VEGA and Space Rider Mechanical, Thermal, and Pyro Lead Engineer

VEGA and Space Rider Mechanical, Thermal, and Pyrotechnics Lead Engineer, in the Flight Programme Department, Directorate of Space Transportation.

Under the hierarchical authority of the Vega and Space Rider Launch System and Engineering Manager, you will have end‑to‑end responsibility for all engineering activities within the mechanical, pyrotechnic and thermal domains across the programmes managed by the Vega and Space Rider Integrated Project Team (IPT).

Your primary duties will include the definition, maintenance and control of technical requirements within the relevant qualification domains, under the functional authority of the relevant programme managers, the management of the design, procurement, development, validation and recurrent manufacturing of subsystem components in the domains of responsibility throughout the entire project lifecycle, with specific emphasis on the Vega C exploitation phase, ensuring planning, costs and risks control for the product managed under direct responsibility, coordinating the mechanical, pyrotechnic and thermal AIT/AIV activities at both system and subsystem levels as well as the provision of expert support in the domains of ground testing and launch campaign preparation, with particular relevance to the Spacecraft Combined Operations Phase for both institutional and commercial missions.

In this role, you will ensure technical coherence, compliance with applicable standards, and effective coordination of engineering activities across the assigned domains in support of the Vega and Space Rider programmes.

• Act as Product Manager for activities related to the design, development, qualification, assembly, integration, testing, flight acceptance and post‑flight analyses of new developments, with particular attention to their impact on the qualified perimeter in a commercial exploitation context, focusing on planning, costs and risks.
• Monitor the manufacture and acceptance of Vega C/E elements under the relevant domain, ensuring compliance of the mission‑specific configurations with the applicable qualified product perimeter.
• Perform and/or supervise mechanical and structural, and thermal activities as required to support subsystem development and recurrent production activities.
• Provide technical expertise for the management and resolution of flight and ground anomalies and non‑conformances, including the assessment of waiver and deviation requests with respect to their impact on the qualified perimeter.
• Analyse all change requests within the assigned domain of responsibility, assessing their impact on the qualified perimeter at product, subsystem and system levels.
• Follow and coordinate technical activities addressing critical components and materials obsolescence, with particular focus on their potential impact on qualification status and operational continuity.
• Contribute to the team’s analytical simulation capabilities through the development, evolution and application of numerical simulation tools to support feasibility and compatibility studies, as well as pre‑flight and post‑flight exploitation analyses, within the assigned perimeter of responsibility.
• Participate in, and where appropriate lead, major Vega C/E Launch System reviews within the relevant domain of competence.
• Contribute, in support of the Vega and Space Rider Programme Divisions, to the preparation of statements of work, the evaluation of industrial proposals, the negotiation of industrial contracts, the assessment of industry deliverables, and the implementation of key project milestones, including system and subsystem level reviews within the assigned technical perimeter.

• Proven Launch System Engineering Expertise, with in‑depth knowledge of mechanical (including mechanisms), thermal, pyrotechnic subsystems across the full lifecycle, from development and qualification to exploitation and post‑flight analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to act as Technical Authority, including responsibility for qualification status monitoring, assessment of changes, waivers and deviations, and preservation of the qualified perimeter in an operational and commercial exploitation context.
• Strong competence in mechanical/structural and thermal analyses, including the use and development of numerical simulation tools to support feasibility studies, design validation, anomaly investigation and post‑flight exploitation activities.
• Solid experience in Assembly, Integration, Test and Verification (AIT/AIV) activities at subsystem and system level, including support to ground testing, launch campaign preparation and spacecraft combined operations for institutional and commercial missions.
• Demonstrated capability to lead and support the investigation and resolution of anomalies and non‑conformances, assess their technical impact, define corrective actions and contribute to effective risk mitigation strategies.
• Proven experience in working with industry, including the preparation of statements of work, evaluation of industrial proposals, assessment of deliverables, participation in technical reviews, and support to contract execution within a programme environment.

• Demonstrated experience in European launch systems, including in‑depth familiarity with the Vega family and/or comparable European space transportation programmes, with particular focus on payload accommodation and the control of environmental conditions during ground and flight operations.
• Proven capability in the use of engineering and analysis tools relevant to space transportation systems, including system modelling and simulation, time and frequency domain performance analyses, finite element methods (FEM), and data acquisition and post‑processing tools; experience with MATLAB/Simulink, CAD environments and equivalent specialised software is required.
• Sound knowledge of applicable standards and processes, including ECSS standards, launcher specific qualification and acceptance processes, product assurance, and safety requirements, including those related to pyrotechnic systems.
• Experience in an operational context, including support to launch campaigns, on‑site activities, and interaction with AIT/AIV teams and industrial partners under schedule‑driven and high‑reliability conditions.
• Ability to operate in a multinational and industrial environment, including effective technical communication with industry, programme teams and stakeholders, and contribution to contract execution and technical governance activities.
• Availability for frequent travel and on‑site presence at industrial facilities and launch sites, as required by programme needs.

• Result Orientation
• Operational Efficiency
• Fostering Cooperation
• Relationship Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Forward Thinking

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.

Applicants must be 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, United Kingdom, Canada, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

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.