GSRF Maintenance and Operations Engineer

The Ground Segment Reference Facility M&O engineer will integrate the ESOC team and will need to provide the following service: 

• Provide a compatibility testing facility (for compatibility with spacecraft and with control centre).


• Ensure full validation of the mission specific space to ground ICD by Radio Frequency Compatibility Tests, and of the ground segment subsystems in a representative scenario by end-to-end validation.


• Allow the testing of newly developed units delivered by industry in a representative environment.


• Allow the identification and solution of field problems in a test and reference environment and develop modifications to be made in the field.


• Provide a back-up facility for de-bugging problems during system integration.


• Accommodate software integration facilities from other units in ESOC (HSO-GIM, HSO-GIB)

The Ground Segment Reference Facility M&O engineer will: 

• Execute RF compatibility tests with the satellite


• Execute end-to-end system tests in GSRF


• Ensure GSRF electrical safety


• Install specialized hardware and software in GSRF, as required for testing


• Operate and maintain the GSRF facilities


• Maintain the operational configuration of the GSRF


• Perform GSRF preventive/corrective maintenance also from 3rd party (e.g. CCC, site services) in line with a maintenance plan to be established and maintained


• Configure and operate the GSRF for all required testing


• Maintain a GSRF “usage/availability” schedule


• Document test activities executed in the GSRF


• Ensure that the GSRF documentation is complete and up to date.


• Ensure that the GSRF configuration items records are kept up to date. The tools used for this is the ECDB and the applicable documentation management systems.


• Support to configuration control activities for the Test equipment tool and equipment stores.


• Support to populating/updating the ECDB database upon reception of items in ESOC.


• Ensure that the activities in the GSRF are properly documented and executed according to plans (Software Verification and Validation Plans for the Site Acceptance Tests).


• Organise regular meetings on M&O activities


• Ensure fulfilment of GSRF Security Requirements as expressed in AD6

• Data communication systems involving e.g. modulation, demodulation, PCM telemetry and telecommand, communication protocols (TCP/IP, SLE), coding techniques, data processing.


• TT&C systems and their interfaces


• ECSS and CCSDS standards and recommendations as references in RD1 to RD21


• Test of TT&C Equipment.


• Ranging and Doppler measurement.


• RF and Fibre-optical components.


• Handling cryogenic component

•  Degree or qualification(s) in engineering preferably Ground Station related Engineering


• Fluent in English