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Flight Dynamics Engineer

Please Note: The application deadline for this job has now passed.

Job Introduction

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

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.

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Flight Dynamics Engineer based at ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany.

Role Responsibility

The primary areas of responsibility is Command Generation for Science Missions.

The successful candidate will be primarily assigned to EXOMARS RSP and Solar Orbiter the Science Missions but with the possibility of supporting other service and/or missions such as GAIA, Bepi Colombo, Mars Express, ExoMars TGO, Juice and Euclid.

The general activities to be performed by the successful candidate are (depending on the phase of the mission):

Command Generation:

  • Execution of and support to operational tasks
  • Generation of task related command parameters
  • Generation of task related reports

Mission Planning Support:

  • Execution of and support to operational tasks
  • Generation of mission planning related products, such as schedules and planning input

Flight Dynamics Application Layer:

  • Maintenance of elements of the Flight Dynamics Application Layer

Flight Dynamics System Development:

  • Specification of modifications, enhancements and additions to existing software elements
  • Implementation of modifications, enhancements and additions to existing software elements
  • Installation of modifications, enhancements and additions to existing software elements on operational platform(s)- design, coordination and implementation of tests
  • Participation in tests
  • Set-up procedures
  • Flight Dynamics (Sub-)System configuration
  • Coordination of internal and external interfaces and activities across subsystems General Flight Dynamics operations engineering activities.

Successful Candidate

The ideal candidate should bring the following skills and experience:

  • University degree in a relevant engineering field, astronomy, mathematics or physics.
  • Very good skills in linear algebra, in particular for problem solving related to geometry in the Euclidean 3–dimensional space.
  • Being familiar with different representations of rotation in 3D, thus including the representation of S/C attitude (cosine direction matrix, Euler symmetric parameters/quaternions, Euler-angles ...) is an asset.
  • Very good skills in calculus in one or several variables.
  • Skills in numerical methods for:
  • equations solving, - integration of differential equations,
  • function approximation and interpolation,
  • optimisation, - linear algebra problems.
  • Very good skills in classical mechanics, including:
  •  kinematics and dynamics of point masses,
  • dynamics of rigid bodies,
  • dynamics expressed in non-inertial reference frames, e.g. including dynamics in rotating frames, rotation dynamics expressed in body fixed frame,
  • conservation laws in mechanics,
  • gravitational forces and field,
  • orbit dynamics, keplerian orbits and Kepler laws.
  • Ability to solve mechanics problems via analytical mechanics methods (e.g. lagrangian formulation) is a valuable asset.
  •  Skills to apply above knowledge to develop solutions to technical problems in cooperation with customers and other experts.
  • Ability to define, implement, validate and operate software which applies the above solutions, using C++ as main programming language; knowledge of Unix/Linux, scripting languages and Fortran 77/95/2003 is a valuable an asset.
  •  Will to take operational responsibility in multi-discipline teams.
  • Fluency in English, both in speech and writing
  • Coordinate and interact with other service providers in operations and other fields.
  • Ability to work independently.
  • Familiarity/experience with Flight Dynamics operations engineering tasks.
  • Experience with Linux, network services and protocols, and system administration
  • The ability to multi-task efficiently; working on multiple activities, multiple subsystems and if applicable multiple missions simultaneously.

Additionally, the successful candidate requires the following:

  • Knowledge in Linear algebra, in particular for problem solving related to geometry in the Euclidean 3 – dimensional space.
  • Calculus in one or several variables.
  • Numerical methods for:
  • equations solving,
  • integration of differential equations,
  • function approximation and interpolation,
  • optimisation,
  • linear algebra problems.
  • Classical mechanics, including:
  • kinematics and dynamics of point masses,
  • dynamics of rigid body,
  • dynamics expressed in non-inertial frames,
  • conservation laws in mechanics,
  •  gravitational forces and field,
  • Orbit dynamics, keplerian orbits and Kepler laws

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Important

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. 

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

Highly competitive salary 

Corporate Benefits Package 

Relocation Assistance (if applicable)

Further information available from the Serco Europe Recruitment Team

About the Company

Serco is one of the world’s largest providers of public services, employing over 50,000 people in over 20 countries.

We work closely with the European Government Institutions & Space Agencies providing crucial Services with over 300 staff members.

The services we provide are often of critical importance to the communities and nations we serve, Providing public services is one of the most satisfying and rewarding careers you can have, you have an ability to make a real positive difference to people’s lives and to your community and country.

As a business which delivers “front-line” public services, employing tens of thousands of people, we are constantly developing and promoting people; our need for skilled professionals is insatiable and few companies can offer as many opportunities for individuals to grow their careers

What connects the ever growing Serco workforce is a passion for delivering great service – To keep ahead we have to constantly evolve and enhance the way we deliver our services and everyone in Serco has a role to play here.

Serco provide the right environment to encourage ideas and a comprehensive Best Practice support network that enables them to put their ideas into action.

If you share our values then join with over 50,000 colleagues globally who are equally as passionate about delivering great service as you

A career with Serco offers the chance to work with both inspirational people and innovative contracts, in a dynamic and exciting environment.

We have a mandate to execute brilliantly and our people lead and inspire based on our core values, Trust, Care, Pride and Innovation.

Take pride in what you do.

Serco European Agencies

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