Job Introduction
Serco has made significant contributions at ESA’s European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, supporting a wide range of space missions and projects. Serco provides essential engineering, technical, and management services, playing a key role in logistics and operational support for missions. Their expertise in spacecraft operations, ground systems, and data processing has earned them recognition, including ‘Best in Domain’ awards from ESA. Their long-standing partnership with ESA reflects their commitment to excellence and innovation in the space sector, ensuring successful mission outcomes and advancing space exploration.
On behalf of our client, ESOC, we are looking for a skilled GSRF Maintenance and Operations Engineer join our team distributed over the ESOC site, in Germany.
Main Responsibilities

As GSRF Maintenance and Operations Engineer you will concentrate your activities on the following:

• Provide a compatibility testing facility (for compatibility with spacecraft and with control centre).
• Ensure full validation of the mission specific space to ground ICD by Radio Frequency Compatibility Tests, and of the ground segment subsystems in a representative scenario by end-to-end validation.
• Allow the testing of newly developed units delivered by industry in a representative environment.
• Allow the identification and solution of field problems in a test and reference environment and develop modifications to be made in the field.
• Provide a back-up facility for de-bugging problems during system integration.
• Accommodate software integration facilities from other units in ESOC (HSO-GIM, HSO-GIB).
• Execute RF compatibility tests with the satellite.
• Execute end-to-end system tests in GSRF.
• Ensure GSRF electrical safety.
• Install specialized hardware and software in GSRF, as required for testing.
• Operate and maintain the GSRF facilities.
• Maintain the operational configuration of the GSRF.
• Perform GSRF preventive/corrective maintenance also from 3rd party (e.g. CCC, site services) in line with a maintenance plan to be established and maintained
• Configure and operate the GSRF for all required testing.
• Maintain a GSRF “usage/availability” schedule.
• Document test activities executed in the GSRF.
• Ensure that the GSRF documentation is complete and up to date.
• Ensure that the GSRF configuration items records are kept up to date. The tools used for this is the ECDB and the applicable documentation management systems.
• Support to configuration control activities for the Test equipment tool and equipment stores.
• Support to populating/updating the ECDB database upon reception of items in ESOC.
• Ensure that the activities in the GSRF are properly documented and executed according to plans (Software Verification and Validation Plans for the Site Acceptance Tests).
• Organise regular meetings on M&O activities.
• Ensure fulfilment of GSRF Security Requirements as expressed in AD6.

Successful Candidate

Do you think you are the person we are looking for? See below what experience or knowledge you should bring:

• Data communication systems involving e.g. modulation, demodulation, PCM telemetry and telecommand, communication protocols (TCP/IP, SLE), coding techniques, data processing.
• TT&C systems and their interfaces.
• ECSS and CCSDS standards and recommendations as references in RD1 to RD21.
• Test of TT&C Equipment.
• Ranging and Doppler measurement.
• RF and Fibre-optical components.
• Handling cryogenic components.

On Offer:

• Relocation allowance: including a one-way flight ticket, transportation from the airport to a temporary hotel, and one month of paid accommodation while securing permanent housing.
• Hybrid working model.
• 30% subvention on Deutschland ticket.
• Gym membership discount.
• Private pension scheme.
• Corporate Benefits discounts.
• 30 days of holiday.

About The Company
Serco 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.

Please refer the Job description for details