Infrastructure Systems Engineer (ESTEC)

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. The next chapter could include you.

As part of our long‑standing partnership with the European Space Agency, we’re seeking an Infrastructure Systems Engineer to join us on‑site at ESTEC, ESA’s technical heart in Noordwijk, Netherlands. This is the place where Europe’s missions are born, where engineers, scientists, and innovators gather to turn bold ideas into the spacecraft that will explore our planet, our solar system and beyond.

The Community You’ll Step Into At Serco, you will join the SMITH+ (Science Management IT Hub) team supporting the European Space Agency at ESTEC in Noordwijk. This team delivers the IT backbone behind ESA’s science and engineering activities, working directly with laboratories involved in spacecraft instrument testing, electronics development, and specialised engineering environments.

You will work alongside ESA engineers, scientists, and IT specialists, supporting systems that go beyond standard office IT. The environment combines corporate ESA tools with bespoke and laboratory‑specific solutions, requiring a hands‑on and technically curious approach. Collaboration with the Science Laboratory teams is central to the role, as IT solutions are designed and adapted to meet real operational needs.

The Difference You Will Make As an Infrastructure Systems Engineer, you will ensure the stability, security, and performance of backend IT systems that support ESA’s scientific and engineering work. Your contribution will directly impact how laboratory teams access file services, SharePoint environments, backups, bespoke applications, and secure data transfer platforms. By maintaining robust virtual infrastructure, reliable network configurations, and well‑managed server environments, you will enable engineers and scientists to focus on testing, development, and analysis without disruption. Your work will help bridge the gap between corporate IT standards and the specialised requirements of laboratory operations.

Your Mission In this role, you will be the silent engine behind European Space Agency’s digital infrastructure. You will design and manage virtual datacentres using vCloud Director, building vApps, virtual networks, and resource architectures. You will create secure, efficient network pathways, ensuring precise data flow across protocols such as TCP/IP, HTTPS, DNS, FTP/SFTP, and SSH. You will administer Windows Server environments, optimising performance, enforcing security, and maintaining core services including DNS, DHCP, and file systems. You will also build and support specialised workstations, integrating hardware and software systems that enable scientific and engineering innovation.

What You Bring Your hold a Bachelor degree. Linux will not just be a platform to you, but an environment you navigate with confidence, whether in RHEL or Ubuntu. You will manage packages, refine configurations, and work the command line with accuracy and control. Active Directory will be another domain you command. You will understand how identities, groups, policies, and trust relationships sustain an organisation’s operations, and you will maintain that stability. When systems fail, from unstable services to cross‑system anomalies, you will diagnose the root cause and restore alignment. You will bring DevOps awareness, applying automation and modern tooling to build systems that are repeatable, reliable, and efficient. Containers will be a practical instrument in your workflow, with Docker enabling you to package, deploy, and manage applications cleanly. You will also need to meet a fundamental requirement of this mission‑driven environment: you are an EU national, prepared to contribute your expertise at the frontier of European space operations.

What We Offer: More than just a job At Serco, we believe that a career should come with more than just a paycheck, it should provide support, security, and a sense of balance in your life. Your salary will be paid promptly on Fridays before the 28th of each month, giving you peace of mind about your finances. To recognize your dedication over the year, you’ll also receive a Holiday Bonus, calculated as 8% of your basic gross salary, adding an extra boost when you need it most.

We support your daily life and commute in practical ways. If you travel to work, you can claim a travel allowance of €0.21 per kilometre for up to 150 km, or you can have your public transport fully reimbursed. For those working from home, there’s a small daily allowance of €2 to cover extra costs, and new employees can be reimbursed up to €500 for a desk or chair to make their home workspace comfortable.

When your work takes you on missions or travel, all business‑related expenses are fully covered, and for peace of mind during tax season, our appointed advisor will assist you in completing your income tax forms. If you enjoy cycling, our bicycle scheme allows you to benefit from a tax‑efficient allowance of up to €749, one year of full insurance with an additional €89 per year for accessories.

Serco also cares about your long‑term security. All employees are covered under a collective life insurance scheme, and our health insurance partnership with Zilverenkruis Achmea offers discounts of 5% on basic coverage and up to 10% on additional plans. Our company pension scheme, managed via Nationale Nederlanden, follows the Dutch State Pension framework, ensuring you can plan confidently for the future.

In addition, in emergency situations, you may request an advance salary payment of up to one month’s net salary at the discretion of your line manager. To support your wellbeing and daily work, we offer up to €250 reimbursement for work glasses to reduce blue light strain and provide access to Benefits & Work, offering multiple discounts for online shopping. For lifelong learning, all employees receive a 35% discount on programs at Webster University.

At Serco, our benefits are designed to make your life easier, healthier, and more flexible, so you can focus on contributing to groundbreaking space missions while feeling supported every step of the way.

Relocation The Netherlands' central location in Europe makes it an ideal base for travel and business within the EU. Major cities are well‑connected by road, rail, and air with Amsterdam Schiphol Airport one of Europe's busiest and most well‑connected airports, facilitating easy international travel.

Serco offers relocation support for all EU passport holders that are planning to relocate to the Netherlands and work for Serco B.V.

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