Novamoon Project Manager

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Reporting to the Head of the Future Programmes Office within the Future Navigation Department, you will manage the NovaMoon project throughout mission phases B to E, ensuring the implementation of the design, development, manufacturing and testing of the NovaMoon payload builds and relevant ground segment. You will also be in charge of leading the NovaMoon Project Team within ESA.

NovaMoon is a demonstrator mission to deploy the first lunar-based differential, geodetic, and timing station operating on the Moon’s surface, enabling high-precision lunar navigation and supporting scientific experimentation. The mission will enhance the performance of ESA’s Moonlight lunar navigation constellation and, potentially, other partners’ lunar navigation systems, targeting sub-metre positioning accuracy at the lunar south pole. NovaMoon will also advance selenodetic science and will provide a stable lunar time realisation. The mission is planned for implementation through incremental builds, with potential intermediate flight opportunities around 2029 and 2030, leading to a full NovaMoon payload configuration envisaged for integration on the Argonaut-2 mission and supporting long-term experimentation on the lunar surface. NovaMoon forms part of ESA’s integrated Moon exploration strategy, developed in cooperation with multiple ESA directorates and international partners.

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• consolidation and monitoring of the programmatic assumptions (costs, schedule and risks) and of the NovaMoon incremental builds;
• preparation of the NovaMoon ITT/IPC package for industry, as well as preparation and organisation of the Tender Evaluation Board;
• negotiation of Phase B/C/D/E contracts and contract management;
• ensuring the implementation of the design, development, manufacturing and testing of the NovaMoon payload builds and relevant ground segment for all implementation phases;
• monitoring industrial work and ensuring compliance with technical, schedule and programme cost requirements;
• ensuring proper integration of the subsequent NovaMoon builds’ payloads into the identified lander opportunities;
• preparation of the subsequent operational phase;
• interfacing with the scientific community for mission exploitation;
• collection and management of the operational and exploitation data;
• assessment of the mission objectives, lessons learned and recommendations for follow-up improvements;
• acting as focal point for internal and external reviews, coordinating anomaly handling and risk mitigation, and formally reporting to senior management;
• providing regular formal reporting to the ESA PB‑NAV on the NovaMoon project status, including clear updates on programmatic aspects, technical progress, risks, schedule and financial status;
• in close coordination with the Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration, ensuring technical and managerial coordination with partner agencies, such as NASA and JAXA, for relevant aspects of, and potential partnerships within, the NovaMoon project;
• coordinating and executing the Lunar Pathfinder GNSS experimentation campaign and extracting lessons learned applicable to the NovaMoon development;
• leading the NovaMoon Project Team, ensuring clear task allocation, effective coordination and supervision of activities, systematic performance monitoring, proactive workforce planning, and the promotion of a strong, collaborative team spirit;
• supporting and providing inputs into the NovaMoon contribution to the overall lunar/Mars PNT strategy;
• supporting preparation of future NovaMoon phases and associated programme dossiers.

You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

• Multidisciplinary knowledge of your area of responsibility, including experience in technical cooperation with international partners
• Experience in space systems engineering with a systems orientation and an end‑to‑end view of satellite navigation projects
• Technical knowledge of global navigation satellite systems, with excellent knowledge in satellite navigation system engineering, navigation receivers, navigation performance, and the application of timing and geodesy on PNT systems
• Knowledge of international lunar PNT initiatives and associated standards
• Project management, including ESA and industrial cost and schedule aspects
• Understanding of industrial development, verification and procurement processes within ESA projects
• Knowledge of project risk management processes
• Delivery of complex projects within cost and schedule
• Knowledge of space system development and ESA standards

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

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

A master’s degree in engineering or a related field is required for this post together with 4 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.

• the potential to manage individuals or a team [of experts] [in a project or R&D setting];
• the ability to organise individual and team activities and ensure a motivating work environment;
• strong leadership capabilities, with proven relationship management and communication skills;
• the ability to drive your team’s performance, developing your people by encouraging learning, delegating responsibility and giving regular and constructive feedback;
• strong problem‑solving skills to deal with day‑to‑day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills;
• a strong result orientation with the ability to set priorities and present practical solutions both orally and in writing;
• the ability to manage challenging situations proactively and constructively and to be customer‑focused.

People management experience is an asset, as is international experience, i.e. Outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.

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.

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.

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.