Earth Observation Scientist / Aeolus CalVal and Data Monitoring Support

Job Introduction

Serco is a specialist at delivering vital services on behalf of European, National and Local Governments.

Serco Europe employ’s a large workforce in Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Spain, Italy and the UK.

Our European operations have ca. 2,000 employees delivering critical services to public institutions throughout Europe. 

Serco’s space heritage over the last 40 years has placed us in the Space News Top 50 Space Industry Manufacturing and Services Companies - We work alongside EUMETSAT and the European Space Agency, where we are the largest on-site service provider with ca. 300 staff.

Role Responsibility

Overview:

Within the ESA Sensors Performance, Products and Algorithms (SPPA) Section the post-holder will be included in the Aeolus Data Innovation and Science Cluster (DISC) contractual framework.

 The primary objective of the Aeolus mission is to provide accurate global observations of atmospheric wind profiles. A secondary objective of the mission is to provide products such as cloud top altitudes, aerosol properties and tropospheric height.

The post-holder will be supporting the ESA Aeolus Data Quality Manager for the data quality monitoring, assessment and Calibration and Validation activities of the Aeolus Direct Detection Doppler Wind Lidar (ALADIN) instrument.

The main activities will include:

a) Performing routine product quality monitoring activities and provide Mission sensors scientific & technical support to Calibration and Validation activities:

• Perform the routine product Quality Control and monitoring on daily basis;
• Perform on request investigations and troubleshooting related to Aeolus products and processors acting in close collaboration with algorithm, processor, satellite and instrument expert as result of user, experts and mission management requests;
• Support the Processor maintenance including ARB (anomaly review Board) participation;
• Support processors evolution and processor deployment to the PDGS via interactions with the PDGS in the framework of anomaly investigations, including the PDGS Verification and Validation Service team;
• Advise and Support in the management of the Aeolus Calibration and Monitoring Facility (ACMF) system evolution with particular involvement in the monitoring system evolution.

b) Support to Coordination of ESA- and independent Aeolus Cal/Val activities

• Assist and support the data quality manager and other relevant ESA staff in preparing Aeolus Cal/Val workshops, proposal review and Cal/Val overall status.

c) Support to management of the Quality Working Group

• Support in organising, managing the Quality Working Group and related activities.

d) Support Aeolus communication activities, including:

• Web stories;
• ESA publications;
• Organization of workshops;
• Contribution to the preparation of presentations and reports for international conferences and workshops.

e) When needed, support interfacing with:

• External entities and other ESA interfaces (PDGS, PLSO);
• Other entities inside DISC (Data Innovation and Science Cluster); 
• General end users requests via ESA Earth Observation Help Desk.

Successful Candidate

Mandatory skills:

• Programming skills: Python, IDL or MatLab preferentially, other programming languages and scripting (Linux) for data manipulation / analysis automation purposes;
• Candidates should be fluent in English and have good writing and communication skills;
• Very good interfacing capabilities towards external interfaces: customer, scientific and technical;
• Ability to plan and report on proposed problem solutions and to work to deadline;
• Proactive approach to problem identification and resolution;
• Strong team spirit;
• Availability to travel to attend meetings.

Additional assets:

• Expertise on related scientific research and also on High Resolution Doppler Wind Lidar instrument measurements and algorithms would be considered an advantage;
• Expertise in testing software, data flows and interfaces;
• Experience of an ESA mission exploitation phases;
• Experience in satellite data exploitation and analysis;
• Experience in instrument and payload data processor anomaly investigation (Level 0, Level 1A, Level 1B);
• Experience in High Resolution Doppler Wind Lidar instrument measurements and algorithms;
• Generic knowledge of Satellite Platform support instrument (as Star Tracker, GPS) and telemetry.

Applicants must hold the correct documentation and permits to work in Italy.

Important

This is a provisional vacancy: we would like to identify a relevant candidate(s) to present to our client so they can confirm this opportunity.

If candidates with equally relevant experience are identified, preference will be given to candidates within "Categorie Protette (Law 68/99)" or registered in “lista di mobilità”.

Any offer of employment is contingent upon you providing documents to verify your identity and employment eligibility, as required by law.

Applicants are reminded that they will be requested to produce such documentation during the recruitment process.

Please contact a member of the recruitment team if you require further details of acceptable types of documentation required for verification of identity and work authorization. 

For positions located within the Darmstadt Support Office please note that only applicants with no family affiliation within the Company will be considered.

Data Protection:

When creating a profile on the Serco Career Centre you agreed to the Data Protection policy, a copy is available upon request.

You may submit a written request revoking your consent to this agreement at any time.

Package Description

Full details on application

This is a provisional vacancy: we would like to identify a relevant candidate(s) to present to our client so they can confirm this opportunity.

About the Company

Serco Spa, part of the Serco group, A FTSE250, Multi-national Service Provider with over 50,000 employees worldwide.

Serco European Agencies