Celeste IOP Spacecraft and Production Lead

Celeste IOP Spacecraft and Production Lead

Location:

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Celeste IOP Spacecraft and Production Lead within the Celeste IOP Unit, Celeste Programme, Future Navigation Department, Directorate of Navigation. The role reports to the Celeste IOP Implementation Manager. Celeste is the LEO-PNT Component 1 of the FutureNAV programme, contributing to the European Low Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation and Timing capability. The in‑orbit preparatory phase prepares for an operational LEO‑PNT system for the EU and unlocks global commercial opportunities.

Responsibilities

Coordinating 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 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, 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, and 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 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 capturing and implementing lessons learned from Celeste and other programmes across a variety of domains, as relevant.

Supporting project management by providing regular and ad‑hoc reporting on progress, risks, issues and mitigation actions within your areas of responsibility, and by contributing to technical conclusions, recommendations, and other management and programmatic aspects as required.

In the performance of your duties, you will be supported by a team of specialists from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality and the Directorate of Operations.

Technical Competencies

Knowledge and experience of product development and industrialisation

Knowledge and experience of satellite systems engineering

Knowledge and experience of LEO constellations

Knowledge and experience of satellite navigation systems

Knowledge and experience of managing industrial activities in space domains

Knowledge and experience of project risk management

Behavioural Competencies

Result Orientation

Operational Efficiency

Fostering Cooperation

Relationship Management

Continuous Improvement

Forward Thinking

Education and Professional Experience
A master’s degree in a relevant engineering or scientific discipline is required for this post together with four years of relevant professional experience. Alternatively, candidates with a bachelor’s degree and an additional four years of relevant professional experience may be considered.

Additional Requirements

Several years of…