End-to-End Simulations Support to EOP for Future Mission and System Studies

Aurora is an established supplier of skilled manpower to ESA and in particular at ESTEC and ESAC.
Aurora has the opportunity to expand our support to ESA in the domain of EOP – Earth Observation.
Happiness of our employees has proven key to obtaining excellent results and a client who also regards us highly for excellent service.

Overview

The scope of this SERVICE position is the provision of end-to-end simulations support to EOP-ϕMP for Mission and System Studies, which mainly consists of the following Service Requirements.

Task 1 – End-to-End Simulations for future EO missions:

The scope of this task is to provide support in the definition, development and exploitation of end-to-end simulators for future EO missions, aiming at a coherent and representative modelling of each element of the system (satellite, payload, ground processing) contributing to the end-to-end mission performance, and maximising the synergies and reuse of building blocks from one simulator to the next.

• Support the definition and development of the End-to-End (E2E) Mission Performance Simulators for future EO missions, including elaboration of SOW and technical specifications, participation to progress meetings and reviews.
• Contributing to ensure the technical coherency and completeness of the simulation of the observation system, including, as needed, functional analysis, system level budgeting, system performance analyses, modelling of spacecraft and/or payload subsystems and related data processing to meet system and mission requirements.
• Install and use those E2E simulators on the EOP-SF IT infrastructure for mission performance evaluation and system trade-offs for future EO missions.
• Provide feedback from end-to-end mission performance simulations and optimisations to the spacecraft and mission design.
• Ensure a consistent evolution and maintenance of the E2E simulators and a proper configuration and storage of the relevant input/output data sets.
• Initiate and support work in the area of modelling of system or sub-system aspects (spacecraft, payload, ground processing) for E2E simulators and System Engineering Tools.
• Support the development of generic building blocks and modules, and aim at maximum synergy and reuse of those building blocks and modules from one E2E simulator to the next making use of ESA OpenSF infrastructure.

Task 2 – System Engineering Tools for future EO missions:

Service support in the definition, development and exploitation of System Engineering Tools for future EO missions, including the below, shall be provided:

• Participate to the development of new System Engineering Tools for preliminary analysis and sizing of future EO missions, ensuring a coherent and representative modelling of each element of the system (satellite/platform and its subsystems, payload, ground processing) contributing to the system performance.
• Participate to the evolution and maintenance of the existing System Engineering Tools used in EOP-SF.
• Use the above System Engineering Tools for system trade-offs, preliminary sizing and performance evaluation of future EO missions.
• Provide feedback from mission optimisation to the spacecraft and mission design

Specific qualification requirements

The profile for the personnel to provide services considered in this SoW is a research-and-development oriented engineer with the following skills:

• University degree (MSc.) in a relevant Engineering discipline.
• General knowledge of ESA Earth Observation missions.
• Background in space system engineering.
• Experience in mission analysis.
• Good communication and technical writing skills.
• Good organisation skills.
• Capability to coordinate a large amount of inputs, synthesise, summarise and take conclusions.
• A proactive approach, with initiative and capability to work independently.
• Problem-solving oriented attitude.
• Solid background on IT and computer programming.
• MATLAB, Python, STK, MS Excel and CAD software knowledge is an asset.
• Experience on modelling and simulation of observing system characteristics (spacecraft, payload, ground processing, orbit…) and how they impact mission data quality and relate to system requirements and scientific goals is desirable.
• Versatility to adapt to the specificities of each mission considering the wide range of possible EO observation techniques (e.g. optical/microwave, passive/active, imager/sounder, nadir/limb observation…) and platforms (e.g. mini/micro/nanosatellite), orbits (Sun-Synchronous or drifting, LEO/MEO/GEO/HEO).
• Experience with system performance simulation is an asset.
• Knowledge on optimisation techniques is an asset
• Proficient in the English language (spoken and written).

Legal and Security Requirements

• All applicants must be legally allowed to work in The Netherlands
• Applicants are required to provide a copy of their passport and degree certificate. Aurora will validate the Degree with the issuing University and provide evidence to ESA.
• Prior to issuing a letter of employment the applicant shall provide to Aurora a recent official document declaring that they are of good conduct from the country where currently resident.

Location

The work will be performed at the European Space Technology and Research Centre (ESTEC) at Noordwijk, The Netherlands.

Contract

• The selected candidate will receive good remuneration.
• Will be registered for both social security and tax in the Netherlands.
• The standard working hours are 40 per week. There are 12 public holidays and an additional 30 annual days holiday.
• Training to improve efficiency and provide strength for future career are of course included.
• Aurora assist with relocation both with support and financially.
• Aurora contributes to a company pension scheme.

To be considered for this Position

Provide prior to 22 May 2018 a summary of why you are a good candidate for the position together with a complete and detailed Candidate Proposal Form or CV and Motivation Letter to Mr. Davide Starnone, at email davide.starnone@aurora.nl  quoting reference EOP-99.

Aurora will agree conditional employment terms and conditions with candidates before presenting them to ESA by 28 May 2018, 13.00 hours.

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