With the continuing deployment of Meteosat Third Generation, Metop Second Generation and Copernicus/Sentinel-3 satellites in 2026, and subsequent launches of Copernicus/CO2M and EPS-Sterna satellites, this fleet will incorporate next-generation Earth observation technologies and comprise over twenty operational satellites by 2030. Further launches are foreseen in the next decade for Meteosat and Metop, and for potential new satellite systems currently under assessment.

Within the Flight Operations (FLO) Division and reporting to the Mission Control Systems Manager, the Mission Control Systems Operations Engineer conducts operations of mission control systems for EUMETSAT and EUMETSAT-operated Copernicus satellite systems, coordinates system-wide activities related to the mission control systems for satellite monitoring and control, and supports the operations preparations of mission control systems for new satellite systems.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead the Copernicus mission control operations team responsible for the coordination of monitoring and control operations and maintenance activities across EUMETSAT and EUMETSAT-operated Copernicus satellite systems;
• Conduct operations of mission control systems across EUMETSAT and EUMETSAT-operated Copernicus satellite systems, including:
  • planning, scheduling and coordinating routine and special operations;
  • anomaly investigation and resolution of contingencies, including provision of on-call support;
  • configuration control and change management;
• Maintain operations procedures, system databases and other operations products for operational mission control systems for satellite systems;
• Manage system elements supporting monitoring and control of satellite systems (e.g. tools for procedure development and execution, database maintenance, data analysis, etc.);
• Perform evaluation and trend analysis to monitor the performance and behaviour of operational mission control systems;
• Assist in the management of interfaces with external operational entities supporting, monitoring and controlling of satellite systems (e.g. ESA/ESOC, S-band ground station network providers, etc.);
• Support the definition, design, development and testing of evolutions for existing mission control systems;
• Participate in and, where appropriate, lead mission control systems operations preparation activities for the launch, commissioning and routine operations of recurrent spacecraft;
• Support the definition, development and verification of mission control systems of future EUMETSAT and Copernicus satellite systems (e.g. based on SCOS, EGOS-CC, etc.);
• Assist in the provision of training for operations team personnel.

Requirements

Qualifications:

University degree or equivalent working experience in a relevant engineering discipline.

Skills and Experience:

As successful candidate you will bring the following:

• Demonstrated professional experience in operations and operations preparation of operational satellite systems, preferably for Earth-observation;
• Minimum five years of experience in the development, maintenance and/or operations of mission control systems;
• Practical experience in formal integration, verification and validation testing of mission control systems;
• Ability to plan and implement activities, prioritising according to constraints, inter-dependencies and opportunities;
• Ability to coordinate and manage multi-cultural teams of internal staff and external engineering support services.
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate ideas and issues clearly and concisely with others.

Languages:

• Candidates must be able to work effectively in English.

What we offer

• Excellent salary, of up to Euro 8,000 NET (after income tax) based on skills and experience
• Flexible working time including additional flexi-leave
• Full medical coverage for employee and family
• Attractive pension
• 30 days of annual leave + 14.5 days public holidays
• Training and development support
• Relocation allowance and support (if applicable)

EUMETSAT operates a diverse fleet of twelve Earth observation satellites in Low Earth and geostationary orbits for its own purpose and on behalf of the EU Copernicus programme, including Meteosat Second and Third Generation, Metop First and Second generation, Copernicus/Sentinel-3 and Copernicus/Sentinel-6 satellites.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN ENGLISH. WE WILL BE UNABLE TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED IN OTHER LANGUAGES.

EUMETSAT is an international organisation employing staff from across all 30 member states and this role is being advertised on multiple international job boards, but please note that this role would be based in Darmstadt, Germany and would require international applicants to relocate if successful.

More about us

EUMETSAT’s role is to establish and operate meteorological satellites to monitor the weather and climate from space - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This information is supplied to the National Meteorological Services of the organisation's Member and Cooperating States in Europe, as well as other users worldwide.

EUMETSAT also operates several Copernicus missions on behalf of the European Union and provide data services to the Copernicus marine and atmospheric services and their users.

As an intergovernmental European Organisation, EUMETSAT can recruit nationals only from the 30 Member States (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom).