Project Lead – Earth Observation Platforms for Security

As Project Lead, you will guide the delivery of Earth Observation platform capabilities for security, defense and resilience applications, with a strong focus on European programs such as the European Resilience from Space program and its ground segment.

You will translate needs from Belgian, European and NATO security stakeholders into secure, scalable and operational platform services. Working with researchers, IT architects and software engineers, you will lead projects from proposal to delivery, coordinate partners and help shape a roadmap for dual-use Earth Observation services that support rapid access to reliable data, analytics and decision-ready information.

You will join a driven team at the intersection of Earth Observation, digital platform technology and security policy. Together, we develop cutting-edge dual-use services that strengthen situational awareness, crisis response, infrastructure protection and operational readiness, while continuing to serve our civil user communities.

The Environmental Intelligence unit of VITO processes petabytes of Earth Observation data and turns imagery into actionable insights for customers worldwide. We are expanding our contribution to European security and resilience, including ground segment services that connect satellite data, processing workflows, secure access, analytics and user-facing applications.

Key Responsibilities

Innovation and Strategy

• Co-define the technical innovation strategy for Earth Observation platforms supporting security, defense and resilience, including the ground segment of the European Resilience from Space program.

• Identify opportunities to integrate Copernicus, commercial, governmental and VHR data sources into secure, operational workflows for situational awareness and intelligence use cases.

European Program Development and Consortium Management

• Lead the preparation and coordination of project proposals for ESA, Horizon Europe, the European Defense Fund and related security, defense and resilience programs.

• Build, coordinate, and manage international consortia comprising research institutions, industry partners, and public sector organizations across multiple European countries.

• Negotiate consortium agreements, define work package structures, and allocate resources and responsibilities among partners, taking into account security classification and export control requirements where applicable.

• Maintain and expand strategic partnerships with European and Belgian research institutions, space agencies, defense organizations, and Earth Observation industry partners to strengthen consortium positions.

• Engage with Belgian Defense, ESA, the European Commission, the EU Satellite Centre and NATO-related innovation bodies to position VITO's capabilities in emerging governmental Earth Observation services.

Project Management and Coordination

• Lead the end-to-end implementation of technical solutions, ensuring timely delivery and optimal resource allocation across multiple concurrent projects, including projects involving controlled or sensitive information.

• Coordinate project activities with European Space Agency technical officers, Horizon Europe and European Defense Fund project officers, NATO DIANA program staff, and consortium partners.

• Manage project budgets, ensuring compliance with European Space Agency, European Commission and European Defense Fund financial regulations, as well as applicable security and export control reporting requirements.

• Prepare and deliver project reviews, progress reports, and technical documentation according to program requirements, including documentation handled under controlled or classified information procedures where relevant.

• Serve as the main point of contact between technical teams, management, and external partners, including defense and governmental stakeholders, ensuring transparent and effective communication within applicable confidentiality constraints.

Operations and Quality

• Oversee and coordinate daily operational activities to maintain and enhance the service quality and resilience of Earth Observation platforms, including those supporting security and defense operations.

• Track key performance indicators to evaluate service quality and operational efficiency, initiating improvements as needed.

• Identify potential risks, including operational, technical and security-related risks, and develop mitigation strategies to ensure project stability, continuity and resilience.

• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and security awareness, encouraging innovation and the adoption of best practices across all technical and operational ar