Copernicus Space Component Technical Officer

Copernicus Space Component Technical Officer

**Job Requisition ID**:19773

**Date Posted**:4 September 2025

**Closing Date**:25 September 2025 23:59 CET/CEST

**Publication**:Internal & External

**Type of Contract**:Permanent

**Directorate**:Earth Observation Programmes

**Workplace**:Frascati, IT

**Grade Band**:A2 - A4

**Location**
ESRIN, Frascati, Italy

**Description**
Copernicus Space Component Technical Officer within the Copernicus Space Office in the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes (D/EOP).Under the direct authority of the Director of Earth Observation Programmes, the Copernicus Space Office is responsible for programmatic activities relevant to Copernicus and performs the lead role for the strategic and coordination activities relating to Copernicus. The Office acts as an interface with the European Commission for Copernicus. The Copernicus Space Office is the interface for ESA’s Copernicus activities within and external to ESA. It ensures their coordination by the implementing departments and ensures the oversight of the Copernicus Space Component (CSC).Reporting to the Head of the Copernicus Space Office, and for the tasks under the responsibility of the Office, you will manage and perform technical analyses relating to the Copernicus Space Component, including its long-term plan, with the elaboration of Space Component technical scenarios based on financial and programmatic constraints. You will be responsible for the coordination and consolidation of inputs for official reporting of Copernicus Space Component activities to the European Commission and ESA Member States, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and compliance with ESA obligations. You will manage the organisation and strategic agenda-setting for bilateral meetings with the European Commission, ensuring follow-up on ESA actions and alignment with Commission expectations through effective cross-departmental coordination.**Duties**
Your main tasks and responsibilities will include:
- managing and performing technical and critical analyses relating to the Copernicus Space Component, including its long-term plan, with the elaboration of Space Component technical scenarios based on financial and programmatic constraints. This will include the preparation of detailed Sentinel deployment and operations schedules for each of the scenarios;
- managing, coordinating and consolidating inputs for official reporting of Copernicus Space Component activities to the European Commission, as per the formal Contribution Agreement and the Copernicus Agreement, and to ESA Member States, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and compliance with ESA obligations. This relates to the quarterly implementation reports, quarterly status reports, annual implementation reports, annual work plans and multiannual implementation reports, as well as additional ad hoc reporting; it also includes the coordination of letters of reply to the questions received on these reports;
- managing the organisation and strategic agenda-setting for bilateral meetings at technical level with the European Commission, ensuring follow-up on ESA actions and alignment with Commission expectations through effective cross-department coordination, and preparing annotated agendas for the Head of the Copernicus Space Office with the issues to be considered before each bilateral meeting;
- providing leadership in preparing high-level briefings, analyses and technical materials for ESA decision-makers, in particular on technical and strategic topics regarding the Copernicus Space Component;
- managing comprehensive and critical analysis of the global EO New Space sector and preparing bi-annual reports for the Director of Earth Observation Programmes in coordination with relevant D/EOP teams;
- providing technical input into the release of Copernicus articles in magazines, Copernicus technical brochures and factsheets, and other outreach material;
- preparing presentations, briefings, annotated agendas or any other type of material on the status, issues and future of the Copernicus Space Component, in terms of programmatics, technology or policy, for ESA stakeholders.
Your duties will also include supporting other activities within your field of competence.**Technical competencies**
Multidisciplinary knowledge of Earth Observation, in particular the Copernicus Space Component and its interfaces, within and external to ESA.Knowledge and experience in technical interfaces with the relevant departments of the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes relating to the Copernicus programme.Experience in assessing technical and programmatic documents on the Copernicus Space Component.**Behavioural competencies**
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward ThinkingFor more information, please refer to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.**Education**
A master’s degree in physics, or an engineering discipline re