Aurora provides top-notch profiles to provide the relevant experience to successfully help and support your projects
We know how hard it is to find specialists in engineering and scientific domains. That’s why our consultancy services are capable of delivering to your organization the right skill set with 3 different types of
Delivery Models:
Onsite Support @Client's premises
Our staff are physically onsite at the Customer's premises, being fully integrated into Customer’s team
Onsite Service with Deliverables and KPI
Our operational team is located at Customer's premises, but it executes the work based on Deliverables and Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
Offsite Service @Aurora Offices
Our staff are located at the Aurora offices and work based on Deliverables and Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
Our Competences
We can offer a wide range of skillsets, which cover the entire space product development life cycle.
The expertise we can provide in our Service & Support Portfolio
spans from Preliminary Phase 0/A (conceptual mission design) to Phase F (mission operations, maintenance, and disposal).
Click on the icons below to navigate our core competences and discover more
Portfolio
Along our years of service provision, the Aurora team has provided support on the following key specific tasks and activities
(click on the '+' to get more details)
Space Engineering
System Engineering
1Space Mission Analysis and Design
- Space Mission analysis
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis of space missions
- Concurrent Engineering applied to space mission assessment and design
- Mission analyses and trade-offs
- Support the organisation and execution of concurrent engineering studies
- ESA SE Standards (e.g. ECSS-E-10 series) and SW engineering
- End-to-end performance simulators for space missions, in terms of the related simulator development (software), processor development for data products and formalisation of corresponding simulator architectures
2Model-Based System Engineering
- Requirements management and verification engineering
- Space systems engineering with focus on payloads development including AIV/AIT
- Model-Based System Engineering (MBSE)
- Multi-disciplinary system modelling, using data modelling languages (e.g. Unified Modelling Language/System Modelling Language - SysML) and associated modelling applications (e.g. Cameo System Modeler, Capella, Enterprise Architect, …)
- System modeling in support of requirements engineering, system architecting and system verification
- System modeling in support of information traceability and management, in particular linked to system software development
Space Instruments & Technology Development
1Space Instruments
- Space instrument system and performance modelling as well as digital signal processing techniques
- Space instrumentation development, including system engineering
- Design, definition, and testing of Space Scientific Instruments
- Developments of instruments critical technologies
- I/F management between S/C and Instrument
- Support to the evaluation of future Science missions covering instrument and system aspects
- Review of Science instruments/missions as part of the formal Review process (PRR, SRR, PDR)
- Support to implementation of the technology activities
2Technology Development
- Identification of the technology requirements for Earth Observations and Science missions
- Technology R&D activities
- Technology developments for future missions
- Development of advanced technologies for space applications
- System level technology developments
- Management and implementation of the General Support Technology Programme
- System engineering support for phase 0/A/B1 studies related to Cosmic Vision and Voyage 2050
- Technical follow-up of Technology Development Activities related to Cosmic Vision and Voyage 2050
- Support definition of Technology Development Activities (TDAs) and Technology Plans
- Provide support to technology developments for future Earth Observation (EO) missions, in particular for the standardization of the platform and for the communications with the ground segment
- Technology development and modelling of end-to-end system (e.g. data flow, technical budgets) or on-board sub-system aspects
- Analysis and monitoring of the evolution of frequency needs for EO missions, including early concepts and potential interference conflicts with other communication services sharing the spectrum
Mission System & Performance Engineering
1Mission System Engineering
- Definition and monitoring of activities for the end-to-end preparation of future Earth Observation missions
- Modelling of system or sub-system aspects and of end-to-end mission performance simulation
- Ensure the technical coherency of the system design, including, as needed, functional analysis and design, overall system concept, system level budgets, system performance analyses, definition of spacecraft and/or payload subsystems and related data processing
- Space Systems Design
- System engineering support covering satellite, instrument and platform level performance, functional and environmental aspects
- Support the system level technology developments
- Maintenance of mission and system level requirements, monitoring and critically analysing the requirement allocation, their flow down to the relevant contributors, the associated margins, their evolution and their verification
- Maintain mission level performance and error budgets, and analyse their compliance with the end-to-end mission performance requirements and propose corrective actions in case of deviation
- Support elaboration of SoWs, system requirements documents (SRD) and other applicable and reference documents for future mission and system studies
2Mission Performance and Level-1 / Level-2 Processors
- End-to-end (E2E) Mission Performance
- Overall specification of the E2E Mission Performance Simulator software chain including in particular the Instrument Simulator and the Level 1 Processor Prototype
- Support the payload team for aspects relevant to instrument performance requirements flow-down and instrument performance verification, including relevant models and tools
- Support the verification of mission and system level requirements in the areas of Mission observation and Data products
- Level-1 and Instrument Simulator algorithms and input/output interfaces
