LEO-PNT System and Segment Interfaces Coordinator

LEO-PNT System and Segment Interfaces Coordinator in the Celeste System Unit, Celeste Programme, Future Navigation Department, Directorate of Navigation (D/NAV). Reporting to the Celeste System Manager, you will be responsible for the system interfaces for the IOP and EU LEO-PNT projects, as well as for supporting other areas of system engineering.

Celeste is the Component 1 LEO-PNT of the FutureNAV programme. Celeste represents the ESA contribution towards the establishment of a European Low Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation and Timing (LEO-PNT) capability as part of a multilayer system-of-systems PNT architecture. This component aims to complement existing GNSS services by leveraging a constellation of LEO satellites to deliver enhanced resilience, improved accuracy, and innovative features for emerging applications.

The Celeste team is responsible for the following activities:

implementation of the Celeste In-Orbit Demonstrator (IOD) phase, with two ongoing industrial contracts, each of them implementing an end-to-end system, including launch services, operations and service demonstration, showcasing the feasibility and benefits of using low-Earth orbits, novel signals and frequency bands; implementation of the Celeste In-Orbit Preparatory (IOP) phase to prepare for a future LEO-PNT operational system for the European Union and to unlock global commercial opportunities, driving innovation and reinforcing European leadership in emerging PNT markets, including the development and qualification of pre-operational products and building blocks, their industrialisation, including mature and qualified technologies, and the creation of the Celeste in-orbit validation end-to-end system; the associated system engineering, technology development, ground segment, launch services, operations, in-orbit demonstration, industrialisation and system in-orbit validation activities; the associated coordination activities with the EU in preparation for an EU LEO-PNT operational system; contributions towards LEO-PNT interoperability and compatibility with GNSS and other LEO-PNT systems, in collaboration with international stakeholders.

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

responsibility for the system interfaces, covering both internal and external interfaces for the Celeste IOP and future operational LEO-PNT, with a particular focus on TT&C and ISL; supporting and coordinating with the ESA D/NAV ground segment team for the EU LEO-PNT ground segment aspects; definition and maintenance of system interfaces, such as ground-to-ground, ground-to-space and space-to-space interfaces, including security aspects; contributing and coordinating with those responsible for operations within the Celeste system team and with the EU LEO-PNT operations team; contributing to and supporting the follow-up of activities relating to the ground segment and interfaces that contribute to EU LEO-PNT; definition of IRDs and ICDs; follow-up of industrial activities with a focus on interfaces and ground segment and ensuring coherence and consistency among Celeste contracts and EU LEO-PNT; coordinating a team of engineers and specialised engineering support from the ESA Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality in the area of interfaces and ground segment; following up the implementation of interfaces and ground segment aspects at system level; assisting in non-conformance and technical change/engineering boards, analysing related requests for deviations/waivers and issuing recommendations on the way forward; supporting verification and validation activities in the areas of interfaces and ground segment; supporting other system engineering areas, such as performances and system architecture, when required; supporting project management for technical interfaces between ESA and partner organisations, if relevant; providing regular reporting to project management on all aspects in your area of competence, identifying risks and problem areas and proposing mitigation actions, where appropriate.