HE Space Operations is a growing international space company. For over 20 years we have provided our customers with consultancy services in Engineering and Business Administration. We open the door to working directly on-site with our principal customers in the space sector who rank amongst the top 25 engineering employers in Europe: EADS and the European Space Agency.

Do you want to be part of the space future? If so, we are looking for a Astronaut Support For the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne.

Activities

Communications between the in-orbit crew and the ground control teams are essential to the success of any space mission. In order 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, which is based at the 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 the EAC.

The Eurocom Operations Engineer reports to:

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

The specific tasks related to this position are:

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

Skills & Experience:

• Applicants should have several years’ experience in operations, preferably within the human spaceflight programme.
• University degree or equivalent in Aerospace Engineering
• 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
• Fluency in English is mandatory and a working knowledge of German would be an advantage

Starting date: 1 May 2009 or as soon as possible thereafter

An exciting international working environment in a highly innovative team awaits you. You will benefit from focused training and personal development bundled with a competitive salary.

Please note: Due to work permit restrictions for this position, please apply only if you are citizen of a European Union state or if you already hold a work permit for Germany.