Earth Observation Missions Optical Payload Engineer - Emerging Sensing Technologies

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Job Requisition

Date Posted: 5 October 2026

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

Publication Method:
Internal & External

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

Directorate:
Earth Observation Programmes

Earth Observation (EO) Future Missions Optical Payload Engineer – Emerging Sensing Technologies in the Optical Instruments Section, Future Missions and Instruments Division, Future Missions and Architecture Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.

Reporting to the Head of the Optical Instruments Section, you will be responsible for the end-to-end definition, engineering, technology bread boarding and pre-development of innovative optical payload systems for EO future missions. These systems will leverage emerging sensing technologies, such as quantum sensors, photonic sensors, freeform optics and miniaturised cameras or spectrometers. You will also work on optical payloads based on more classical optical systems, including imagers and spectrometers.

Your role will involve collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to ensure the successful integration of innovative technologies into future payload concepts.

You will be responsible for identifying and investigating new observation principles and technologies, maintaining awareness of relevant R&D activities, and coordinating with both internal and external partners. You will contribute to defining the roadmap for these technologies and will be actively involved in the pre-development of one or more of them. You will be appointed as the instrument lead for a future mission during Phase 0 or Phase

A.

Your tasks and responsibilities will include the following:

• identifying and investigating new observation principles and techniques related to emerging sensing technologies for Earth observation (EO) future missions in coordination with staff from your Department, the Science, Applications and Climate Department and the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality, including contact with research and technical groups;
• maintaining knowledge of relevant emerging sensing technology and sensor development programmes inside and outside ESA, including developments undertaken by other space agencies in Europe and worldwide, as well as commercial initiatives in close collaboration with the Division’s Technology Coordination and Frequency Management Section;
• maintaining awareness of relevant emerging sensing technology R&D and coordinating with other ESA directorates;
• defining and assessing the performance and technological readiness of new emerging sensing payloads and systems in close collaboration with the EO system engineers of the Division’s Mission and System Studies Section, taking into account mission, system and programmatic objectives and requirements;
• defining, negotiating, initiating and managing industrial contracts for the study and risk retirement of new emerging sensing payload systems, according to the agreed FutureEO activity plan;
• performing risk-retirement activities through technology bread boarding and pre-development of emerging sensors for EO future missions up to their completion, coordinating instrument pre-development activities with project teams when required;
• developing ground-based or airborne instrument models, according to the concept’s maturity and performance-demonstration needs;
• being the optical instrument lead for EO future missions in Phase 0 or Phase A;
• acting as the focal point in the Division for all aspects relating to emerging sensing technologies of missions undergoing evaluation or preparation, including the evaluation of…