- Support the development of the L2 processor
- Ensuring that the E2E Mission Performance Simulator chain and its components and algorithms meet the required functionality and performance, taking into account system, instrument, geophysical model and calibration/validation facility aspects
- Analysing impacts on the mission performance resulting from deviations
- Supporting Test Data production and verification
- Detecting and Analyzing SW anomalies
- Supporting the analysis of the data collected during on-ground and in-orbit calibration and characterisation campaigns
- Support the definition of the ground segment requirements and interface requirements, regarding Level 1 / Level 2 processor implementation and data distribution to the end users
- Preparation of the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP), the Satellite In-Orbit Verification (SIOV) and Commissioning phases
- C/C++, Java, Python and MATLAB
Payload/Instrument Technology
1Payload/Instrument Electronic Engineering
- Design of analogue and digital electronics in support of various payload instrument validation activities with a particular emphasis on detector read-out electronics
- Manufacturing and test of electronic circuits
- Supporting electronic system, components and electro-optical sensor characterisations in the sections laboratories
- Development of firmware and instrument control and readout software
- Supporting the development and maintenance of the technical infrastructure needed to validate payload technologies
- Software development in support to payload technology validation and science research activities
- Electrical and electronic design, manufacturing, assembly and testing support for all validation activities
- Printed Circuit Board (PCB) technologies
- Destructive and non-destructive PCB testing
- Non-Conformances Review Board activities
2Payload Technology Validation Activities
- Software development in support to payload technology validation activities (data analysis and equipment control)
- Support in the development and testing of front-end electronics for sensors (CCD, Infrared detectors etc.)
- Design of low-noise analogue and digital electronics as required for the implementation of payload validation activities
- Definition of the validation activities setups
- Prepare and maintain test documentation (test requirements, test plan and test report)
- Perform commissioning of the validation activities setup
- Perform tests related to payload validation activities
- Perform tests data analysis
Microwave Instruments System Engineering | SAR Performance
1Microwave Instrument System Engineering
- Development/acquisition, validation and maintenance of performance assessment tools for various spaceborne microwave instruments encompassing both active (radars) and passive (radiometers) instruments
- Translation of mission/observation requirements to instrument requirements; improvement and maintenance of data processing tools
- Performance Assessment of active and passive microwave instruments during the study phases (0, A, B1)
- Preparation and monitoring of instrument system and technology pre-development studies
- Modelling of wave interactions with the atmosphere and surface scattering
- Theoretical derivation and software implementation of instrument performance models
2Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Performance
- SAR theory and performance parameter definitions
- Synthetic Aperture Radar Techniques and Performance computation
- SAR performance analysis tools and data processing techniques
- Prediction, assessment, analysis and computation of the end-to-end SAR performance
- Supporting the flow-down of the end-to-end SAR performance requirements onto the Payload instrument and subsystems specification, and, in close cooperation with the Spacecraft team, the Spacecraft related subsystems specification
- Monitoring in close cooperation with the Payload team, the overall Payload instrument characterisation definition, and supporting the monitoring of the subsystem and component characterisation as required
- Monitoring the operation of the instrument simulator, ensuring that the performance is appropriate to fulfil the SAR instrument verification as required, and support any additional definition, development and verification
RF Payloads & Communications Systems
1RF Payloads
- Design, development, and testing of Radio Frequency Payloads in the domain of Navigation and/or Earth observation and/or Telecommunications
- RF instruments for earth observation (Synthetic Aperture Radars, Altimeters, Scatterometers, Radiometers)
- Radio frequency and microwave payloads technologies based on active phased array antennas
- Transmit/Receive Modules for microwave payloads
- Digital signal processing units
- End-to-end payload performance and signal quality analysis
- RF analogue and (high-speed) digital signal processing techniques and technologies
- Software and simulation tools and programming (Matlab/Simulink, ADS/VSS, C/C++, Python)
- Development of RF equipment and technologies for space applications
- RF active equipment e.g. high power amplifier, low noise amplifier,MMICs, Transmit/Receive modules
- RF passive equipment e.g. filters, switches, ferrite devices
- Development of software (using VEE and/or Lab View) for automated testing, control and monitoring of telemetries and RF performance
- Maintenance and calibration of general RF laboratory test equipment and instrumentation
2RF Instrument Data Processing
- Design, development and performance evaluation and characterization of control, data and signal processing units for Radio Frequency payloads and instruments
- Definition, design, development, performance evaluation and verification of data and signal processing functions and algorithms via simulation techniques (e.g. Matlab, Python, prototyping SW)
- Design, verification and validation of payload data and signal processing chains
- Hardware/ software optimization and implementation of payload data processing functions on processors (e.g. uC/uP, DSP, GPU, AI accelerators) and FPGA (e.g. MPSoC, RfSoC) based platforms
- Radio Frequency payloads/ instruments related ASICs and device specification/ validation
Secure communications
1Security technologies
- Specific RF security technologies, e.g. telecom security techniques and technologies, secure TT&C and PDT links, radio navigation security technology, RF system security etc.
