Low LEO Engineer

Job Introduction

Serco is a leading Space Services Provider with thousands of skilled resources that has supported over 50 space missions on behalf of more than 10 Space or Government agencies around the globe, including the ESA and NASA. Serco offers space capability across the full space lifecycle from satellite testing to Launch services, LEOP to spacecraft operations, space surveillance to data management, and supporting downstream application development.

With this in mind, we are seeking a European-based Low LEO engineer who provides system engineering support to ESA for the pre‑operational development of the Secure Connectivity Low‑LEO layer for IRIS², from early mission definition through in‑orbit testing.

Working closely with industry and ESA teams, you would have the opportunity to define and consolidate Low‑LEO mission requirements and system architecture across space, ground and user segments, including communications and security aspects, while ensuring coherence with the overall IRIS² system. You would also contribute to procurement activities by preparing technical and programmatic specifications, performing technical evaluations of industrial proposals, and supporting contract kick‑off and follow‑up. Throughout the development, you would support system‑level trade‑offs, interfaces, verification and validation planning, schedule and risk assessments, and participate in key industrial reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, QR, IOVR and Service Declaration). Close coordination with the European Commission and the industrial consortium is a core part of the role, ensuring aligned developments and successful integration of Low‑LEO services within the IRIS² architecture.

At Serco, we do not only offer a career but also the opportunity to join a community where everyone’s wellbeing matters, by living out the Serco values in all we do!

Main Responsibilities

• Contribute system engineering expertise to ESA’s Secure Connectivity Low LEO pre‑operational development, covering the full lifecycle from early definition activities through qualification and up to in‑orbit testing.
• Define and consolidate Low LEO mission requirements, translating programme objectives into coherent and traceable system requirements and architectures.
• Develop the overall Low LEO system architecture, ensuring consistency across system, segment and subsystem levels.
• Develop and maintain the Ground Segment engineering approach for Low LEO missions, addressing architecture, interfaces, verification strategy, and operational considerations.
• Define and analyze the satellite and constellation architectures for the Low LEO layer, including constellation design aspects, payload concepts and system‑level trade‑offs.
• Define the User Segment architecture and requirements for Low LEO services, ensuring alignment with service objectives and end‑to‑end system performance targets.
• Address security aspects specific to Low LEO, contributing to the definition and assessment of security architectures, interfaces and constraints at system and segment level.
• Define and analyze communication architectures for Low LEO, including space‑to‑ground and inter‑segment aspects, while ensuring overall coherency with the IRIS² multi‑layer system.
• Draft and consolidate technical and programmatic specifications to enable Low LEO procurement activities, ensuring requirements of completeness, clarity and consistency.
• Carry out technical evaluations of industry proposals resulting from Low LEO procurements, contributing to the selection and consolidation of missions and industrial solutions.
• Follow and technically monitor Low LEO developments after contract kick‑off, ensuring coherent evolution of Low LEO solutions with the overall IRIS² system baseline.
• Monitor and contribute to technical reviews related to Low LEO, ensuring that design maturity, risks and compliance are adequately assessed and documented.
• Contribute to coordination activities with the European Commission and the industrial consortium, facilitating alignment between institutional objectives and industrial developments to enable successful service deployment.
• Carry out core system engineering activities for Low LEO, and contribute to the review of industrial milestone reviews for Low LEO
• Assess industrial technical deliverables, prepare structured review comments, take part in review meetings and collocations, and engage in technical discussions with industry to facilitate closure of review items.

Successful Candidate

• Demonstrates a strong systems engineering background applied to Low‑LEO satellite missions and secure connectivity programmes.
• Provides proven experience in defining system requirements, architectures and interfaces across space, ground, and user segments.
• Brings hands‑on Low‑LEO knowledge covering constellation, satellite, ground and user segment engineering.
• Is able to conduct and justify design trade‑offs considering performance, cost, risk and schedule.
• Produces clear verification, validation and qualification strategies, including preparation for in‑orbit validation.
• Supports procurement activities through specification drafting, proposal evaluation and contract kick‑off follow‑up.
• Critically reviews industrial deliverables and contributes effectively to SRR, PDR, CDR, QR and IOVR processes.
• Integrates security‑by‑design constraints into system engineering decisions and works closely with security specialists.
• Maintains system‑level coherence between Low‑LEO developments and the wider IRIS² system‑of‑systems.
• Communicates effectively with institutional stakeholders, industry and programme teams to support informed technical decisions.

Technical

• Work experience in the Space domain will be an asset
• MSc, or equivalent qualification, in a relevant technical or scientific discipline will be an asset
• Need to be EU national and eligible to obtain EU Personal Security Clearance.

Personality

• Effective management of self with track record of involvement in change in complex and demanding environments, interacting with individuals at all levels of the organization
• Methodical and proactive, with initiative and capability to work autonomously
• Problem-solving and creativity-oriented attitude
• ⁠Excellent communication skills, including relationship development and stakeholder management;