Reliability and Safety Support Engineer (RAMS)

Introduction:

For more than half a century, Serco has walked alongside the pioneers of space. Serco has supported over 50 ESA missions where our teams have helped launch satellites, guide spacecraft across the void, and turn data into discoveries that reshape our world.

With thousands of specialists contributing across the entire space lifecycle from satellite testing to launch services, LEOP to operations and surveillance, we’ve become a trusted force in national and European space strategies. And now, the next chapter could include you.

As part of our long-standing partnership with the European Space Agency, we’re seeking RAMS Support Engineers to join our on-site teams at ESA CST in Toulouse.

The Community You’ll Step Into:

Ever wondered what it’s like to work at the heart of Europe’s space navigation programs? At ESA’s Centre Spatial de Toulouse (CST), you’ll join an international team shaping the future of Galileo, EGNOS, and FutureNAV.

The Difference You’ll Make:

You will directly support ESA’s Quality and PA Management Division and the Navigation PA & Safety Office in ensuring the reliability, availability, maintainability, and safety (RAMS) of ESA missions and navigation systems, including Galileo, EGNOS, and future GNSS initiatives.

If you are passionate about contributing to the dependability and safety of Europe’s flagship space missions, we look forward to meeting you!

Your Mission

General RAMS Support:

Imagine being at the heart of every European Space Agency mission, ensuring that satellites launch flawlessly and systems perform with absolute reliability. As part of our team, you’ll provide technical expertise in reliability, availability, maintainability, and safety (RAMS) across all ESA Directorates—making sure every project is dependable and safe, while staying on time and on budget.

What you’ll do:

Architect the Future – Help define RAMS aspects of system design, implementation, and verification.

Launch with Confidence – Support spacecraft safety submissions for satellite launches.

Drive Innovation – Contribute to RAMS-related research and development, shaping tomorrow’s technologies.

Set the Standards – Influence ESA’s dependability and safety policies, requirements, and standards.

Empower Knowledge – Lead training, workshops, and symposia to strengthen technical competence across the Agency and industry.

Share the Vision – Disseminate results and foster knowledge-sharing that keeps ESA at the forefront of space safety.

This is more than a job—it’s a mission. A mission to ensure that every ESA project is not only groundbreaking but also safe, reliable, and ready for the challenges of space.

TEC-Specific RAMS Support:

Step into the Concurrent Design Facility (CDF)—where ESA missions are born. Here, you’ll play a critical role in ensuring reliability and safety from the very first concept.

What you’ll do:

Be the Guardian of Safety – Provide RAMS support during the earliest design phases, influencing decisions that define mission success.

Assess the Unknown – Perform technical risk assessments, identifying and evaluating mission-level risks before they become challenges.

Tell the Story of Risk – Produce clear, impactful reports, activity notes, and presentation slides for CDF final reviews—helping teams make informed choices.

Navigation-Specific RAMS Support:

From Galileo to EGNOS, and the future of navigation technology, your expertise will ensure that these critical systems operate flawlessly.

What you’ll do:

Safeguard Navigation Projects – Deliver RAMS support for Galileo, EGNOS, FutureNAV, and cutting-edge R&D activities.

Be the Voice of Assurance – Review and analyse RAMS documentation during segment reviews and project milestones.

Launch with Confidence – Support spacecraft safety submissions for navigation missions.

Verify and Validate – Drive safety and dependability checks, hazard close-outs, and manage NCRs, RFWs, and critical items.

Shape System Decisions – Contribute to Galileo system-level RAMS analyses and trade-off assessments.

Guide Procurement – Define RAMS requirements for ground segment elements and ensure their implementation throughout the lifecycle.

Advance the Tools – Support the development and evolution of RAMS tools for future missions.

Certify Safety – Assist in EGNOS safety certification and ensure alignment between safety and security requirements.

Learn from Experience – Collect in-service data and perform statistical analysis to improve future systems.

Deliver Excellence – Produce technical notes, reports, and participate in reviews that keep navigation projects on track.

What You'll Bring:

At ESA, we’re looking for a RAMS engineering expert who can turn complexity into confidence. If you thrive on precision, collaboration, and innovation, this is your chance to make an impact on missions that shape the future of space.

What we’re looking for:

Technical Mastery – Strong expertise in RAMS engineering practices, tools, and methodologies.

Risk Leadership – Ability to support technical reviews, risk assessments, and verification processes with foresight and accuracy.

Clear Communicator – Produce high-quality technical documentation (RIDs, TNs, MoMs, risk reports) that drives decisions.

Collaborative Spirit – Excellent communication and teamwork skills to interface across ESA directorates.

Proactive Problem-Solver – Anticipate issues and deliver solutions before they arise.

Your background:

Education – master’s degree in engineering (electrical, mechanical, or systems), ideally in space or aerospace.

Experience – Proven RAMS expertise in at least one domain:

Space (priority)

Aeronautics

Railway

Automotive

Standards & Processes – Familiarity with dependability and safety standards, plus certification schemes like DO-178C, DO-254A, and DO-278A.

Navigation Knowledge – Understanding of Galileo, EGNOS, GNSS concepts and interfaces with certification authorities.

Additional Desired Experience:

Experience supporting CDF studies or space mission feasibility phases.

Experience with ESA PA/Safety processes.

Understanding of ECSS standards and the ESA project lifecycle.

Knowledge of critical item management, hazard analysis, FMEA/FMECA, RBDs, and reliability prediction methods.

Other Requirements:

Eligibility for export-control clearance and, where applicable, Personnel Security Clearance (PSC).

Ability to work on-site at ESTEC (NL) with limited teleworking depending on ESA rules.

Availability for occasional mission travel.

Strong command of English, both written and spoken.

If you are ready to contribute to ESA’s flagship missions through high-impact RAMS engineering, apply now and join us in ensuring dependability and safety for Europe’s space future!

About Serco:

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 likes of ESA, CNES, EUMETSAT, EUSPA, ASI and NASA. We offer space capabilities 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 over 55 years history in the space sector Serco is well placed to contribute to National strategies across Europe and the globe We work within the heart of the space sector so understand the challenges our customers face. When it comes to recruitment we are experts in sourcing the very best talent within space engineering, earth observation, satellite communications and cyber security. We have placed hundreds of people from post graduates through to C-suite executives into space agencies, satellite operators, manufacturers, system integrators, consultancies, earth observation/remote sensing, launch providers and much more.

Full-Time