. The salary scale provides for increments on the anniversary of taking up employment, and scales are reviewed by the EUMETSAT Council with effect from 1 January each year. In addition to basic salary, EUMETSAT offers attractive benefits. Further information, including salary details, is available on the EUMETSAT web site.Interview of this post will be conducted during the first half of 2025. However, the contract for the successful candidate will only be issued after obtaining formal approval of the EPS-Sterna Programme by EUMETSAT Member States, expected in early-July 2025.
EUMETSAT is committed to providing an equal opportunities work environment for men and women.
Please note that only nationals of EUMETSAT Member States may apply. The EUMETSAT Convention requires that Staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, account being taken of the international character of EUMETSAT.About EUMETSAT
EUMETSAT is Europeโs meteorological satellite agency. Its role is to establish and operate meteorological satellites to monitor the weather and climate from space - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This information is supplied to the National Meteorological Services of the organisation's Member States in Europe, as well as other users worldwide.
EUMETSAT also operates several Copernicus missions on behalf of the European Union and provide data services to the Copernicus marine and atmospheric services and their users.
As an intergovernmental European Organisation, EUMETSAT has 30 Member States (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.)