Head of the AI and Data Science Section

Job Requisition ID: 20539

Date Posted: 1 May 2026

Closing Date: 22 May 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication: Internal & External

Type of Appointment: 4 years, extendable to indefinite

Directorate: Technology, Engineering and Quality

Workplace:

Noordwijk, NL

Grade Band: A2 - A4

Location

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

Head of the AI & Data Science Section in the Future Engineering Division, Systems Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

Reporting to the Head of the Future Engineering Division, you will lead ESA’s AI & Data Science section, ensuring coherent, responsible and mission-grade adoption of artificial intelligence across ESA.

We are seeking an experienced AI leader to build and lead ESA’s AI & Data Science Section within the Future Engineering Division. You should combine hands-on technical excellence with strategic leadership Proofs of Concept (PoCs) and Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), and scaling them into secure, operational, mission-grade solutions for ground, flight and corporate applications.

The Section embodies ESA’s AI Centre of Competence and acts as the Agency-wide focal point for artificial intelligence. It defines and maintains AI governance and harmonisation, ensures responsible and high-reliability AI deployment, and coordinates AI activities across all directorates in line with the ESA AI Strategy.

Technology and laboratory activities are carried out in coordination with the Future Engineering Technology Coordinator and the Future Engineering Laboratory Coordinator.

Duties

Within the technical domain defined above, your tasks and responsibilities will include the following:

Manage the AI & Data Science Section

Section Leadership and Resorce Management
- Define and execute (multi-year) and annual activity plans.
- Allocate and prioritise resources in alignment with programme needs.
- Maintain and develop state-of-the-art competencies within the Section.
- Ensure performance management, staff development and mobility.
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive and high-performance working environment.
- Represent the Section in technical boards and senior management reviews.

Expertise, Methods and Technical Contribution
- Ensure effective collaboration within the Section, promoting exchange of experience and lessons learned.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of working methods, tools, and delivery approaches.
- Support independent technical assessment capability and project reviews.
- Represent the Agency in your area(s) of expertise within ESA and with external stakeholders.
- Coordinate dissemination of the Section’s results within and beyond ESA.

AI Acceleration from Prototype to Operations
- Oversee the development of demonstrators, Proofs of Concept and Minimum Viable Products addressing concrete missions and programmes needs.
- Ensure robust transition of validated prototypes into secure, scalable, and maintainable operational solutions for:
  - mission design, MBSE, system engineering;
  - mission operations, automation and autonomy in coordination with OPS;
  - on board AI applications;
  - analytics, science data exploitation, climate data modelling;
  - MAIT, launcher and spacecraft manufacturing;
  - internal efficiency and corporate processes.

Manage Technology Research and Development, AI Laboratory and ESA AI Competence Centre

Technology Research and Development
- Identify emerging AI technologies relevant to space systems.
- Define and implement the Section’s contribution to ESA technology programmes and R&D.
- Contribute to technology harmonisation dossiers and coordinate with relevant expert groups.
- Ensure compliance with ethics, security, and data policies.

AI Laboratory and Digital Infrastructure
- Oversee the AI Laboratory facilities in coordination with the Future Engineering Laboratory Coordinator.
- Define reference AI architectures, MLOps frameworks, validation processes, and data governance.
- Ensure interoperability with ESA digital infrastructure (e.g. ESA Data Factory, HPC, cloud environments).
- Liaise with the Avionics and EEE for on-board AI applications.

Operate the ESA AI Competence Centre
- Operate the AI Competence Centre as a delivery oriented capability enabling ESA-wide AI adoption.
- Maintain and evolve AI Expert Network, ensuring strong coordination with AI teams and points of contact in all directorates.
- Support programmes and projects with senior expert guidance, ensuring AI applications are trustworthy, resilient, and certifiable.
- Maintain and update ESA-wide AI governance by creating guidelines, engineering rules, technical notes, and by supporting ECSS evolution of documents (standards, handbooks, etc).
- Supporting the preparation, consolidation and update of ESA’s AI roadmaps (mission design, operations, data exploitation, agency efficiency).
- Consolidate requirements for AI processing architectures and toolchains for ground and flight.
- Developing AI skills and external partnerships strengthening European AI capabilities.

Measurable Impact Expected
- Reduction of costs and labour-hours through AI-enabled automation.
- Acceleration of engineering and operational workflows.
- Improved mission performance and decision quality.
- Deployment of AI solutions in operational environments.
- Reduction of time from idea to demonstrator.

Technical competencies

Extensive experience in AI, Machine Learning, Data Engineering, Software Engineering, or related domains

Proven ability to transition AI solutions from prototype to operational deployment in high-reliability environments

Experience supporting (ESA) programmes and understanding technical and programmatic constraints

Mastery of modern AI technologies (deep learning, computer vision, NLP/LLMs, reinforcement learning, multimodal architectures, MLOps)

Experience defining and operating AI platforms, model lifecycles, and robust data pipelines

Knowledge of spacecraft systems, mission operations, engineering processes, and/or space data exploitation

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation

Operational Efficiency

Fostering Cooperation

Relationship Management

Continuous Improvement

Forward Thinking

People Management

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education And Professional Experience

A master's degree in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering Mathematics or related field is required for this post together with 10 years of relevant professional experience. A PhD in a relevant domain is an asset

Additional Requirements

Strong hands-on coding capability (Python, ML frameworks, cloud-narrative stacks, MLOps).
Experience in driving R&D activities, as well as knowledge of ESA technology programmes.
Experience with Space Engineering Standards and their preparation and implementation.
Strong track record building and leading high performing AI teams.
Ability to influence at Agency wide and senior management level, including coordination across multiple Directorates.
Experience collaborating with industries, academia, innovation ecosystems, and research centres.
Ability to articulate a coherent AI strategy and translate it into concrete, operational outcomes.
Knowledge of the industrial landscape and ability to define technology development roadmaps identifying future trends in technology requirements.
Experience in ESA procurement processes and contract management as well as applied negotiation skills.
Demonstrated ability to evaluate emerging technologies and guide their adaptation for space use (e.g., onboard AI, edge accelerators, neuromorphic computing).
Understanding of responsible AI, ethical and legal considerations, explainability, and AI assurance.
The ability to organise their activities and ensure a motivating work environment;
Strong leadership capabilities to manage individuals or a team of experts, with proven relationship management and communication skills.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness

ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.

At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at contact.human.resources@esa.int.

Important Information and Disclaimer

In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the master’s degree, the position may be filled at A1 level.

Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.

During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.

Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.

The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.

Nationality and Languages

Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the Member States.

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.

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Head of the AI and Data Science Section