Archive Scientist

Job Requisition ID: 20804

Date Posted: 16 October 2026

Application Deadline: 6 November 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication Method: Internal & External

Type of Appointment ( learn more) : Fixed-Term

Directorate: Human and Robotic Exploration

Workplace: Villanueva de la Cañada, ES

Grade Band: A2 - A4

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This is a fixed-term appointment with an initial duration of 4 years. Depending upon performance and organisational needs, the appointment may be extended up to a possible maximum duration of 8 years.

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands with a resident assignment to ESAC, Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain.

Description
The Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration Programmes (D/HRE) is a programme directorate within the ESA matrix structure. Through a partnership between humans and robots, D/HRE is dedicated to exploring destinations in space where humans are already living and working —– or will live and work in the future —– for the purpose of scientific research, economic development, international cooperation and public inspiration.

The Science Operations Department (SCI-S), within ESA’s Directorate of Science (D/SCI), hosts the scientists and engineers who oversee the space missions from study to the end of operations, develops the science operation systems for the missions and operates the missions in space, and archives and curates their data during operations and beyond. The Department provides support to D/HRE in the curation, archiving and dissemination of data from its planetary missions, such as the Rosalind Franklin Mission (RFM) and other Mars or lunar experiments. Its main objective is to maximise the scientific output of the missions for the benefit of humankind.

You will be assigned as Archive Scientist for ESA planetary missions under the direct responsibility of the Chief Exploration Scientist reporting functionally to the Head of the Science Archives Development and Operations Section, also known as the ESAC Science Data Centre (ESDC) in the Data Science and Archives Division within the Science Operations Department (SCI-S).

You will have further functional reporting lines within the mission(s) you support, initially the ESA ExoMars RFM and Comet Interceptor.

Duties
You will be responsible for the definition and specification of the scientific archive for the supported ESA planetary missions, initially the ESA ExoMars RFM and Comet Interceptor, and for the follow-up and monitoring of its implementation and operation with the goal of maximising the scientific return of the missions. You will work in close collaboration with the planetary mission project scientists, the other mission archive scientists, the ESDC Software and Data Systems Architect and the members of the Planetary Science Archive User Group.

As Archive Scientist, your specific responsibilities will include:

• ownership of use cases and drivers for the mission archives, including:
  • interfacing with the Project Scientist, the Science Operations Centre (SOC) team, other archive science leads and other archive scientists, as well as the external stakeholders, such as the instrument teams and the mission scientific community, to provide the science use cases that drive the mission archive and determine the priorities for implementation;
  • providing scientific support and steering the development and operations of the archives for the supported ESA planetary missions, providing the ESDC development team with an archive user requirements document as a baseline for implementation;
• chairing and coordinating a mission-level Data Archive Working Group (DAWG);
• monitoring the implementation, testing and expected performance of the archive based on use cases gathered by the mission team and derived requirements; in particular, defining and performing the end user acceptance testing of the different archive versions prior to their release to the scientific community;
• with the help of the instrument operations scientists, supervising and coordinating the definition and provision of science data products and any higher-level data products from the community or instrument teams as needed, including liaising on submission schedules and content;
• liaising with any internal and external providers to ensure the completeness of all levels of data products with maximum science quality, contributing to the optimisation and refinement of the archive products when possible;
• encouraging and contributing to the science exploitation of the missions’ data products through archive usage;
• participating in archive scientist meetings and user groups and sharing ideas and proposals for the strategy and promotion of the ESA science archives;
• supporting the scientific community with archive- and data product-related matters.

As a scientist in the Department, you will be required to actively pursue personal scientific research, publishing articles using archival data, and to actively participate in the Department’s research activities.

Technical competencies
Experience in science data management and archiving systems

Experience working with planetary science data in a research setting, preferably including data from surface/in situ planetary missions

Experience in coordinating the scientific community and managing multiple interfaces at international level within a large multidisciplinary team.

Experience in science operations, preferably in the context of ESA missions

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 a relevant domain is required for this post, together with one year of relevant professional experience.

Additional requirements
The following are assets for this position:

• Experience in promoting science to the wider scientific community and general public;
• Understanding of user needs in relation to complex software systems;
• Experience in science operations, preferably in the context of ESA missions;
• Experience in agile and DevOps methodologies, human factor engineering (UX design) and associated technologies and their use in modern software engineering.

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.