- Authentication and Encryption schemes as applied to TT&C/PDT systems, in addition to cyber security aspects
2System Security techniques
- System security analysis, design, and associated tools: covering all aspects related to the analysis and design of the security of the end-to-end system, including concepts, architecture, ground, space and hybrid ground/space systems and sub-systems, methodologies, standards and all associated tools for simulations and analysis
- Security technology, techniques design, and prototyping
- Security accreditation and certification methodologies and processes
- Security requirements derivation, design, implementation, and verification from an accreditation perspective
TT&C and PDT Systems and Techniques
1TT&C and PDT System Design & Testing
- Tracking, Telemetry and Command (TT&C) System Design & Testing
- Payload Data Transmission (PDT) Systems Design & Testing
- End-to-end TT&C and PDT systems analysis including system level design, (dynamic) link budget assessment, and data flow analysis
- Modulation, error correction coding, combined (adaptive) modulation/coding, signal synchronization, digital signal processing, RF/microwave technologies
2TT&C and PDT Simulation and testing
- Simulation and testing in laboratory of TT&C / PDT systems and equipment
- Simulation and testing in laboratory of TT&C systems and equipment
- TT&C spaceflight hardware development
- Standardization activity in the frame of European ECSS and CCSDS
Radio Navigation & Communications Systems
1Radio Navigation
- Design, implementation, maintenance and operation of Radio Navigation equipment, complex Radio Navigation simulation tools and test facilities for testing features (end-to-end performances, receivers, etc...)
- Receivers performances in a hybrid Positioning-Navigation-Timing (PNT) framework
- Design of satellite navigation systems, ranging and positioning techniques, signal processing techniques
- GALILEO System level engineering activities
- Design, development and testing of Radio Navigation receivers (from test receivers to professional and mass-market), including signal processing, positioning algorithms, Radio Frequency, multi-antenna and sensor hybridisation aspects
2Communications Systems Techniques & Technologies
- Communication system HW prototyping and testing (e.g. FPGA, DSP, GPU, micro-processors)
- Telecommunication networks design
- Satellite telecommunication systems and protocols
Aerothermodynamics & Propulsion Engineering
1Aerothermodynamics
- Analysis and studies of the characterisation of the aerodynamic shapes of launchers, re-entry and planetary entry probes
- Propulsion modeling and mathematical analysis
- Assessments and analysis of sloshing fenomenae
2Propulsion
- Activities for studies, experimental investigations and engineering developments in spacecraft and launcher propulsion (components, equipment, sub-systems, systems)
- Activities for studies, experimental investigations and engineering developments in electric propulsion (components, equipment, sub-systems, systems)
- Activities for studies, experimental investigations and engineering developments in advanced propulsion (components, equipment, sub-systems, systems), such as nuclear propulsion, solar/thermal upper stages, electrodynamic tether propulsion, laser propulsion, Lorenz force accelerators, etc.
Structural and Thermal Engineering
1Thermal Engineering
- Thermal Systems Design and Analysis
- Build geometrical and thermal models, perform relevant analyses, evaluate critically the results and issue relevant documentation covering all work performed
- Thermal mathematical models
- Support thermal verification test campaigns
- Thermo-Elastic Analysis
- Thermal analysis software (ESATAN/ESARAD) and CAD software (CATIA)
2Structure Engineering
- Perform failure analysis and failure investigation using a variety of laboratory tools
- Structures Static, Buckling/Stability, Thermo-Elastic Analysis
- Structural mathematical models using the finite element method for structural analysis problems
- Perform stability analysis leading to the determination of buckling loads and deformations
- Mathematical models for structural thermo-elastic stability problems
- Spacecraft and launcher configuration studies
- Perform mass, inertia and balance calculations and relevant budget assessments
- Structural Dynamics Analysis and Vibration Test Data Evaluation
Mechanical | Mechanisms | Materials Engineering
1Mechanical Engineering & Space Mechanisms
- Mechanical testing and fatigue life assessment
- Defining and executing test plans for materials qualification and process validation
- Mechanical design, development and verification of space segment hardware
- Space mechanisms development
2Materials & Processes Engineering
- Processing, testing, and performance evaluation of metallic and ceramic materials and processes (e.g. Al-alloys, Ti-alloys, steel, SiC) including their surface treatment and joining technologies
- Processing, testing, and performance evaluation of polymer materials and processes (e.g. polymer matrix composites) including their joining/bonding technologies
- End to end process evaluation for additive manufacturing, including raw material specification and product performance (mechanical testing, NDI, etc…)
Optical Engineering
1Optical space instruments
- Optical space instrument design and development
- Definition and review of all optical system engineering aspects, including requirements, both at system and subsystem level, internal and external interfaces, and engineering budgets
- Optical related performance improvement, in particular, by identifying critical development problems and assisting in their resolution
- Development of mathematical models and simulations of optical instruments
- Definition and follow-up of instrument on-ground test and calibration activities and of in-orbit commissioning
- Instrument design reviews
