Astronaut Support, Eurocom Operations Engineer, based at the European Astronaut Centre, Porz-Wahb (Koln) Germany

Serco is a preferred supplier of staff and services to:

• The European Space Agency
• The European Patent Office
• The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission

Overview:

Serco, a supplier of staff and resources to International Organisations and Governments have provided engineering and business administration staff  to the European Space Agency for over 30 years.

Currently we are seeking to employ a highly motivated and enthusiastic Engineer to work in an exciting innovative international environment. Your task will be to provide Communications between the in-orbit crew and the ground control teams, this being essential to the success of any space mission. To streamline the exchange of information, only one person in a control centre is assigned to interface with the crew in space. Within ESA, the person in charge of communicating with the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) for any Columbus related issue is called “Eurocom”.

The Eurocom Operations Engineer is a member of the Eurocom Team based at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany.  As a member of the Columbus Flight Control Team (FCT) for ISS Operations, the Eurocom carries out his/her operational activities from the Columbus Control Centre (COL-CC) in Oberpfaffenhofen as well as from EAC.

Position:     Engineer, Eurocom Operations

Task:

The specific tasks related to the position are:

1. Communicate as a member of the FCT in COL-CC with the crew on-onboard the International Space Station
2. Prepare upcoming shifts through thorough familiarisation with the current on-board status
3. Review of related Columbus systems and payload procedures
4. Participate in the regular Eurocom Tag-ups as requested by the Eurocom Lead and support Eurocom information sharing and action item tracking
5. Support ISS operation simulations as Eurocom or Crew Surrogate
6. Participate as Eurocom representative in meetings and telecons related to operations preparation and implementation
7. Support Columbus, ESA Payload and ATV Training Dry-Runs as trainee or observer
8. Support the reviewing of operation related documents
9. Support debriefings with astronauts, who are returning from space mission
10. Support Crew Reviews, including the preparation of the related reports
11. Contribute to the summary of “Lesson learnt” after each spaceflight (i.e. provide support to the writing of the crew mission support)
12. Participate in the Eurocom training for his/her Eurocom certification and proficiency maintenance
13. Support the configuration control and update of the web based Eurocom eRoom for online information sharing within the Eurocom group
14. Provide information to update the Eurocom Handbook
15. Support the updating of the Eurocom shift plan for Eurocom assignment to real time operations and simulations
16. When required, perform Eurocom Increment Specific coordination, as Eurocom Lead for an ISS Crew Increment

The Eurocom Operations Engineer reports to:

1. The Head of the Astronaut Division
2. The Flight Director, when on console during Columbus Operations
3. The Eurocom Team Lead outside console shifts and during associated preparatory or debriefing activities

Qualifications:

• A University degree, or equivalent in Aerospace Engineering
• Applicants should have several years of experience in operations, preferably within the manned space programme.
• University degree or equivalent in Aerospace Engineering
• Fluent in English; knowledge of another member state language is an asset
• High level of flexibility
• Good organization skills, good communication skills
• Ability to cope with pressure
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the outside world

Applicants must hold the correct documentation and permits to work in Germany.

Start date:     ASAP 

Duration:     To end of March 2011