Copernicus & DestinE EO Data Architect

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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. Any appointment to this position will begin no earlier than 1 January 2026.

Location
ESRIN, Frascati, Italy 

Description

EO Data Architect in the Copernicus Ground Segment Systems Section within the Copernicus Ground Segment and Data Management Division, Earth Observation Mission Management and Ground Segment Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.

ESA ensures the operational missions and data management of the Copernicus Sentinels missions, as well as the availability of an ever-increasing volume of high-quality data to a large user community.

In this context, ESA, together with its partners and the European Earth observation and IT industries, is developing an ecosystem of Copernicus Sentinel and DestinE data management, analysis and modelling services to foster user exploitation activities as well as the growth of a sustainable industrial network of services. This process relies in particular on the optimisation of the data architecture to enable the efficient use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning(ML).

Duties

This position combines knowledge of the  Earth observation (EO) domain (EO instruments, EO data, EO algorithms, modelling, etc.) and AI/ML, as well as data architect and geospatial skills.

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• driving and managing the definition and evolution of the Copernicus Sentinels data architecture, enabling an optimised extraction of actionable information from Sentinels missions, climate-related data and associated geospatial datasets;
• designing and specifying EO data pipelines that will make it possible to collect, transform and access Copernicus Sentinels datasets efficiently for AI and ML workflows (e.g. training or applying models on EO data), and managing their implementation through associated procurement activities;
• contributing to the definition of the future Copernicus Sentinels missions EO data architecture and managing the associated procurement activities for their cloud- or HPC-based implementation;
• contributing to the definition and evolution of EO Sentinels data processing algorithms and the management of related procurement activities for their efficient implementation;
• supporting the operational Copernicus Sentinels missions and data management activities;
• supporting the shaping and optimisation of the big EO Sentinels data management architecture to enable the development of an ecosystem of innovative operational services to users;
• supporting the definition of the Copernicus space component ground system architecture evolutions and technical documentation baseline to integrate and operate the future Copernicus missions;
• providing expertise on Copernicus EO data and advanced analytics, as well as leading initiatives to define, procure and manage implementation activities aimed at optimising the handling of the data in cloud-based and HPC environments and, in particular, their usage for simulation, modelling and AI-related applications in the context of DestinE;
• supporting the development of an ecosystem of Copernicus or DestinE data management and modelling services to foster user exploitation activities. 

Technical competencies Familiarity with satellite missions, sensors (e.g. Sentinels, optical/radar/hyperspectral sensors, etc.) and EO data processing algorithms Knowledge of geospatial data formats, metadata and interoperability standards Competence with spatial reference systems, projections and coordinate transformations for EO data. Experience in scalable data architectures for big data frameworks, large multidimensional geospatial datasets and related cloud-native technologies Competence with distributed computing frameworks (Apache Spark, Dask, etc.) Experience with AI/ML models, related techniques and applications, and EO data analytics 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 a relevant engineering subject is required for this post.

Additional requirements

You should also:

• demonstrate the ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary team and take responsible decisions as part of that team;
• have a high level of self-motivation and autonomy;
• have a strong ability to take an overall system view and propose solutions with a broader, strategic perspective;
• demonstrate flexibility in dealing with day-to-day operational challenges.

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

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.

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, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia. 

According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates and secondly to external candidates from under-represented 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.  

*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.

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