Copernicus Sentinel-NG Lead Instrument End-to-End Data Chain Engineer

Position: Copernicus Sentinel-2 NG Lead Instrument End-to-End Data Chain Engineer
Location: Noordwijk

Copernicus Sentinel-2 NG Lead Instrument End-to-End Data Chain Engineer
Job

Requisition

Closing Date: 15 July 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Directorate:
Earth Observation Programmes

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.

Description
Copernicus Sentinel-2 NG Lead Instrument End-to-End Data Chain Engineer in the Payload Management Section, Copernicus S2 and S2 Next Generation Project, Copernicus Space Segment Programme, Projects Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.

The Sentinel-2 Next Generation (S2 NG) mission will ensure enhanced continuity of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 first‑generation measurements into the 2030s. The project has completed its Phase A/B1 and is entering the Phase B2/C/D implementation phase.

You will serve as Lead Instrument End-to-End Data Chain Engineer for the Copernicus S2 NG mission. You will report to the S2 NG Payload Manager for all technical and programmatic matters and will work within the relevant project team. You will be responsible for the procurement and timely delivery of the S2 NG instrument data chain subsystems, including the front‑end electronics, data processing units and instrument control unit, during Phase B2/C/D/E1.

You will work in close cooperation with other engineers within the S2NG project and will coordinate specialised technical support from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality (D/TEC). You will also support additional Copernicus projects featuring optical instruments, such as LSTM and/or CHIME.

Duties
Under the supervision of the Payload Manager, you will bear technical responsibility for the delivery of the end‑to‑end data chain subsystems of the overall S2 NG optical instrument.

Your responsibilities will include the supervision of the design, development, manufacturing, integration, verification, test and characterisation of the instrument end‑to‑end data chain elements. These encompass analogue‑to‑digital converters, high‑speed memories and optical/electrical interconnects, advanced digital processing architectures implementing complex, high‑throughput, real‑time image data pre‑processing and reduction functions, and instrument control electronics.

As part of the project team, you will cooperate with the other elements of the system, supported as required by experts from D/TEC, in the relevant engineering domains.

Your main tasks and responsibilities will include:

Managing the industrial activities by supervising the specification, design, procurement, development and verification/acceptance of instrument end‑to‑end data chain hardware and software, including coordination across functional teams and end‑user organisations/operators throughout the project lifetime, from the procurement tender to in‑flight commissioning;

Leading the instrument end‑to‑end data chain requirements and specifications, technical budgets, design drivers, architectural trade‑offs, internal and external payload interfaces, spacecraft‑level payload performance and operational concepts relating for example to instrument modes, commanding and synchronisation, including their consistency with the mission requirements, specifications and technical budgets;

Monitoring the industrial progress and design evolution at instrument data chain subsystem and equipment levels, ensuring it remains consistent with the technical and programmatic requirements;

Monitoring the instrument end‑to‑end data chain and relevant technology development roadmaps as necessary;

Monitoring the industrial verification activities to ensure proper verification, including resolving non‑conformances and supporting the assessment of deviations and waivers;

Providing regular reporting to project management and identifying technical risk areas, proposing and monitoring mitigation measures;

Contributing to the management of the schedule and proposing schedule optimisation and risk mitigation actions;

Coordinating the instrument end‑to‑end data chain AIV activities and supporting the spacecraft AIV activities, including validation of…