Science Operations Scientist

Aurora is an established supplier of skilled manpower to ESA At ESAC, Aurora provides service in the area of Science Planning Development & Implementation and Quick-Look Analysis for Planetary Missions.
Happiness of our employees has proven key to obtaining excellent results obtaining favorable recognition from clients who value our top-notch service delivery.

Overview

As Science Operations Scientist you will be assigned to one ESA Planetary mission. The Aurora Service Team currently supports a wide portfolio of planetary science missions, including JUICE, BepiColombo, ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, EnVision, Mars Express, Hera, and M-Matisse. As part of this team, you will contribute to the work of the Science Operations Centre (SOC), which are responsible for the planning, coordination, and execution of scientific operations. Your primary tasks will be on the BepiColombo mission, but you are expected to be flexible to work on other planetary missions, as needed.

Specific Service Tasks

As part of the service, the following main tasks will have to be carried out:

• Support to strategic science planning.
• Support to long term science planning.
• Definition and maintenance of instruments observations.
• Scientific and operational monitoring of science operation scenarios.
• Quick-look analysis. Definition of use cases and testing.
• Coverage analysis of science observations.
• Specification of requirements, design, development, testing, validation of any scripts and software required to support each task.

You will act as the SOC contact point for several instrument teams, ensuring that all science operational aspects, including instrument science planning, calibration activities, and quick-look requirements are clearly defined, communicated, and implemented.

In addition, you will contribute to the development and evolution of the Science Operations System, by specifying requirements and supporting the design and prototyping of new functionalities.

Specific qualification requirements

• A PhD in Planetary Science or a related discipline (e.g., Astronomy, Physics, Space Engineering).
• Active researcher in planetary science.
• Well-established profile within the scientific community, with a recognized expertise and a strong professional network.
• Expertise in a field relevant for the mission(s), ideally with strong background in spectroscopic analysis techniques for surface mineralogy and thermal properties and/or in gamma-ray and neutron spectroscopy for geochemical and elemental composition studies.
• Experience in coordinating internal/external stakeholders on scientific projects.
• Experience with science operations for planetary missions, space instrumentation and planetary data calibration and analysis.
• Proficiency with at least one scripting or programming language (preferably Python).
• Expertise in the NAIF SPICE system and spacecraft pointing design and analysis could be interesting.
• Be fluent in spoken and written English.
• Strong skills in communication, teamwork, planning, and organization, with the ability to work effectively in an international environment.

Legal and Security Requirements

• All applicants must be legally allowed to work in Spain without the need to obtain a work visa. Only European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and SWISS citizens can be employed by Aurora in Spain.
• Applicants are required to provide a copy of their passport and degree certificate. Aurora will validate the Degree with the issuing University.
• In line with ESA’s security requirements, 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, and Aurora will validate your employment history.

Location

The work will be performed at the ESAC, the European Space Astronomy Centre at Villafranca del Castillo, near Madrid (Spain).

Employment Contract

• The selected candidate will receive good remuneration.
• You will be registered for both social security and tax in Spain.
• The standard working hours are 40 per week. There are 12 public holidays and an additional 30 annual days holiday.
• In addition to public health services Aurora provides private medical insurance in Spain (the inclusion into the private health insurance policy is at the discretion of the insurance provider).
• Training to improve efficiency and provide strength for future career are of course included.
• Aurora can assist financially and provide recent experience information for relocation.

To be considered for this position

Prior to 30 November 2025 , please apply via our Job Application form quoting SCO-05_Sc-BepiColombo as reference.

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