Instrument Specialist

Joining Serco Italy's amazing team offers: Great career opportunitiesInternational environmentPossible hybrid workJob IntroductionSerco 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 offers space capability across the full space lifecycle from satellite testing to launch services, LEOP to spacecraft operations, space surveillance to data management, and supporting downstream application development.
We're looking for an Instrument Specialist to reinforce the team in our Italy office We look forward to meeting you Main ResponsibilitiesObjective You will have the opportunity to support the European Space Agency (ESA) Data Quality Manager of EarthCARE, in the phase E2 of the mission, covering aspects related to Calibration (particularly offline calibration), Instrument Performance and Operational Processors (particularly L1). The activity will be held in close collaboration with both the ESA Data Quality Manager and Payload Data Ground Segment (PDGS) Operation Manager.
It will include the provision of updated calibration parameters for on-ground processing and on-board update to the operational PDGS, via dedicated interfaces between ICMF (Instrument Calibration Facility) and operational PDGS systems. The parameters will be generated automatically by calibration processors or alternatively provided by the expert team in the framework of the DISC contract (EarthCare Data Innovation and Science Cluster) including L1/L2 calibration expert in phase E2. Collaboration with the DISC team will be a key aspect of the role.
Analysis and validation of the calibration results, raising possible issues, reporting of problems to the ESA Data Quality manager, proposal for Anomaly Review Board (ARB) and evolution of the processors and instrument monitoring will be relevant parts of the responsibilities.
Activities and tasks Operational Processors support communication between all stakeholders in Phase E2 using collaborative tools.Managing the interface between DISC team and operational PDGS.Operation of the EarthCARE Instrument Calibration Facility (ICMF) for running calibration processors and managing the update of CCDB (Calibration and Characterization Database).Analysis of operational offline Calibration processors results and monitoring.Support request for calibration processors/calibration facility evolution based on operational results analysis and monitoring.Support the reprocessing of calibration data.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 testing and acceptance of Level 1, impacting in particular the offline calibration perimeter. 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 dealing with sub-systems evolution 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.Participate in and support the Mission Advisory Groups and Quality Working Groups upon request.Workshop planning.Support the validation of the calibration processors within processing centre.Definition of integration and validation tests.Run of integration and validation test procedures.Test results analysis.Test reporting.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.Successful CandidateSkills and Experience The following skills and experience are mandatory:
You have a University master degree or equivalent qualification, preferably in Remote Sensing and Earth Observation.You have a good understanding of and background in geophysical sciences and/or specific instruments as LIDAR, Radiometer and MultiSpectral Imager.You have experience in instrument and data monitoring.You have experience in data quality control.You have experience in operational processors development.You have experience in calibration activities.You have capability of supporting data analysis, managing quick look of results.You are fluent in English (oral and written).You have good inter-personal skills and team spirit.The following skills would be highly desirable:You have a good knowledge of the ESA Earth Explorers missions (and instruments) and processes related to their PDGS development and PDGS operation.You have good knowledge of PDGS systems and processes.You possess programming skills in order to develop tools for the accomplishment of the engineering, testing and validation activities.You understand containerization technologies and virtual environment.You have knowledge of the ECSS standards and documentation and configuration control management techniques.You have experience in instrument development and on-ground testing.The successful candidate can be occasionally requested to travel on mission.About the CompanySerco is a leading provider of public services. Our customers are governments or others operating in the public sector. We gain scale, expertise and diversification by operating internationally across five sectors and four geographies: Defence, Space, Justice & Immigration, Transport, Health and Citizen Services, delivered in UK & Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. More information can be found at Serco | Europe.
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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.
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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.
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Salary Salary information available upon applicationFrequency MonthlyJob Reference IT24/ESS/10299Contract Type PermanentClosing Date 03 January, 2025Job Category Satellite & Space Engineering & Science
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