Description

Power Management Engineer in the Power Systems Architecture Section, Power Systems EMC and Space Environment Division, Electrical Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality (D/TEC).

The Section provides functional support to ESA projects and carries out technological research (R&D) in the field of power management and distribution for space applications, both primary or secondary, platform or payload. In particular, it covers power system design, power and energy budget assessment, power conditioning and distribution design and technology, analogue electronics for power systems, control of power systems, digital control of power systems, sensing techniques and high-voltage technology and design. Within this domain of competence, the Section is responsible for:

• defining, promoting and implementing, in line with anticipated technology trends and project needs, the Section’s contributions to ESA technology programmes and R&D activities;
• coordinating, where applicable, the requirements of technology elements in the Section’s domain of competence with the overall requirements of systems being developed under the responsibility of other D/TEC areas;
• maintaining state-of-the-art expertise, through the execution of the yearly plan for technical assessment and related hands-on activities, by keeping roadmaps up to date and driving the periodic harmonisation exercise in the Section’s domain of expertise, as well as by driving selected technology activities of specific importance for the Section or the Division and supporting the definition of European standards relating to the Section’s domain of competence;
• ensuring the development, maintenance and evolution of the engineering tools used by the Division in support of its duties;
• coordinating the Section’s laboratory activities with the Energy Storage and Power Laboratory Section in order to optimise the support provided by the laboratory team and to ensure proper prioritisation of tasks;
• participating in the early-phase design of power systems for future space missions.

Duties

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

• providing expert technical support and consultancy to ESA projects, programmes and general studies in the field of Power Management and Distribution throughout all project phases;
• participating in feasibility studies, project reviews and evaluation of procurement proposals;
• identifying critical development problems and assisting in their resolution;
• contributing to the definition of technology development requirements and work plans for the Agency’s technology programmes;
• defining, initiating and managing R&D activities covering both long- and short-term needs;
• fostering new application areas for multidisciplinary activities, placing emphasis on innovative concepts, cutting-edge technologies and system architectures;
• laboratory activities as required;
• monitoring applicable scientific and technological trends and maintaining a state-of-the-art expertise;
• contributing to the dissemination of the results of the activities performed and the transfer of knowledge across the Agency.

Your duties may also include supporting other activities within your field of competence.

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 electrical engineering, or a similar subject, is required for this post.

Additional requirements

The following will be considered assets:

Experience in the design of power systems at early-phase stages of space missions and the use of relevant tools
Experience in power system analysis, including power and energy budget assessment
Experience in DC/DC converter design and verification
Experience of power converter control
Experience of digital control and FPGA programming
Experience in the use of GaN and SiC switches for power conversion
Experience in the use of electrical simulation tools and the modelling of power conversion circuits and systems
Knowledge of secondary power system analysis and verification
Knowledge of distribution system analysis and verification
Knowledge of power processing units (PPU) for propulsion systems
Knowledge of power systems for SmallSats
A PhD in a relevant domain