2Opto-electronics engineering
- Detector and quantum technologies
- Detector technology development activities and detector pre-development activities
- Operation and characterization of CCD and CMOS detectors
- X-ray detector operation and characterization
- Design, development and verification of Opto-Electronic systems, vacuum technology, numerical measurement analysis and associated engineering software tools (e.g. LabView, Matlab, Python)
- Detector Front-end electronics design and development
- Design, development and testing of opto-electronic systems and components
- Fibre-optic components and sensors in spacecraft engineering
Power Conditioning | Micro-Electronics Engineering
1Power Conditioning
- Digital Control of power converters
- FPGA and microcontroller programming
- End-to-end development of FPGAs throughout all the development phases: specification, architectural design, detailed design, place and route, programming and device tests
- Design of power converters with GaN semiconductors
- Space power conversion systems
- Support to laboratory activities concerning design and development or verification of circuits for power management and distribution (solar array and battery conversion electronics, power distribution and protection electronics, power conversion for generic and specific purposes, including redundancy and protections)
2Micro-Electronics
- Optimization, update and overall maintenance and of VHDL IP Cores databases
- Performing analysis and finding solutions to problems in VHDL code
- Support to ASIC and/or FPGA technology developments
- Verification (through code inspection, simulation and timing analysis) and validation (through HW tests) for ASIC and FPGAS developments
- Design and test of digital FPGAs (specifications, block design, top level integration, design for test, pre and post layout simulation and timing analysis, gates synthesis, support during layout, prototype test and in system validation)
- Preparation of FPGA test-benches, for functional validation and electrical characterization, using signal generators, oscilloscopes and signal analyzers
- Experience with Microprocessors (e.g. LEON, ARM, RISC-V) and HW-SW co-design
- Digital ASIC design
Assembly Integration and Testing/Verification (AIT/AIV)
1AIV/AIT Engineering
- Space Instruments and Satellite AIV/AIT activities (e.g. plans, test specifications, test procedures)
- AIT activities, schedule and risks assessment, test setups, test execution, project reviews (TRRs, TRBs, NRBs, FAR/QAR etc)
- Preparation, implementation and evaluation of payload AIT activities
- Monitoring of the progress of industrial AIT activities
2Spacecraft Systems Testing
- Environmental Testing
- Integrating and testing measurement systems
- Space system testing and payloads functional tests
Solar Generators | Radiation Effects
1Solar Generators
- Space solar generator design and testing, including the provision of independent, technical assessment in Project Reviews
- Definition, promotion and implementation of the technological research programme for advanced photovoltaic generator technology, including solar cells, photovoltaic assembly processes and components (e.g. cover-glasses), solar generator subsystems, environmental effects models, testing methods and test facilities
- Execution of engineering and qualification tests
- Definition and implementation of European standards in the solar generator domain
- Execution of characterization and environmental tests of solar cells, modules and solar generators
2Radiation Effects
- Support Electrical, Electronic and Electro-mechanical (EEE) component Radiation Hardness Assurance
- Preparing and conducting radiation tests campaigns including developing test set-up and subsequent data analysis on EEE components
- Defining relevant radiation studies, experimental and development activities (also including in- flight component radiation characterization experiments)
- Conducting simulations of radiation effects in components and materials using suitable device physics-based SW-tools and to produce new or improve existing models
- EEE Component electrical measurement techniques
Antenna Engineering
1Antenna & Sub-Millimetre Waves
- Support to Antenna Design and Modelling activities
- Providing expert technical support and consultancy in the field of space antenna systems, submillimeter wave instruments and associated technologies throughout all project phases
- Antenna design and trade-offs to support project-specific technology developments
- Antennas, architectures and technologies as applied to space
2Antenna Testing
- Support Antenna Test, including test definition and preparation, test execution and delivery of data/test report to the customer
- Perform testing activities in Spherical, Planar, Cylindrical Near Field, Compact Range and Material RF Characterisation facilities, including test plans and test setup preparation, operation of the test ranges and analysis of test results
- Support the Antenna Laboratory Maintenance and Equipment Calibration activities
- Support in the testing of control and processing software for antenna and RF material
Components | On-Board Computer & Data Handling
1Components
- Provide expertise on Passive Components, Discrete Semiconductors for RF and non-RF, Complex Microcircuits for Digital, Analog, Mixed Signal and Microwave, Hybrid Technology, Micropackaging, Optoelectronics, Reliability of the related technologies, R&D trends and the industrial landscape
- Provide expert engineering support to the ESCC (European Space Components Coordination) standardization and qualification programme
- Support studies in the area of components standardisation
- Supporting components evaluation and qualification programmes, non-conformance and failure Investigations
- Assessing existing and novel standards associated with component technologies for future space applications
2On-Board Computer & Data Handling
