Simulations Officer

Location: ESA/ESOC, Darmstadt (with occasional remote or on-site campaign support at other ESA facilities)

Working hours: full time, 40h/week

Requirement: EU citizenship

Submission deadline:

About LSE Space:

We are an independent provider of space services, covering the entire life cycle of space systems, as the main subsidiary of SSC's Engineering Services. Employing over 190 engineers, we provide services to the international space market, including support for all phases of a space mission or full service, operations, independent consulting and training.

Are you fuelled by a passion for satellite operations and ready to embark on an exciting journey with us to help Earth benefit from space?

If you answered yes to the question, we invite you to seize the opportunity to make a significant impact as a Simulations Officer. In this role you provide integrated technical and operational support for ESA's mission simulation and training services. The role combines responsibility for the design, preparation, execution, and maintenance of mission simulations with the technical management of simulation systems and related infrastructure. The position ensures that simulation campaigns and operational training activities run reliably and contribute directly to mission readiness.

Security:

In line with security requirements for the concerned missions of this position, the candidate has to hold a European citizenship. Evidence of eligibility will be required from candidates as part of the recruitment process. Furthermore, in view of the nature of the work the company is in, all potential employees will undergo stringent reference and identity checks

Requirements

• University degree in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or equivalent technical field.
• Minimum 3–5 years' experience in spacecraft operations, mission simulation, or ground-segment engineering.
• Proven experience with MCS/MDS systems, EGOS-MG, or EGS-CC-based infrastructures.
• Solid understanding of satellite operations concepts, procedures development, and validation testing (SVT/SOV).
• Strong knowledge of simulation frameworks (e.g., SIMSAT, SIMULUS, or comparable).
• Experience with software integration and scripting (Python, bash, or equivalent).
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, configuration control (GitLab), and test automation.
• Excellent analytical and troubleshooting skills in real-time or simulated operational environments.
• Ability to work under time pressure during campaign phases and coordinate with multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Plan, prepare, and conduct simulation campaigns supporting mission validation, readiness reviews, and controller training.
• Develop, maintain, and execute simulation scenarios, including nominal and contingency timelines.
• Configure, test, and maintain simulation systems and associated ground-segment interfaces (MCS, MDS, telemetry simulators, etc.).
• Support software updates and verification of simulation environments; coordinate with ground system engineers on interface changes.
• Produce and maintain simulation documentation: campaign plans, scripts, configuration records, breakpoints, anomaly logs, and reports.
• Participate in anomaly resolution and debriefs, ensuring lessons learned are captured and fed back into operational procedures.
• Manage training sessions involving simulations, providing hands-on instruction to controllers during exercises.
• Monitor and report on simulator availability, performance, and configuration control.
• Ensure compliance with ESA quality and security standards, including data handling and facility access requirements.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of simulation tools, automation frameworks, and training materials.

Benefits

• Thriving Environment: A growing and international environment with diverse backgrounds to learn from, with a lot of social events.
• Work-Life Balance: Take advantage of our relocation support and 30 days of paid vacation.
• Develop yourself: Enjoy permanent employment with diverse opportunities for growth, with our training program and a German language course.
• Well being: Prioritize your well-being with access to our gym program, bike lease program, and company doctor services.
• Supportive Workplace: Experience our open-door policy and ISO 9001-certified workplace, where your voice is valued and your contributions recognized
• Rewards and Incentives: Receive a competitive salary, bonus scheme, deferred compensation scheme and sponsored public transportation tickets.

Our Values:

Customer Passion - Collaboration - Care - Curiosity - Courage

In particular this means we always put our customers' needs at the forefront of everything we do. We aspire to a high level of customer passion. Our policy, as a fair and loyal partner, is to focus on our customers' goals and generate innovative solutions tailored to the project. Collaboration is the key to our success – one for all and all for one. We care for our people and try to make everything happen – for our employees AND our customers. Only with a high employee well-being our success is possible. We are reliable and result-oriented all the way and we always strive to deliver better than expected. This approach is essential for the benefit of both our clients and teams. As a result, we are able to preserve a spirit of trust and fairness between customers, partners and employees.

LSE Space is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Please submit your application and all accompanying documents in English.