Clean Space Engineer

Are you looking for a new opportunity to take your career to a higher orbit?

To join an international group with a successful track record in Space Engineering? A job adapted to your career ambitions and in which you could have an impact for the years to come?

We are looking for a Clean Space Engineer to work at ESA’s premises in Darmstadt, Germany.

As a member of the Clean Space Engineering Services, you will contribute to cutting-edge projects and R&D initiatives focused on eco-design, green technologies, and space debris mitigation, including Zero Debris compliant systems. In this role, you will help ESA drive innovation, sustainability, and responsibility in space exploration, making a tangible impact on the safety and sustainability of Earth’s orbit.

About the client and location

The European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) is the European Space Agency’s (ESA) base in Darmstadt, Germany. As the main control centre for ESA, ESOC controls the launch and early orbit phases for their missions. They are also accepted globally for their research into ground system engineering, satellite navigation, space debris studies and more.

Tasks and activities

You will play a key role in shaping the future of sustainable space exploration by:

• Drive Mission Sustainability: provide systems engineering support across all mission phases to integrate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), EcoDesign, and Space Debris Mitigation principles. Capture lessons learned, help create new standards and guidelines, and develop innovative design tools that make missions cleaner and safer.
• Shape Future Technologies: develop and coordinate technology roadmaps for Green Technologies, Space Debris Mitigation solutions, and In-Orbit Servicing, leading to their development and demonstration.
• Contribute to New Mission Concepts: support the definition and study of new Active Debris Removal (ADR) and In-Orbit Servicing (IOS) mission concepts. Contribute to S2P ADRIOS projects in close collaboration with the Space Safety Team, Clean Space Office, and ADRIOS Project Management.
• System Engineering Expertise: provide system engineering expertise to IOS projects across ESA in areas such as rendezvous and capture systems, small satellite platforms, schedule and cost control, risk management, and technical review organisation.

Skills and experience

The following skills and experience are mandatory:

• Educational Background: Master’s degree in astronomy, physics, engineering, or mathematics
• Hands-On Space Experience: at least 2 years of experience in spacecraft systems engineering, ideally in early design phases (0/A/B/C).
• Space Sustainability Knowledge: practical understanding of space debris mitigation, including risk assessment, safe disposal methods, and break-up analysis.
• Systems Engineering Skills: strong skills in requirements definition, architecture design, and traceability, with the ability to tackle complex technical challenges.
• Project Coordination Experience: coordinating with internal and external teams, including other service providers and customers (of the Clean Space Office).
• Presentation & Communication: interest to supporting training sessions, presenting ESA’s clean space achievements at international conferences, and contributing to public relations and outreach activities.
• Media & Event Support: willingness to provide technical input for media interviews on space sustainability and assist in organizing conferences, webinars, workshops, and stakeholder meetings with agencies, industry, operators, and regulators.
• Languages: fluent in English, both written and spoken.

The following skills and experience would be highly desirable:

• ESA Project Management Familiarity: experience or familiarity with ESA’s project management processes, review cycles, and timelines, ensuring smooth coordination and compliance.
• Clean Space Office Knowledge: familiarity with the tasks and operations of the ESA Clean Space Office.
• ESA R&D & Technology Programmes: understanding of ESA research, development, and technology programmes, including how they are structured and operate across different Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs).
• Stakeholder & Interface Management: experience managing external interfaces and stakeholder interactions, ensuring smooth collaboration with agencies, industry partners, and other key contributors.

Why should you apply?

You will have the opportunity to work within leading space organisations across Europe.

We encourage everyone to think outside the box and to push the boundaries of traditional knowledge. This role is an opportunity to join a forward-thinking company and allows for a deeper understanding of the industry.

To be part of a company that values integrity, inspiration, care and collaboration. Benefits include: competitive remuneration packages; unique career opportunities, including working in other countries; access to training and development programmes; flexible relocation support.

We welcome applications from people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, all genders, LGBTQ+ individuals and ex-service personnel.

About Starion

Starion is one of two new legal entities rebranded from the RHEA Group, focused on space consultancy and space engineering services and solutions. Starion provides engineering expertise and solutions for space, defence and other critical infrastructures across Europe, pushing the boundaries of innovation. Our teams work on world-leading space projects that deliver the pioneering missions that provide us with the information and technologies we use today. Starion offers over three decades of expertise in professional engineering services, developing and operating systems and solutions tailored to our clients’ needs. By combining space and system engineering with established and emerging technologies, such as AI and quantum, we produce innovative solutions that make a fundamental difference for our clients and for society.

Starion employees are located across Europe, close to our clients’ offices, enabling us to be responsive and agile. Our engineers and researchers are among the most trusted and respected in the industry, helping build space-based solutions that address major challenges on Earth such as civil security, climate change and deforestation.