Head of the Avionics Architecture Section
Job Requisition ID: 19765
Date Posted: 15 August 2025
Closing Date: 12 September 2025 23:59 CET/CEST
Publication: Internal & External
Type of Contract: Permanent
Directorate: Technology, Engineering and Quality
Workplace:Noordwijk, NL
Grade Band: A2 - A4

DESCRIPTION

Head of the Avionics Architecture Section, Avionics and EEE Division, Electrical Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.
Reporting to the Head of the Avionics and EEE Division, you, as Head of the Avionics Architecture Section, will be responsible for the management of the Section, its resources and activities, and accountable for the outcome of operational activities conducted within the Section’s technical domain.

The Avionics Architecture Section is responsible for providing support to all ESA projects in avionics architecture and may carry out technological research and development (R&D) in the field of avionics. The Section’s responsibilities cover:

• the provision of engineering support to projects for the avionics subsystem across all project phases. The provision of project support covers:
• the cooordination and consolidation of associated subsystem elements and functions, and management of the flow-down of related requirements in collaboration with the staff responsible for subsystem elements and architects.
• the follow-up of the development and qualification of equipment contributing to the avionics subsystem, as well as the monitoring of the production of avionics hardware units by industrial partners.
• verification and validation activities for the avionics subsystem, including support for functional tests, assembly, integration and verification (AIV) procedures, and launch campaign activities, together with the relevant avionics test means such as system test benches and simulators as defined by Avionics Architects.
• system-level verification and validation efforts.
• contribution to flight operations and post-flight analyses.
• assistance to relevant project management activities related to the avionics subsystem.
• development of avionics embedded system architecture, including associated technologies, methods and tools (e.g. MBSE, Avionic FDIR), in coordination with the staff responsible for subsystem elements and architects.
• engineering standards for avionics subsystems in accordance with ECSS, CCSDS and other standardisation bodies.
• the avionics embedded systems harmonisation dossier, coordinated with associated harmonisation dossier sub-elements.
• the Avionics Subsystems Laboratory, in support of project, section and industrial activities.
• the Knowledge Management strategy for the avionics architecture discipline.

EDUCATION

A master’s degree in electronic engineering, computer science or physics is required for this post.
A PhD would be considered an asset.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Good understanding and implementation of knowledge cross-fertilisation for a team with multidisciplinary competencies;
• Good understanding of team building and management for a highly skilled group of individuals that are not necessarily collocated;
• The ability to organise their activities and ensure a motivating work environment;
• Strong leadership capabilities, with proven relationship management and communication skills;
• The ability to drive your team’s performance, developing your people by encouraging learning, delegating responsibility and giving regular and constructive feedback, including through providing a career development strategy;
• Strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills;
• Strong result orientation with the ability to set priorities and present practical solutions both orally and in writing;
• The ability to manage challenging situations proactively and constructively and to be customer focused;
• People management experience would be an asset, as would international experience, i.e. outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities;
• The potential to manage individuals or a team of experts in a project or R&D setting.

DUTIES

Your tasks and responsibilities will include the following:

The Avionics Architecture Section is responsible for providing support to all ESA projects in avionics architecture and may carry out technological research and development (R&D) in the field of avionics. The Section’s responsibilities cover:

• the provision of engineering support to projects for the avionics subsystem across all project phases. The provision of project support covers:
• the cooordination and consolidation of associated subsystem elements and functions, and management of the flow-down of related requirements in collaboration with the staff responsible for subsystem elements and architects.
• the follow-up of the development and qualification of equipment contributing to the avionics subsystem, as well as the monitoring of the production of avionics hardware units by industrial partners.
• verification and validation activities for the avionics subsystem, including support for functional tests, assembly, integration and verification (AIV) procedures, and launch campaign activities, together with the relevant avionics test means such as system test benches and simulators as defined by Avionics Architects.
• system-level verification and validation efforts.
• contribution to flight operations and post-flight analyses.
• assistance to relevant project management activities related to the avionics subsystem.
• development of avionics embedded system architecture, including associated technologies, methods and tools (e.g. MBSE, Avionic FDIR), in coordination with the staff responsible for subsystem elements and architects.
• engineering standards for avionics subsystems in accordance with ECSS, CCSDS and other standardisation bodies.
• the avionics embedded systems harmonisation dossier, coordinated with associated harmonisation dossier sub-elements.
• the Avionics Subsystems Laboratory, in support of project, section and industrial activities.
• the Knowledge Management strategy for the avionics architecture discipline