System Engineer for Science and Planetary Defence Missions (m/f/d) (Ingenieur/in - Systems Engineering)

Your Tasks

As a System Engineer Predevelopment you will play a key role in shaping the earliest phases of cutting‑edge satellite missions. In this role, you will lead platform‑level system engineering activities during Phase A/B1, orchestrate technical inputs from expert teams and subcontractors, and help define the mission and system architecture. You will contribute to laying the technical, programmatic, and schedule foundations that ensure mission success through the entire development lifecycle. Tasks:

• Support the Lead System Engineer for the Phase A/B1 study.
• Coordinate technical inputs from specialist engineering departments and individual subcontractors.
• Execute trade‑offs and analyses to define the mission and system architecture.
• Lead the parts of the platform and subsystem system design as an architect, including deriving and maintaining requirements from satellite to subsystem level.
• Support Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) activities for the mission.
• Contribute to the assessment of the satellite development approach to ensure the target Technology Readiness Level (TRL) by the end of Phase B1.
• Support the definition of the overall project breakdown structure (Work Breakdown Structure) for phases B2, C/D, and E1 through in‑orbit commissioning.
• Assist in developing the programme plan for the satellite across phases B2, C/D, and E1 up to in‑orbit calibration and validation.
• Support the creation of a project implementation schedule for the platform, aligned with the overall programme planning.
• Analyse and assess potential cost drivers for the platform.
• Support the identification and evaluation of technical and programmatic risks, including cost, schedule, and feasibility drivers.
• Support the definition and implementation of risk mitigation measures for the platform.

Your Qualifications

• Master-level degree in aerospace engineering with a focus on space systems
• Knowledge of science, exploration and space safety space missions
• Competencies in space mission design, satellite systems engineering and spacecraft subsystem design
• High level of flexibility, willingness to work in international teams and ability to keep tight schedules
• High motivation, pro-active working approach and strong sense of responsibility
• Excellent communication, presentation and documentation skills
• Fluency in both spoken and written (business) English Ideal:
• Industry experience in space system engineering
• Knowledge of requirements engineering for subsystems of space systems and preparation of specifications
• Experience in Model Based Systems Engineering
• Fluency in German language