Celeste IOP Spacecraft and Production Lead; Noordwijk, NL

Position: Celeste IOP Spacecraft and Production Lead (Noordwijk, NL)
Location: Noordwijk

Celeste IOP Spacecraft and Production Lead
Celeste IOP Spacecraft and Production Lead in the Celeste IOP Unit, Celeste Programme, Future Navigation Department, Directorate of Navigation. You will report to the Celeste IOP Implementation Manager.

Celeste is the LEO-PNT Component 1 of the FutureNAV programme. It represents ESA’s contribution to the establishment of a European Low Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation and Timing (LEO-PNT) capability as part of a multilayer system‑of‑systems PNT architecture. The component aims to complement existing GNSS services by leveraging a constellation of LEO satellites to deliver enhanced resilience, improved accuracy and innovative features for emerging applications.

The Celeste in‑orbit preparatory (IOP) phase aims to prepare for a future LEO‑PNT operational system for the European Union and to unlock global commercial opportunities, driving innovation and strengthening European leadership in emerging PNT markets, including the development and qualification of pre‑operational products and building blocks, their industrialisation, including mature and qualified technologies, and the creation of the Celeste in‑orbit validation end‑to‑end system.

It also contributes to the PNT pillar of the European Resilience from Space (ERS) initiative.

As Celeste IOP Spacecraft and Production Lead, you will be responsible for managing the Celeste IOP phase industrial activities related to spacecraft design, development, integration, verification and production, including satellite platform subsystems and the industrialisation aspects of building blocks, with a particular emphasis on procurement leadership, coordination of the satellite platform and industrialisation team, and support for fulfilling programmatic objectives. The role is also intended to ensure overall consistency in the preparation of follow‑on operational phases for EU LEO‑PNT and commercial initiatives.

Location:

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands.

Duties

Coordinating the programmatic, procurement and technical aspects of the Celeste IOP spacecraft, satellite platform subsystem design, development, integration, testing and industrialisation activities, ensuring alignment with system requirements, schedule and cost objectives.

Managing the Celeste IOP industrial activities in the areas related to satellite and building block production and industrialisation, satellite platform subsystem development and qualification, ensuring compliance with technical, schedule and programmatic constraints.

Leading the definition and implementation of the industrialisation and production strategy and associated procurement approaches for low‑cost, fast‑paced satellite production, including optimisation of manufacturing and integration flows, launcher accommodation and design‑to‑manufacture principles, in coordination with industry.

Ensuring coherence of the satellite platform and subsystem AIV, as well as the industrialisation activities performed by industry and matrix support teams, ensuring full consistency with the applicable segment and system requirements baseline, in coordination with the Celeste IOP Satellite System Lead, and the LEO‑PNT System, LEO‑PNT Payload, PA&S and Security teams.

Leading and coordinating the production programme, including integration logic, test flow, sequencing and verification approach at subsystem and satellite level, ensuring the availability and suitability of facilities, ground support equipment and resources in coordination with industry and support teams.

Coordinating anomalies and non‑conformances resolutions (including NRBs, NCRs, RFDs and RFWs) during development, integration and testing, ensuring timely resolution while protecting schedule and hardware integrity.

Coordinating launch and in‑orbit commissioning test and validation activities from a spacecraft perspective, including launch campaign activities, anomaly investigation and performance confirmation.

Leading and coordinating the spacecraft and production engineering team in a matrix environment, including objective setting, supervision, performance assessment and ensuring effective contribution to programme objectives.

Systematically…