Science Operations Scientist

Job Requisition ID: 20826

Date Posted: 3 September 2026

Application Deadline: 24 September 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication: Internal & External

Type of Appointment : 4 years, extendable to indefinite

Directorate: Science

Workplace: Villanueva de la Cañada, ES

Grade Band : A2 - A4

Location
ESAC, Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain

Description
The European Space Agency maintains a world-leading Science Programme with missions in heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics and fundamental physics. Its mission is to empower Europe to lead space science.

The Science Operations Department (SCI-S) within ESA’s Directorate of Science hosts the scientists and engineers that oversee the space missions from the study phase to the end of operations. It develops the science operation systems for the missions and operates the missions in space, as well as archiving and curating their data during operations and beyond. Its main objective is to maximise the scientific output of the missions for the benefit of humankind.

You will be assigned as Science Operations Scientist, initially for the Arrakihs mission under the direct responsibility of the Science Operations Development Manager for Arrakihs in the Science Operations Development Division.

Arrakihs is a “Fast” (F-class) mission in ESA’s Science Programme. Its primary objective is to image the halos of galaxies in our nearby Universe to unprecedented low surface brightness, providing crucial data to answer unsolved questions in cosmology and galaxy evolution. Arrakihs is targeted for launch in the early 2030s.

Duties
You will be responsible for various aspects of the definition, implementation and testing of science operations activities for the Arrakihs mission, working in close collaboration with the Project Scientist, the Archive Scientist and the Science Operations Centre (SOC) Team and interfacing with the Instrument Operations and Science Data Centre (IOSDC) Team from the Arrakihs mission consortium.

During the development phase of the mission, your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• acting as an interface between the Science Operations Centre, the Payload Team, the Flight Control Team and the Instrument Operations and Science Data Centre Team for the Arrakihs mission;
• contributing to the overall ground segment operations definition, design and implementation;
• coordinating and supporting the definition, development and testing of processes and tools for science mission planning activities;
• providing support to the definition and validation of the instrument’s data products, as well as to the establishment of validation criteria and the development, implementation and testing of tools for their quality assessment in coordination with the Archive Scientist, the Project Scientist and the IOSDC Team;
• acting as a product owner in the context of an Agile development strategy for the SOC system by providing the feedback, value and user acceptance testing for the various science operations functionalities;
• supporting the Project Scientist and Science Operations Development Manager in analysing the impact of mission baseline changes, relating to operational rules and constraints, for example, on the scientific outcome of the mission;
• supporting validation activities and all relevant compatibility, interfaces and end-to-end tests in preparation for the operation phase;
• supporting the definition, preparation and execution of activities relating to the commissioning and science performance demonstration phases;
• supporting the SOC interaction with the astronomical community in preparation for the Arrakihs filler programme, including the coordination of inputs and provision of relevant scientific and operational information;
• supporting outreach activities promoting the Arrakihs mission and its science.

In addition to the above duties, you are expected to continue to carry out research and actively contribute to the scientific activities of the Department.

It is expected that the position will also involve support to other survey missions in development within the Division, for example the Ariel mission, which will study the atmosphere of exoplanets through spectroscopic observations during transits and eclipses.

Technical competencies
Experience in defining, setting up and/or operating scientific experiments for astrophysics research either in space or ground-based facilities

Experience in coordinating internal/external stakeholders on scientific projects

Active researcher in a relevant field to the Arrakihs mission

Knowledge of scientific instruments performance and calibration specification and analysis

Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education and professional experience
A PhD in astronomy, physics or a related subject is required for this post, together with three years of relevant professional experience.

Additional requirements
International experience, i.e., outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.

The following will be considered assets for the position:
• Experience in science operations of space- or ground-based facilities;
• Experience in analysing the science performance of instruments in space- or ground-based facilities;
• Experience with the Agile development methodology, preferably in the role of product owner;
• Proficiency in at least one scripting or programming language, for example Python;
• Experience with media and outreach activities.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.

At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at Se e-mailadresse på jobbank.dk .

Important Information and Disclaimer
In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the master’s degree, the position may be filled at A1 level.

Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.

During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.

Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.

The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.

Nationality and Languages
Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the Member States.

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.