- Platform and payload data handling architectures and their building blocks (equipment/units, modules and key components)
- Digital and analogue signal processing electronics for payload/platform control functions
- Front-end acquisition and processing chain electronics
- On-board data transfer interfaces, buses and associated protocols (high and low speed)
- Platform data handling functions related to security, data authentication, encryption, compression, machine learning and artificial intelligence
- Design, development, validation, qualification and acceptance of the Avionics sub-systems (DHS, AOCS, EPS) and associated equipment ensuring that these meet the satellite and security requirements
- AIT/AIV activities on Data Handling sub-systems and equipment
(Space) Software Engineering
1Software development
- Software development (e.g. C/C++, Ada & assembly programming languages; SW development environments, SW Validation facilities and ground testbeds & support equipment)
- Software & Validation Engineering support
- Software development lifecycle (e.g. requirements engineering, design, coding, V&V, functional validations at system level, support to operations, agile methodology…)
- Software Development for satellite platforms and/or payloads (e.g. avionics subsystems and integrated flight hardware)
- Space Software Engineering Standards and their application
- Spacecraft functional and physical architecture
- Supporting operations preparation, definition of nominal and contingency instrument operation procedures
- Experience in: Confluence & JIRA; IBM Rational DOORS; Databases: Oracle, Postgres, Hadoop; Unix/Linux system administration and programming; DevOps practices and tools; Virtualisation technologies; Object-oriented programming; Eclipse; Programming and scripting languages such as C, C++, Tcl/Tk, Python, Java
2Space Electronics
- Space electronics (digital and/or analogue)
- Avionics and space electronics procurements from early definition phase through to qualification phase
- Real-time embedded software and systems
- Safety critical software development
- Flight software systems development and software validation focused on both simulated environments and hardware in the loop
- Software acceptance (compilation, installation, running tests)
Product & Quality Assurance Engineering
1PA/QA | Dependability and Safety Support
- Supporting Quality Assurance activities related to the Project and associated reviews
- Ensure the effective implementation and execution of the non-conformance identification and confirm the correct and formal closure of non-conformances;
- Supporting the Risk Management and Configuration Management processes
- Develop and maintain PA procedures and practices
- Maintain PA/QA processes and procedures relevant to the project (including PA documentation)
- Monitoring the integration and test activities with quality assurance audits, mandatory and key inspection points, test witnessing and configuration inspections
- Provide safety-engineering support during mission preparation and execution for anomalies and unplanned maintenance
- Guiding and monitoring the application and procurement of EEE parts, materials and processes and controlling implementation of applicable requirements
- Establishing project specific programmatic and technical dependability and safety requirements
- Risk assessment and relevant dependability and safety analyses
- Technical notes, technical risk assessments, risk reduction processes and the associated preventive or corrective actions
- Technical support to projects for the interpretation of safety requirements and participation in safety reviews
- Defining and controlling the implementation of the applicable dependability and safety related acceptance requirements including risk acceptance criteria
- Dependability and safety verification activities, including hazard close-out and disposition of related NCR, RFW and Critical Items
- Assess compliance with the applicable RAMS requirements and formulate accept/reject recommendations
- Ensuring the preparation of design trade-offs, analyses and reports using RAMS data to support project decisions
- Support the development of the System RAMS tool
- Continual improvement of the RAMS Toolbox
- Support preparation and preliminary assessment of Safety Data Package for Safety Authority approval
2Software PA/QA
- SW PA analyses, reports and technical notes
- Establish and maintain databases to track NCRs, RFWs, action items etc. as required
- Establish the programmatic and technical software PA requirements and PA plan
- Guide and monitor the implementation of PA requirements by the project in order to ensure their proper implementation
- Monitor and control the performance/effectiveness of the processes used during the development of the software
- Participate in inspections and reviews (scrums, design, code, documentation, …) of the project and directing the necessary preventive or corrective actions
- Define and ensure the correct application of problem reporting procedures
- Implement and perform software product evaluations, process assessment and improvement
- Perform project audits and assessments specifically for quality and configuration practices
- Spot check configuration management practices on all missions, ensuring the correct application of the configuration management procedures
- Maintain methods and tools relevant to PA/QA activities
- Test preparation (data, HW, procedures, etc.), witness testing and problem reports registers
- Support the Risk management process per mission
- Experience in tools as JIRA, Sonar, Confluence, Jenkins, Git, Nexus, Maven
- Experience in applying ECSS S/W standard
- Agile practices (e.g. Scrum Master / Product Owner; other Agile frameworks as SAFE, Lean or Kanban)
- Quality assurance for Machine Learning models
- Data quality assurance
- Cyber-security assurance, security evaluation and certification, ISO-27001
