System and Applications Engineer - European Space Agency (Darmstadt)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Space Agency on the official vacancy notice. Our own analysis — salary realism, comparable openings, career trajectory, language profile — follows further down the page.

Key responsibilities

According to the vacancy notice, the role centres on the following duties:

• Development, evolution and maintenance of mission ground systems focusing on mission monitoring and control applications
• Definition of ground system and software requirements in cooperation with stakeholders
• Design of multi-mission systems evolution
• Definition and monitoring of industrial procurement and service contracts
• Verification, validation and acceptance of industrial deliveries
• Collection and implementation of lessons learned
• Management of system evolution and maintenance services
• Application of configuration management to deployed systems

Are you eligible?

Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:

• Education: Master's degree in a relevant domain, or Bachelor's degree complemented by an additional four (4) years of relevant professional experience
• Experience: 3 years of relevant professional experience (with master's degree) or 4 years of relevant professional experience (with bachelor's degree)
• Key skills: Mission control systems such as Pulse, European Ground Systems Common Core (EGS-CC) framework, Definition and communication of strategic technical decisions, Application of AI within software maintenance and engineering processes, Spacecraft operations and/or operational systems, Data processing and archiving technologies, Automation and mission planning systems, Data analytics, Security in software systems

Contract and working arrangements

Hiring unit: Ground Segment Multi-Mission Operational Systems Section (OPS-GAM), System and Applications Engineering Division, Groun….

Position details

Reference

1415798833

Last Verified

23 July 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for System and Applications Engineer at ESA based in Darmstadt (Other). The vacancy reference is 1415798833.

Job Requisition ID:20744

Date Posted:16 July 2026

Closing Date:6 August 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication:Internal & External

Location

ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany

## Description

System and Applications Engineer in the Ground Segment Multi-Mission Operational Systems Section (OPS-GAM), System and Applications Engineering Division, Ground Systems Engineering and Innovation Department, Directorate of Operations.

The Ground Segment Multi-Mission Operational Systems Section is responsible for:

* space mission monitoring and control (M&C) applications covering spacecraft commanding, telemetry processing and archiving. This covers both SCOS-2000/MICONYS based systems and Pulse/EGS-CC based systems; * mission planning (MPS) covering planning and scheduling of operational activities; * other related applications required for operations.

## Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

* the development, evolution and maintenance of mission ground systems focusing on mission monitoring, control applications and related applications. This includes: * definition of the ground system and software requirements in cooperation with stakeholders, including mission-specific requirements for the ground segment systems; * design of multi-mission systems evolution; * definition and monitoring of the related industrial procurement and service contracts; * verification, validation and acceptance of industrial deliveries; * collection and implementation of lessons learned as appropriate; * management of system evolution and maintenance services; * application of appropriate configuration management to the deployed systems; * support of stakeholders as required during the different mission phases;

* system engineering of current- and future-generation mission systems, including mission Phase-A activities relating to mission systems; * management and provision of the user support and maintenance services; * undertaking technology development activities, experimentation in the laboratory, pre-development and in-orbit demonstration in related fields to bring about innovation in mission systems for the benefit of missions and projects; * supporting standardisation activities.

You will initially take on the role of Technical Architect for Pulse. The specific tasks for this position will involve setting technical direction relating to Pulse, designing technical solutions, and acting as the technical authority for industry with a view to successful completion and adoption of the new mission control system. This also includes working with related systems such as mission preparation, mission planning and/or automation systems.

## Technical competencies

Mission control systems such as Pulse and/or the associated tailoring data model

Very good understanding of the principles of the European Ground Systems Common Core (EGS-CC) framework

Ability to define and clearly communicate strategic technical decisions

Application of AI within software maintenance and engineering processes

Spacecraft operations and/or operational systems

Data processing and archiving technologies

Automation and mission planning systems

Data analytics

Security in software systems

## Behavioural competencies

## Education and professional experience

A master’s degree in a relevant domain is required for this post together with 3 years of relevant professional experience. Alternatively, candidates with a bachelor’s degree, complemented by an additional four (4) years of relevant professional experience can be considered.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 16 July 2026, 6 days ago.

The application deadline is 6 August 2026, 13 days from today. Late applications are not accepted, so submit through the official EU Careers portal well in advance.

Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 23 July 2026.

Where to learn more

For headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at ESA see the ESA institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Darmstadt see our Darmstadt location page.

New to EU careers? Our beginner's guide walks through entry routes, EPSO competitions, and what to prepare. For application logistics see application tips and EPSO competitions.