Product Assurance and Safety Engineer

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Closing Date: 9 February 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Directorate: Technology, Engineering and Quality

You will be assigned as Product Assurance and Safety (PA&S) Engineer in the Product Assurance Management Section, Quality and PA Product Assurance Management Division, Quality Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

The Section provides functional support to ESA projects and technology developments and is also responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of product assurance and safety (PA&S) engineering and management programmes. It carries out technological research (R&D) in the fields of PA&S management, techniques, methodologies and tools. It collaborates in standardisation and training activities and is a main contributor to the ESA Mission Classification Initiative.

As a PA&S Engineer, you will likely start by being assigned as support two or three ESA projects from different application directorates or from a single one. The standard career path at ESA for PA&S Engineers is to become PA&S Manager after a couple of satisfactory years of service.

Reporting to the Head of Section and within the technical fields described above, your main tasks and responsibilities when taking up duties at ESA will include:

• providing expertise to ESA projects, programmes and technology development programme activities in the field of PA&S management;
• contributing to the Divisional activities related to ESA Mission Classification definition and implementation;
• preparing and implementing general and project-specific programmatic and technical requirements based on the applicable product and quality assurance baseline;
• monitoring and reporting of supplier PA&S programme execution to ensure compliance with applicable requirements; this includes auditing activities;
• contributing to management and technical boards relative to the execution and review of a project’s PA&S programme;
• defining, initiating and managing R&D activities (in product and quality assurance; requirements, techniques, methodologies, and tools) covering long- and short-term needs;
• establishing and implementing standards and best practices in the product and quality assurance field;
• contributing to and, at the line management’s request, participating in the Directorate’s competence domains;
• implementing the configuration management system under ESA projects;
• monitoring applicable scientific/technological trends, maintaining state-of-the-art expertise;
• disseminating the results of activities performed and the transfer of knowledge across the Agency.

Duty may also include the performance of other activities within your field of competence.

Experience in the technical domains covered by the position

Understanding of related technologies, R&D trends and the industrial landscape

Experience in the management and monitoring of industrial activities, including participation as an expert in project corporate reviews

Experience with Space Quality Standards and their preparation and implementation

Result Orientation

Operational Efficiency

Fostering Cooperation

Relationship Management

Continuous Improvement

Forward Thinking

A master\'s degree in a relevant domain is required for this post.

Solid experience in the technical domains covered by the position.
Experience in quality auditing or assessor certification are considered assets.
You must be eligible for security clearance by your national security administration.

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 contact.human.resources@esa.int

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 and eligible to acquire the security clearance by their national security administrations.

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, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States. When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates and secondly to external candidates from under-represented 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.

Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.