Automation & Robotics | ECLS Engineering
1Automation & Robotics Engineering
- Specification, engineering and analysis of robot manipulation, locomotion and control systems
- Mechatronics (covering aspects from mechanical, electrical and computer engineering)
- Robotic systems and related engineering tools (e.g. standard design, analysis and simulation s/w)
- Design of mechanism and structures
- Planning, execution and documentation of laboratory experiments
2ECLS (Environmental Control and Life Support) Engineer
- Sustainable life support technologies
- Bioreactors, biochemical processes characterisation
- Project support for manned spaceflight and scientific experiments onboard the ISS
- Specification, engineering and analysis of chemical and biochemical processes
Ground Segment
1Ground Segment Engineering
- Ground Mission Segment Engineering: Algorithms and performances (incl. RAMS aspects), ensuring the design, development, deployment, verification, tuning and validation of the Ground Segment functions
- Ground segment and satellite operations and infrastructure
- Ground segment applicable ICDs
- Ground segment design and implementation both at element and segment level, including SW architecture, performance aspects and HW/SW COTS selection
- Assess the Data Analysis functions of the Ground Segment
2EGSE
- Supporting the procurement, development and utilisation of Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) for space systems, subsystems and instruments, including preparation of requirement specifications, monitoring of industrial activities, acceptance of industrial products and participation in project reviews
- Support Standardization activities in the EGSE domain
- Implementing and building complex software systems in the space domain, in developing and utilizing EGSEs, in modelling monitoring and control data in compliance with the ESA monitoring and control systems
Education & Knowledge Management
1Education Support
- Develop and deliver didactic content and activities related to STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
- Support the definition of the requirements for on-orbit activities, the development and testing/review process of educational payloads and the preparation of documentation and procedures for on-orbit execution
- Support the implementation and coordination of the agreed pre-flight, on-orbit and post-flight activities, collect the results and distribute them to the involved target audiences
- Support the preparation and conduct of project meetings, project reviews, test campaigns, launch preparation campaigns, and of workshops or conferences
- Support the definition, the organization, and the conduct of the ESA Academy activities
- Contributing to the promotion of activities through appropriate outreach channels
- Support the drafting and implementation of annual and mission communication plans
- Organisation of media events, including briefing of speakers and follow-up of requests from media
2Knowledge Management
- Supporting the development and the implementation of the KM roadmap
- Supporting the definition, the design and the implementation of new KM related projects
- Generating and maintaining the knowledge taxonomy
- Supporting the evolution of the KM Toolkit by identifying the best suiting technological platform fulfilling the requirements
- Monitoring user engagement and content curation related to KM tools
- Supporting the development of the necessary procedures to promote KM in a systematic way and ensuring compliance with ISO relevant certification
- Supporting knowledge capture activities
- Supporting the maintenance of KM software and servers
- Analysing and testing KM related IT solutions and tools; monitoring their use and measuring their effectiveness
Project Management
1Programme/Project Management
- Programme/Project management
- Management and monitoring of industrial activities (e.g. elaboration of statement of work, user specifications, proposal evaluation, supplier interactions, monitoring progress and quality, acceptance,…)
- Management of industrial activities including reviews
- Progress reports
2Project Controlling
- Scheduling and Project Control
- Configuration and documentation Management
- Administrative Assistance
Space Science Operations
Science Operations Center Support for ESA Missions
1Planetary Missions supported
- EnVision
- JUICE
- Mars Express
- ExoMars/TGO
- BepiColombo
2Astronomical and Helio-physics Missions supported
- Athena
- LISA
- Ariel
- PLATO
- XRISM
- CHEOPS
- Cluster
- Gaia
- INTEGRAL
- Solar Orbiter
- XMM-Newton
Planetary Mission Planning
1Scientific Planning
- Support to strategic and long-term science planning
- Definition and maintenance of instrument operations
- Scientific monitoring and validation of science operation scenarios and medium-term planning
- Analysis of payload operation opportunities and science metrics
- Preparation and verification of payload commanding operations
- Specification of requirements, design, development, maintenance and testing of pipelines or software supporting science planning
2System engineering and configuration management support
- Architectural design and documentation of the sub-system modules
- Configuration management
- Risk Management
Planetary Data
1Data processing and validation
- Quick-look operations and analysis
- Acceptance testing
2Data Calibration
- Consolidate calibration requests
- Calibration of data produced by processing pipeline
Payload Operations & Software Development for Planetary Missions
1Payload Operations
- System Configuration
- Implementation
- Short-Term and Medium-term iteration and product delivery
- Coordination with Instrument Teams
- Payload resource and constraint modeling
- Maintenance of payload operations systems and interfaces
- Operations rehearsal and acceptance tests
2Software Development
- Payload operations software development
