Attitude and Orbit Control Subsystem (AOCS) Engineer at Telespazio Belgium

Telespazio Belgium can count on almost 40 years of experience in the field of Space Operations Service & Engineering activities.

We provide a significant contribution to the most major Space programs of the European Space Agency. Our core business is to work on the ground to build bridges into space, contributing to the success of ambitious missions.

The European Space Agency is our biggest client and we provide highly qualified employees to many sites of ESA but mainly for ESTEC in the Netherlands, and we provide a permanent contract with great benefits, a good salary, a relocation package along with genuine support to our employees.

On behalf of the European Space Agency, we will be soon looking for a highly skilled AOCS Engineer to work in ESTEC, in the Netherlands.

What is expected from you:

• Definition and implementation of AOCS (Attitude and Orbit Control Systems) for Earth Observation, Telecom, Navigation satellites and for Astronomy Observatories.
• The functional support provided to these projects (e.g. Sentinel, Earth Care, MTG, Alphasat, Small GEO, Galileo, GAIA, Solar Orbiter, …) includes
• Participation to project reviews (SRR, PDR CDR, …).
• AOCS design, analyses and simulations (control loops design and modelling, FDIR, independent simulator set-up, functional verification and performance budgets)
• Review of AOCS SW implementation.
• Sensors and actuators selection and procurement support.
• AIV/AIT support (test benches, review of test plans and test results).
• Operations support (review of Operations Manual, rehearsal and LEOP)
• Support to in-orbit analysis.
• Conception, initialisation and supervision of corresponding enabling AOCS technology R/D:
• High Accuracy Pointing, Generic AOCS Architecture & Building Blocks, Innovative AOCS & FDIR Solutions including prototyping and tools development.
• Sensors and inertial actuators technology development: APS, Star Trackers, sun sensors, Earth sensors, magnetometers, gyros, accelerometers, magneto-torquers, reaction wheels, CMG’s.
• Development and utilisation of the Control Hardware Laboratory (e.g. sensor characterisation and testing).
• Maintenance, development and set-up of AOCS simulation tools
• Participation to the elaboration and promotion of ECSS standards in the E60 domain.
  
• The candidate will provide technical support in the field of AOCS engineering for activities for nanosats and smallsats.
• The candidate will contribute to the running of the cubesats AOCS Verification and Validation facility, and to the related testing activities and internal R&D activities, including tools maintenance & enabling rapid prototyping and modern control techniques implementation.
• In addition, the candidate will provide support in the field of the AOCS engineering for ESA projects, i.e. AOCS design, development, and verification for Earth Observation, or Connectivity & Secure Communication projects, including support to reviews and performing analyses/simulations
• The candidate will also provide support to feasibility analyses and Concurrent Design Facility studies.

What you offer:

• Master degree in Control and Aerospace engineering
• General background and specific experience in the technical domains (AOCS subsystem architecture, design, testing and verification) covered by the position
• Hands-on experience including AOCS HW, SW and AOCS testing, as well as AOCS modelling.
• Project support experience in a relevant domain (Smallsat and nanosat AOCS, and possibly AOCS on ESA missions in the field of for Earth Observation, or Connectivity & Secure Communication)
• Proven experience in the design, tuning, analysis and simulation of AOCS systems indifferent project phases.
• HW knowledge (sensors, computer, actuators).
• AOCS AIT at subsystem and system level.
• Proven knowledge of commercial model-based design tools (MATLAB).
• Ability to interface with industry.

What we offer:

• A competitive salary
• 30 days of paid annual leave, plus the days ESTEC is closed including public holidays (~12 days) based on a 40-hour working week;
• Hybrid working scheme (3 days in the office and 2 days remote in the Netherlands)
• Flexible working hours; you are in charge of your own agenda respecting core working hours
• Fully paid collective extensive health insurance scheme;
• A good pension scheme with no personal contribution;
• A career development (Coursera membership + training budget);
• Travel allowance;
• Extensive relocation package

Where:

You will be working within ESTEC, the European Space Agency’s offices in the Netherlands as a contractor for Telespazio Belgium. We don’t expect the employees to be on-site full time however you will still have to relocate to the Netherlands for this position.

Check out the ESTEC site here: esa.int/About_Us/ESTEC

When:

Deadline to apply: 14/07/2025

Please note that interviews will be held either via skype, webex, other digital platforms or onsite in ESTEC

We look forward to receiving your application for this position!