Software Tools Architect - Earth Observation

We are looking for a Software Tools Architect - Earth Observation to join our Service Team working onsite at the European Space Agency (ESA) in the Netherlands.

Akkodis has proudly supported the Aerospace & Defence industry in the Netherlands for decades. Our partnership with ESA has been one of the many success stories allowing our people to expand their career horizons. Akkodis experts are contributing to some of the most important technical advances in Aerospace and Defence which impact the way we live our lives today, through specialised engineering expertise and other required skillsets. This could be your future. Become part of our successful team!

Your Key Responsibilities:

In this role you will support and manage existing and new software development activities in the EOP-PE division in the context of Mission Analysis and Ground Systems. The position holder is primary responsible for the software tools developed and maintained by the division and takes on a principal role in new developments and evolutions of these tools.

• Drive new software development activities by gathering requirements from internal and external users, writing Statement of Work and Requirement Specifications as input for the procurement process and participate in the review of proposals.
• Manage ongoing software development activities by triaging and administrating Software Problem Reports, managing implementation priorities and monitoring the external developers responsible for the implementation.
• Verify and Validate software delivered by external developers, review associated documentation, and manage the acceptance process.
• Design, implement, test and maintain generic and tailored software tools to support projects in the Earth Observation directorate.
• Manage the distribution of software tools to users and inform users of updates, problems and development via the website ().
• Provide first line support for users of the software tools and investigate and register problems reported by the users.
• Configuration management of software, documents, roadmaps and Software Problem Reports.
• Support activities in the Division by providing software expertise and assistance in the testing, deployment and usage of software tools and simulators.
• Research and advise the H/Ground System Definition and Verification Office and H/System Analysis Office on software development, technology developments, best practices, and improvements to existing software tools.

To successfully fulfil your key responsibilities, the following background / experience is required:

• University Master's degree in a software engineering or related discipline and at least 5 years of relevant experience.
• Very proficient in C, C++, JAVA and Python and associated tool chains for software development in these languages.
• Solid experience with developing, building and maintaining software on Linux, MacOS and Windows platforms.
• Solid experience with software configuration management and version control, specifically git and GitLab.
• Experience with setting up and maintaining CI/CD pipelines targeting multiple platforms (Linux, MacOS and Windows).
• Experience with EO data product formats (zarr, NetCDF, GeoTIFF, COG, ..).
• Experience with Eclipse RCP and Qt is a plus.
• Experience with ESA software procurement processes is a plus.
• Ability to work autonomously and proactively manage stakeholder interests.
• Capability to quickly get acquainted with new problem domains.
• Candidate need to be eligible for clearance from ESA member state.

About ESA-ESTEC

The European Space Agency (ESA) has sites in several European countries.

The European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), has grown into ESA’s largest establishment and the technical and organizational hub of Europe’s space sector. Missions designed and tested at ESTEC are circling Earth, have landed on planetary bodies and have probed far into the Solar System.

The infrastructure and equipment assembled here, together with the expert knowhow of its 2800 personnel, make ESTEC a unique resource for Europe. The work done here by teams skilled in every aspect of engineering for space has enabled the creation of novel communication, navigation and information services, creating new jobs and growth while improving the lives of European and world citizens.

Please send your CV to [email protected] as soon as possible