- Legacy payload operations software maintenance
- Software validation and development
- System engineering support for science planning operations tools (SPOT) design and development
- Development, maintenance and validation of SPOT
Development of archives for all ESA science missions (operations, post-operations and legacy missions)
1Science Archives Software Development and Operations
- Development of operational, post-operational and legacy archive for all ESA science missions
- Science Archives software design and consulting
- Science Archives software development and testing
- Science Archives operations and maintenance
2ESA SPICE Service
- Mission-specific SPICE Kernels Provision
- Auxiliary Data Conversion System (ADCS) and GEOGEN Development, Operations and Maintenance
- SPICE Archive Generation
- Auxiliary Data Handling Technical Support and Consultancy
- Scientific Geometry Data Analysis and Exploitation Services
- SPICE Training Courses
Space System Engineering
1Analysis, Design and Implementation
- Critical review of project and design
- Analysis and definition of system and sub-system interfaces
- Definition and enforcement of requirement procedures
- Definition and enforcement of design procedures
- Maintenance and evolution of architecture of the System Baseline
- System and Design reviews (RIDs)
- Innovation, monitoring market and industry technology developments to identify opportunities, improvements and evolutions
2Integration and Validation
- System validation procedures
- Deploy and integrate test automation tools
- Definition and enforcement of acceptance test procedures and specifications
- Definition and enforcement of software verification and validation plans
- Definition and enforcement of delivery and deployment procedures
- Definition and enforcement of quality models for automatic validation of software metrics
- Deployment of project deliverables on reference and operational environments
- Acceptance tests of deliverables received from industry
Science Operations Centre Support to Astronomical Missions
1Science Planning
- Trajectory analysis and assessment of science opportunities
- High-level planning
- Announcement of Opportunity and proposal submission activities
- Support peer review of proposals
- Update and enhance accepted proposals
- Coordinate Joint programs with other observatories
- Long-term observation timeline
- Support calibration and engineering activities
- Provide and mintier required software tools
2Community Support
- HelpDesk services
- Support ESA for scientific and technical assessments of the mission
- Validation and improvements of scientific data products
- Validation of scientific analysis software and related tools
- Archive validation
- Organization of science and mission-related conferences
- Provide web content
- Support dissemination of news and media presence
Payload and Science Operations Centre ground operations
1Software development
- Software architecture definition
- Operations software development
- Operations software maintenance and evolution
2Operations
- Instrument engineering
- Planning system configuration
- Planning system input handling
- Planning process, 24/7 on-call services
- Replanning procedures and execution
- Constraint checking and maintenance
- Planning, rules and constraints product generation
- Downlink information consolidation
- Functional system testing of uplink chain
- Configuration control
- Operational procedures
- Enhanced services during new mission launch and commissioning phases
Astronomical Missions Science Data Processing
1Analysis, Design and Implementation
- Development, Maintenance and Evolution of Data Processing Systems
- Testing and Validation of Data Processing Systems
- Data Production
- Data validation
- Maintenance and Evolution of Data Analysis Systems
- Data Handling: develop and maintain data reception functions, pre-validation and validation, moving, storage and database functions
- Storage of Data Products in the Mission Science Archive
- Development of Data Analysis Tools for the Mission Science Archive
2Integration and Validation
- Generation of calibration plans and regular calibration update deliveries
- Trend Analysis / Instrument Monitoring
- Support to instrument teams / mission consortia
Space IT | BigData | Cybersecurity | AI
IT Infrastructure (ITIL practices)
1Analysis and Design
- Business case and return on investment analysis
- Project Assessments
- Requirement analysis
- Support definition of interfaces and sub-systems
- Design the Development, Acceptance, Production environment
2Engineering and Evolution
- Architecture
- Validation of intermediate/incremental delivery
- Evaluation, testing, implementation and validation changes
- Documentation and Operational Manuals
- Automations
IT Operations (ITIL practices)
1Assets and Configurations
- Two level support: Operations Technicians, Specialized Engineers
- Administration of IT assets
- Configuration Control
- Maintenance
- Change Management
2Incidents
- Incident Management processes
- Problem Management processes
- HelpDesk operations
- IT event monitoring and management
Cybersecurity
1Analysis, Design and Implementation
- Analyse and correlate security events
- Data Protection Impact assessment
- Validity of compliance with Data Protection Policy
- Vulnerability Scan activities
2Integration and Validation
- IT security improvement activities with Automation and Machine Learning
- Report and clarify vulnerabilities
- Produce security baselines
- Enforcement and Implementation of security plans
Big Data, AI, Machine Learning
1Big Data & Machine Learning
- Big Data technologies, i.e. databases, machine learning, natural language processing, visualisation techniques
- Machine Learning applications for data processing: image processing, anomaly detection, predictive maintenance, support to test, intrusion, threat and malware detection, etc...
