VisionSpace is a dynamic consulting, technology and engineering company delivering solutions and services for the Space and Defence sectors. We work across satellite operations, ground data systems, ground stations, automation, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

Our motto is Space and Beyond is Our Playground. We empower our customers to shape the future of satellite operations by bringing automation and intelligence into operational systems.

About the Role

We are looking for a Mission Planning & Ground Station Systems Engineer to join our team supporting activities at EUMETSAT in Darmstadt, Germany.

The position will support the CGSS project, an established operational project responsible for an application used to generate ground station pass schedules for EUMETSAT missions.

The successful candidate will contribute to the development, maintenance, verification and evolution of the application and will work closely with engineers, operational teams and end users.

This is a great opportunity for a professionals in applying their technical skills to operational satellite ground systems and mission planning.

What You'll Be Doing

Your responsibilities will include:

• Contributing to the development, maintenance and evolution of the CGSS application.
• Developing and maintaining software components, with a particular focus on Python-based development.
• Supporting the development and maintenance of web-based applications and interfaces.
• Analysing software requirements and translating operational needs into technical solutions.
• Performing software Verification & Validation (V&V) activities.
• Preparing and executing functional, integration, regression and acceptance tests.
• Investigating and troubleshooting software anomalies and supporting their resolution.
• Supporting the integration and deployment of software releases.
• Contributing to technical and user documentation.
• Working directly with end users and operational stakeholders to understand requirements, collect feedback and support effective use of the system.
• Contributing to the reliability and maintainability of software used within an operational space environment.
• Working closely with other engineering teams involved in mission planning, ground station systems and satellite operations.

What We Look For

You do not need to fulfil every requirement below. We are looking for candidates who combine several of these skills and are motivated to develop further within the space operations domain.

Technical Experience

Ideally, you will bring experience in several of the following areas:

• Software engineering and the software development lifecycle.
• Python development.
• Development of web-based applications.
• Software Verification & Validation, testing and quality assurance.
• Requirements analysis and software documentation.
• Version control and collaborative development environments, preferably using tools such as Git/GitLab.
• CI/CD, automated testing or software deployment processes.
• Linux-based development or operational environments.

Space Domain Experience

Experience or knowledge in one or more of the following would be highly desirable:

• Satellite or spacecraft operations.
• Mission Planning Systems or scheduling applications.
• Ground segment software and operational systems.
• Ground Station Monitoring and Control systems.
• Ground station scheduling, pass planning or contact planning.
• Integration of mission planning applications with other mission control or ground segment systems.
• Working with operational teams or end users in a mission-critical environment.

Previous experience with EUMETSAT, ESA or comparable European space programmes would be an advantage, but is not mandatory.

Education

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering, or another relevant technical discipline.
• Relevant professional experience in a similar role is a plus.

Personal Skills

We're looking for someone who:

• Has strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Enjoys working directly with technical and operational end users.
• Can communicate effectively with both software engineers and operational stakeholders.
• Takes a structured and reliable approach to development, testing and troubleshooting.
• Can work independently while contributing effectively to a multidisciplinary team.
• Is curious and willing to learn about mission planning and satellite ground operations.
• Has good attention to detail, particularly when working with operational software and verification activities.

• Has English language proficiency at C1 level or above, both written and spoken.

Additional Requirements

• Candidates must have the right to work in the European Union.
• The role is expected to support activities at EUMETSAT in Darmstadt, so candidates should be willing and able to work from Darmstadt according to the operational needs of the service.
• Availability to start as early as possible in 2027, ideally during the first quarter of the year and preferably no later than April 2027.

Ready to join us?

If you are passionate about software engineering and would like to apply your skills to real-world satellite operations, we'd love to hear from you.

Even if you don't tick every box, we encourage you to apply. A strong background in several of the areas above, combined with the willingness to learn, may be exactly what we're looking for.

Apply today!

VisionSpace Technologies is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, colour, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, or any other legally protected status.

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