Senior Scientist - Medical Projects & Exploration Science Support

Telespazio Belgium can count on more than 45 years of experience in the field of Space Operations Service & Engineering activities.

We provide a significant contribution to the most major Space programs of the European Space Agency, EUSPA and other Telespazio Groups. Our core business is to work on the ground to build bridges into space, contributing to the success of ambitious missions.

The European Space Agency is our biggest client and we provide highly qualified employees to many sites of ESA but mainly for ESTEC in the Netherlands, and we provide a permanent contract with great benefits, a good salary, a relocation package along with genuine support to our employees.

Telespazio Belgium has an on‑site service at ESTEC in the Netherlands, and we are looking for a highly skilled Senior Scientist - Medical Projects & Exploration Science Support to work there.

Candidates must be eligible for a security personal clearance from an EU Member State national security administration

What is expected from you:

The Senior Scientist - Medical Projects & Exploration Science Support provides scientific, technical, project management, and coordination support to ESA's Space Medicine Office and Exploration Science Programme. The role supports the advancement of human health and performance in space, contributes to the development and implementation of exploration science activities, and facilitates collaboration across ESA, international partners, academia, and industry.

The position combines expertise in human physiology, space medicine, exploration science, and project management to support the complete lifecycle of scientific and medical projects, from concept development and strategic planning through implementation, operations, scientific utilization, and dissemination of results.

The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting ESA's human exploration activities, including the International Space Station (ISS), future Low Earth Orbit platforms, lunar and Martian exploration missions, analogue research campaigns, and emerging exploration science initiatives.

Space Medicine and Medical Project Management

• Monitor and evaluate terrestrial and space-based clinical, scientific, and technological developments relevant to:
• Human physiology
• Medical surveillance
• Health maintenance
• Disease prevention
• Human performance in extreme environments
• Operational space medicine
• Assess emerging medical technologies and determine their applicability to human spaceflight operations.
• Monitor life sciences research and identify opportunities to translate research findings into operational space medicine capabilities.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of ESA crew health initiatives, strategic objectives, programme proposals, and medical policies.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with:
• ESA Human Life Sciences stakeholders
• International partner agencies
• Academic institutions
• Medical hardware developers
• Industrial partners
• Act as scientific and medical liaison between ESA, investigators, universities, industry, and international partners.
• Support biomedical engineers, flight surgeons, clinicians, and project teams with medical and technical expertise.
• Contribute to the development, implementation, and maintenance of ESA Space Medicine Office information and medical systems.
• Support medical technology assessments and the identification of innovative solutions to enhance astronaut healthcare and operational medical capabilities.
• Support space medicine educational initiatives and collaborate with universities in the development of space medicine curricula.
• Provide support for HRE-AM projects and programmes, including:
• TARZAN programme protocol development
• Medical Projects and Technology Team (MPTT) activities
• NPI, TRP, and GSTP projects
• Spaceship EAC initiatives
• Internal and external collaborative activities

Exploration Science Support

• Support ESA Exploration Science activities across the complete project lifecycle, including:
• Strategic planning
• Scientific studies
• Mission preparation
• Project implementation
• Science operations
• Post-mission scientific exploitation
• Contribute to the development of:
• Science strategies
• Roadmaps
• Science requirements
• Science objectives
• Implementation plans
• Science Management Plans
• Support the preparation and coordination of:
• Announcements of Opportunity (AOs)
• Scientific calls
• Proposal evaluations
• Peer reviews
• Feasibility assessments
• Selection processes
• Support scientific activities across disciplines including:
• Human exploration science
• Biology
• Physical sciences
• Radiation sciences
• Planetary sciences
• Exploration-enabled research
• Assist in the coordination of:
• Science Teams
• Topical Teams
• Expert Working Groups
• Scientific workshops
• Community engagement activities
• Provide scientific and programme support for research activities performed through:
• Ground analogue facilities
• Drop towers
• Parabolic flights
• Sounding rockets
• The International Space Station
• Commercial Low Earth Orbit platforms
• Lunar missions
• Martian missions
• Future deep-space exploration missions

Programme, Project and Administrative Support

• Coordinate and monitor scientific and medical projects and report progress to ESA management.
• Prepare and maintain:
• Technical documentation
• Management reports
• Scientific reports
• Presentations
• Metrics and performance indicators
• Briefing materials
• Compile, analyse, and present project and scientific data.
• Monitor scientific outputs, programme performance, publications, and mission benefits.
• Support publication planning and assist researchers in:
• Data analysis
• Data interpretation
• Manuscript preparation
• Conference presentations
• Maintain project files, records, confidential information, and documentation repositories.
• Track medical and technological developments and proactively advise ESA management on significant changes or opportunities.
• Coordinate communication activities with internal and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to resource identification, partnership development, and collaboration opportunities.

What you offer:

• PhD in Human Life Sciences, Human Physiology, Biomedical Sciences, Space Medicine, Aerospace Medicine, Biology, or a related scientific discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in:
• Human life sciences research
• Human physiology
• Space medicine
• Human spaceflight research
• Exploration science programmes
• Minimum 2 years of experience in project leadership, scientific team coordination, or programme management.
• Strong understanding of:
• Human physiology and human performance
• Operational space medicine
• Scientific project management
• Research programme implementation
• Demonstrated experience in scientific writing, reporting, and presentations.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

What we offer:

• A competitive salary
• 30 days of paid annual leave, plus the days ESTEC is closed including public holidays (~12 days) based on a 40-hour working week;
• Hybrid working scheme (3 days in the office and 2 days remote in the Netherlands)
• Flexible working hours; you are in charge of your own agenda respecting core working hours
• Fully paid collective extensive health insurance scheme;
• A good pension scheme with no personal contribution;
• A career development (Coursera membership + training budget);
• Travel allowance;
• Extensive relocation package

Where:

You will be working within ESTEC, the European Space Agency’s offices in the Netherlands as a contractor for Telespazio Belgium. We don’t expect the employees to be on-site full time however you will still have to relocate to the Netherlands for this position.

Check out the ESTEC site here: esa.int/About_Us/ESTEC

When

Deadline to apply: ASAP

Please note that interviews will be held via Teams.

We look forward to receiving your application for this position!