2Artificial Intelligence
- Artificial Intelligence technologies
- Autonomous applications: autonomous planning of spacecrafts, e.g. automatic selection of observation targets, automatic rendez-vous with non-cooperative targets, automatic landing, vehicle systems management, etc...
- End to end cybersecurity systems: Information security system requirements analysis, architecture, design, protection against AI-enabled attacks and threat vectors
Management System | Business Information Technology
1Business Information technology
- Support data mining and analysis for corporate controlling activities
- Support the definition and development of data models
- Improve the multi-year planning and controlling processes, methods and tools
- Definition and development of IT systems and databases in support of multi-year planning and controlling
- Evaluating management processes and drafting procedures
- Preparing and conducting benchmarks of business processes
- Mathematic and statistical business models for financial planning and forecasting
2Management System Support
- Development and definition of a Knowledge Management (KM) framework, prepare a related Implementation Plan, and promote efficient KM approaches
- Examine particular process, goals and KPIs and assessing how far the currently-deployed technology is efficiently able to support reaching goals
- Determine where changes may increase efficiency and identifying innovative application solutions
- Supporting the Quality Management activities in ensuring the Quality Management Systems operations and improvements, including review of existing internal processes and tools, support in the definition of new processes, collection and analysis of quality statistics
- Supporting implementation of the ISO 9001 standard requirements
- Contributing to the dissemination of the results of the activities performed and the transfer of knowledge
Facility and IT Security Management
1Multidisciplinary Project Coordination
- Preparation of technical description of the work to be performed in coordination with the facilities users (offices, laboratories, and/or Test Centre)
- Preparation of programme of requirements for the initiation of projects, of project initiation documents and project plans including forecast about budget and manpower resource needs, of statements of works and technical description, of feasibility studies and business cases, and the request and delivery of the necessary permits
- Evaluation of the bids and negotiation with the recommended contractor
- Organisation, monitoring and follow-up of the work
- Cost control of the projects
- Supervision, review and quality control of the annual preventive maintenance plan
- Supervision and quality control of the preventive and corrective maintenance activities
- Investigation and analysis of technical failures, identification of corresponding technical solutions and participation to the quality control of the implemented remedial actions
- Building infrastructure and facility management
- Planning, coordination and execution of evolution activities
- Investigating customer feedbacks and complaints
- Supporting customer surveys and analysis of their results
- Review implementation plans and schedules
- Follow-up procurement actions
- Reviewing conceptual studies, technical experts’ inputs and/or engineering studies (e.g. concept designs, preliminary designs, technical notes, …) related to general purpose infrastructure projects or related to the execution of preventive and corrective maintenance activities which are outsourced to an external company
- Ensuring the proper coordination and execution of general purpose infrastructure project activities by outsourced contractors, including the monitoring of all related activities, the compliance to the applicable norms and legislations, the compliance to the project requirements and schedule, the organisation and reporting of project reviews, the control of the performance of the contractors, the maintenance of a project library and documentation, the follow- up/coordination of changes to the project scope, and the review of payments
- Coordinating the commissioning and acceptance of the works upon project delivery, preparing the close-out of the projects, including the follow up of eventual non-conformance items, preparing acceptance certificates, reviewing and archiving ‘as-built’ documentation
2Information Security Engineering
- Monitor and control the IT infrastructure and services using SIEM, EDR technologies and others state of the art security tools
- Investigate IT system’s security incidents and breaches
- Create reports and visualizations of security attacks
- Support penetration test and vulnerabilities assessment for ESA IT systems
- Support consistent vulnerability management / patch management process
- Continuous improvement of the service (detection level, process, operational procedures, service efficiency, service reporting)
- Incident handling procedures (NIST)
- SIEM technology’s: Archsight
- Security Analytics: Any BigData tools (e.g. SPLUNK)
- Malware and ATP Technology’s
- EDR: CISCO AMP, CISCO Umbrella
- TrendMicro Solutions
- Microsoft ATP Defender and O365 Security Framework
- Sandboxing: VMray, TM DDAN, Open source
- Penetration Testing &Vulnerability Assessment/Management: Nessus; Burp; Netsparker; SkyBox; OWASP Methodology
- Security Intelligence: OSINT Framework; MISP; Shodan; Maltego
- Network Security: TCP/IP; Routing: BGP, OSPF, MPLS; DNS, NTP, TLS; Firewall and Proxy
- Forensics Analysis: SIFT; Autopsy
- Security Awareness: Phishing & Simulation: KnowBe4; Early Warning: Flexera