ESS/Instrument Engineer

Joining Serco Italy’s amazing team offers:

• Great career opportunities in the Space industry
• Support provided to EU Nationals requiring relocation – Information available upon request
• Company events
• International environment

Serco is a leading Space Services Provider with thousands of skilled resources that has supported over 50 space missions on behalf of more than 10 Space or Government agencies around the globe, including the ESA and NASA.

Serco Italia S.p.A. is one of the top 50 World Space Manufacturing and Service companies with a long history of providing Earth Observation operations, maintenance and front-end services to the European Space Agency. The company also offers vast experience to a huge number of IT and space markets including: central governments, defence organisations, the aerospace industry and commercial companies.

We are currently seeking an experienced and dynamic ESS/Instrument Engineer in the frame of the PDGS Engineering Support Service. You will have the opportunity to support the Data Quality Manager, covering aspects related to Instrument Performance, Operational Processors (particularly L1) and Calibration (particularly offline calibration). It spans starting from phase E2.

As a ESS/Instrument Engineer you will concentrate your activities on the following:

• Operational Processors support communication between all stakeholders in Phase E2 using collaborative tools.
• Reviews related to L1 processors and offline calibration processors.
• Planning and Preparation of documentation during the phase E2 data quality activities (including processor maintenance and evolution as well as product monitoring)
• Support for the testing and acceptance of Level 1. Testing is considered white-box testing, i.e., an understanding of the processing algorithms and detailed working of the processors shall be acquired.
• Review of documentation from various sources: ESA, Industry during the project phases dealing with sub-systems implementation and testing.
• Generation of technical notes whenever needed during the relevant project phases.
• Providing support to instrument anomaly investigations. This will specifically involve tracing anomalies from the instrument back to L1b data.
• Operations of the various supporting tools for the part relevant to the processing functionality.
• Support the investigation of anomaly mitigation either on instrument settings or calibration processors.
• Support to the updates of the Offline Calibration Processors and in particular the derivation and provision of updated instrument and CCDB settings.
• Interact with the Mission Post Launch Support and associated industry as well as the DISC.
• Participate in progress and planning meetings relevant to the tasks.
• Participation and support to the Mission Advisory Groups and Quality Working Groups upon request.
• Workshop planning.
• Support the integration of the processors within processing centre.
• Definition of integration and validation tests.
• Run of integration and validation tests procedures.
• Test results analysis.
• Test reporting.
• Support review of products Quality Control and Instruments Monitoring baselines.
• Support for processing algorithms definition and review.
• Support to products format definition review.
• Ad-hoc development of tools for the accomplishment of the PDGS testing and validation.

The following skills and experience are mandatory:

• University master degree or equivalent qualification, preferably in Remote Sensing and Earth Observation.
• Good understanding of and background in geophysical sciences and/or specific instruments as LIDAR, Radiometer and MultiSpectral Imager.
• Experience in instrument development and on-ground testing.
• Experience in the development of instrument L1 ATBD.
• Experience in instrument and data monitoring.
• Experience in data quality control.
• Experience in calibration activities.
• Fluent English language (oral and written).
• Autonomous in writing technical notes, specifications and reports in English.
• You have good inter-personal skills and team spirit.

The following skills would be highly desirable:

• Good knowledge of the ESA Earth Explorers missions (and instruments) and processes related to their PDGS development.
• Programming skills in order to develop tools for the accomplishment of the engineering, testing and validation activities.
• A sound knowledge of containerization technologies and virtual environment.
• Knowledge of the ECSS standards and documentation and configuration control management techniques.
• He/she will be requested to travel on mission.

Why should you join Serco?

At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play.

Meaningful and vital work - You’ll contribute to methodologically intercepting challenges whilst achievements will also be recognised and celebrated.

A world of opportunity - You’ll be wholeheartedly supported with development and career progression.

Great people - You’ll become an integral member of a well-defined and supportive team who believe passionately in the value of our work.

What we offer

• Chance to contribute to innovation in the public services sector.
• A company passionate about diversity and inclusion.
• Permanent employment with comprehensive Serco Benefits package.

About Serco

At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play when managing complex public services.

We are a team of 60,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world; we are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks – SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging.

We are a diverse and inclusive organisation

At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential and we are committed to supporting the needs of all our colleagues. It’s a mix of people from different backgrounds, experiences and opinions that keeps our culture strong and vibrant.

We believe in equity so we strongly encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their abilities in an interview. We also welcome a conversation about any adjustments that would make the interview process more accessible for you. Wherever possible we are open to discussions around flexible working and we operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas.

In the UK we are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader in the government’s scheme and hold the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard; in Belgium we are partner of Diversicom and member of Charter der Vielfalt in Germany.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to The Serco Europe Recruitment Team.

Important

Any offer of employment is contingent upon you providing documents to verify your identity and employment eligibility, as required by law.

Please contact the recruitment team if needed.

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• Salary Salary information available upon application
• Frequency Monthly
• Job Reference IT24/ESRIN/9899
• Contract Type Permanent
• Closing Date 04 November, 2024
• Job Category Satellite & Space Engineering & Science