Description

Avionics and Data Handling Engineer in the Data Handling Section, Avionics and EEE Division, Electrical Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality (D/TEC).

You will report hierarchically to the Head of the Data Handling Section and functionally to the Vigil Programme Manager in the Vigil Project, Earth Explorer Missions Programme within the Earth Observation Projects Department of the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes (D/EOP).

Vigil is a cornerstone mission of the Space Safety Programme (S2P) and will be the main element of the ESA Space Weather Service Network monitoring system. The Vigil satellite has several remote sensing and in situ instruments, providing observational data and contributing to the delivery of high-availability/low-latency space weather services. Within the Vigil Project, you will be responsible for all aspects of the satellite avionics engineering and verification.

The Data Handling Section provides functional support to ESA projects and carries out technological research (R&D) in the fields of avionics, on-board data handling and data processing solutions, with emphasis on:

• platform and payload data handling architectures and their building blocks (equipment/units, modules and key components);
• avionics units such as on-board computers and remote terminals, as well as mass memories and instrument control units;
• digital and analogue signal processing electronics for payload and avionics functions;
• front-end acquisition and processing chain electronics*;
• on-board data transfer interfaces, buses and associated protocols (high and low speed);
• platform data handling functions relating to security, data authentication, encryption and compression;
• the use of microelectronics devices;
• implementation, inference, verification and validation of algorithms** on processing hardware platforms for space applications* in close collaboration with other discipline experts, such as software, microelectronics and applications engineers.

* except for RF payloads.
** including artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms.

For your first assignment as Avionics and Data Handling Engineer, you will support the Vigil Project, Earth Explorer Missions Programme within the Earth Observation Projects Department of the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes. During this assignment you will report functionally to the Vigil Spacecraft Engineering and AIT/V Manager.

Duties

Reporting to the Head of Section and within the technical fields described above, your main tasks and responsibilities will include:

• the specification, development, procurement and verification of Vigil platform electronic units, including the on-board computer, data handling subsystem and instrument control units (ICU/DPU);
• ensuring the consistency and correctness of functional and electrical interfaces between the Vigil platform electronic units, such as ADCS and power units, and the Vigil payload suite instruments, including the Agency-procured and -furnished instruments;
• ensuring consistency between the on-board computer, the data handling subsystem, other electronic unit specifications and the on-board software and spacecraft reference database;
• monitoring the avionics schedule and risks of the relevant procurements, providing early warning of potential problem areas and ensuring that appropriate mitigation actions are identified and implemented;
• supporting the preparation and execution of the system validation tests (SVT) executed by the Vigil Mission Operation Centre (MOC) in ESOC;
• supporting the launch campaign at the MOC and at the launch site, as well as the LEOP and in-space commissioning of the Vigil avionics, including support to the resolution of in-space anomalies;
• supporting the reviews at space segment level as well as at a lower level (instrument, subsystem equipment);
• communicating, when relevant, the outcome of technology maturations, internally in ESA and externally at workshops and conferences;
• liaising with other Project sections, providing engineering support and ensuring a consistent approach for the development and verification of the space segment;
• contributing to the definition of technology development requirements and work plans for the Agency’s technology programmes;
• managing and participating in the evaluation of tender submissions and negotiation and implementation of the corresponding contracts in collaboration with the Procurement Department and other relevant ESA departments.

You will be assisted by Project Control, Contracts, Legal and Quality staff and supported by engineers from the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education

A master’s degree in electronics, telecommunications or a related field is required for this post.

Additional requirements

At least 10 years of experience working on the design, development, verification and deployment of space projects.

Knowledge in the following fields will be considered an asset:

• Design, review, simulation and verification of end-to-end processing chains and data handling architectures;
• Design, review, simulation, manufacturing and testing of platform and payload data handling and processing equipment, modules and boards;
• The use of FPGAs/processors/microcontrollers, the design and implementation of single-point-failure-free circuitry, failure containment techniques and the use of rad-hard components/COTS with radiation mitigation techniques for the implementation of platform and payload data handling and processing equipment;
• Knowledge of security protocols and functions, such as encryption, decryption and authentication, and their hardware implementation as applied in avionics and data handling systems;
• Experience leading the FMEA definition for avionics, including the analysis of radiation sensitivity of critical EEE components in the system failures;
• Failure Detection, Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) design and analysis for avionics and data handling systems;
• Implementation, inference, training, verification and validation of machine learning algorithms on hardware platforms for space or terrestrial applications;
• Electronics laboratory experience for the implementation and testing of data handling and processing modules and units;
• Familiarity with product assurance (PA) standards, including software PA.