Secure Connectivity Low LEO Lead Ground Segment Engineer

Secure Connectivity Low LEO Lead Ground Segment Engineer Job Requisition ID: 20741 Date Posted: 30 July 2026 Closing Date: 31 August 2026 23:59 CET/CEST Publication: Internal & External Type of Appointment: Fixed-Term Directorate: Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity Workplace: Villanueva de la Cañada, ES Grade Band: A2 - A4 ​ This is a fixed-term appointment with an initial duration of 4 years. Depending upon performance and organisational needs, the appointment may be extended up to a possible maximum duration of 8 years. Location ESAC, Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain Description Secure Connectivity Low LEO Lead Ground Segment Engineer in the Secure Connectivity Ground Segment and Operations Office (CSC-IG) within the Secure Connectivity Programme Department (CSC-I) in the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications. The ESA programme related to EU Secure Connectivity, hereinafter referred to as “Secure Connectivity”, is intended to support the effective development and validation of the EU Secure Connectivity governmental infrastructure and the services provided by it, as well as the validation and demonstration of services based on the commercial infrastructure developed by the contractor(s) delivering the EU Secure Connectivity governmental infrastructure. The Low LEO Layer is intended to develop and test pre-operational concepts. It will include the design, development and testing of Low LEO, focusing on hard governmental and light governmental services improvements. These activities will be defined in coordination with the European Commission, which will ensure full compliance with the Secure Connectivity Concession Agreement and, where applicable, the governance of the relevant EU space component. Reporting to the Head of the Secure Connectivity Ground Segment and Operations Office and to the Low LEO Implementation Manager, you will be responsible for leading the Low LEO Integrated Project Team in Spain, with accountability for delivering the work packages associated with the consolidation and implementation phases of the ESA Low LEO programme in the areas of ground segment, operations, launch, LEOP, IOT and the roadmap for later integration into EU IRIS2.Duties Your tasks and responsibilities will include: • leading and coordinating the Low LEO Integrated Project Team (IPT) in Spain, ensuring coherent execution of activities associated with the Low LEO programme component within the areas of responsibility assigned to the IPT; • coordinating closely with the Low LEO Team at ESTEC to ensure full technical and programmatic alignment across all related activities, schedules and implementation priorities, and contributing to reporting to ESA management as required; • managing the consolidation and implementation activities relating to the Low LEO IPT in Spain, ensuring alignment with programme objectives, schedules, operational constraints and pre-operational service needs; • coordinating industrial activities and interfaces with consortiums, institutional partners and operational stakeholders to ensure effective delivery of the areas of responsibility assigned to the Low LEO IPT in Spain; • managing activities relating to the ground segment, operations preparation and operational concepts, ensuring end-to-end consistency, service readiness and operational feasibility across ESA Low LEO activities, while identifying and coordinating synergies with the EU Low LEO-related activities; • coordinating the preparation and execution of launch, LEOP and IOT activities, ensuring readiness, interoperability and smooth transition towards operational validation across ESA Low LEO activities, while identifying and coordinating synergies with the EU Low LEO-related activities; • ensuring technical and operational compatibility of the Low LEO component with the future EU IRIS² baseline and associated secure connectivity services; • supporting the definition and execution of the roadmap for the progressive integration of Low LEO capabilities into the wider EU IRIS² ecosystem; • providing support to system architecture and platform consolidation activities, including identification of synergies and alignment opportunities with EU Low LEO activities; • monitoring programme risks, technical dependencies, schedules and implementation progress, proposing and coordinating mitigation actions where required; • ensuring that operational concepts, validation strategies and service demonstrations are technically mature, operationally credible and aligned with programme timelines and objectives; • close coordination with other project disciplines, including the System Office, the Space Segment Office, the Security Office and the Product Assurance and Safety Team, as well as with the Directorate of Controlling, Finance and Operational Procurement; • providing regular reporting, strategic recommendations and implementation status updates to the Head of the Secure Connectivity Ground Segment and Operations Office. Technical competencies Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership, strategic guidance and independent judgment in complex programme environments involving multiple parallel activities, stakeholders and system elementsStrong capability in programme and technical risk analysis, combined with the ability to assess operational concepts, validation strategies and service readiness to ensure credible and timely system deploymentProven experience in the design, integration and operation of complex ground segment systems within large-scale satellite communication systems, with a solid understanding of end-to-end system behaviour across operational and pre-operational phasesDemonstrated ability to supervise industrial activities and major procurements, including technical evaluation of proposals, support to negotiations, monitoring of implementation progress and participation in major programmesStrong ability to oversee and assess requirements management and verification approaches across system levels, ensuring coherence, traceability and compliance throughout the review of industrial deliverables, plans and evidenceExperience in managing and assessing system and subsystem interfaces within complex, distributed system-of-system architectures, ensuring consistency, interoperability and end-to-end integration across multiple stakeholders and contributing elementsBehavioural competencies Result Orientation Operational Efficiency Fostering Cooperation Relationship Management Continuous Improvement Forward Thinking For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebookEducation and professional experience A master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline is required for this post together with 4 years of relevant professional experience. Alternatively, candidates with a bachelor’s degree, complemented by an additional four (4) years of relevant professional experience can be considered. Additional requirements • Demonstrated ability to work autonomously while maintaining strong coordination and alignment within wider programme structures and governance frameworks; • Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced and evolving programme environments, adapting proactively to changing priorities, schedules and stakeholder needs; • Strong planning, coordination and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple parallel activities, interfaces and deadlines effectively; • Results-oriented mindset, with the ability to prioritise tasks, drive implementation and communicate practical recommendations clearly, both orally and in writing; • Ability to manage challenging situations constructively and proactively, maintaining effective collaboration among institutional, industrial and operational stakeholders; • Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary and multicultural teams; • Ability to synthesise and communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences, including senior management and institutional stakeholders; • Direct experience working with telecommunications operators, service providers or satellite communications industry actors; • Experience in projects involving security, resilience or governmental communications dimensions; • Public speaking and presentation experience, including participation in technical reviews, workshops or stakeholder coordination forums. Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at contact.human.resources@esa.int. Important Information and Disclaimer In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the master’s degree, the position may be filled at A1 level. Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations & eligible to acquire the security clearance by their national security administrations. During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures. Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position. The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have. Nationality and Languages Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia. According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the Member States. The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset. 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