{"id":2211818,"url":"https://alion.io/job/serco-science-data-quality-and-operations-scientist","title":"Science Data Quality and Operations Scientist","company":{"id":1779743,"name":"Serco","domain":"serco.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/serco-com","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"SuccessFactors","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":100,"open_postings":7,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":16,"computed_at":"2026-10-15T05:46:00Z"}},"role":"Data Science","role_family":"Data Science","seniority":null,"employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Madrid, Spain"],"countries":["ES"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":39000,"max_usd":87000,"period":"year","method":"role_country_seniority_unknown","sample_n":29},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Linux","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"Agile","optional":true},{"name":"Astropy","optional":true},{"name":"Confluence","optional":true},{"name":"Jira","optional":true},{"name":"Matplotlib","optional":true},{"name":"NumPy","optional":true},{"name":"Pandas","optional":true},{"name":"SciPy","optional":true},{"name":"SQL","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-13T02:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-13","last_verified_at":"2026-10-15T22:55:41Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":32,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":32},"description":"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.\nWith 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.\nWe are looking for a highly motivated Science Data Quality and Operations Scientist to join a multidisciplinary team supporting ESA scientific missions in the fields of Astronomy, Planetary Science and Heliophysics.\nThe successful candidate will be responsible for monitoring, analysing and assessing the quality of scientific data products generated and distributed by Science Operations Centres (SOC). The role involves the verification of scientific processing chains, validation of incoming and outgoing products, investigation of anomalies and support to scientific operations activities throughout the mission lifecycle.\nFor missions under development, the scientist will contribute to the definition of operational concepts, quality control procedures, calibration and validation strategies. The role also includes supporting the verification and acceptance of scientific processing pipelines and products delivered by external instrument teams and scientific consortia.\nFor operational missions, the scientist will support routine scientific operations by monitoring data flows, analysing scientific data products, investigating anomalies and ensuring that mission products meet the required scientific quality standards before dissemination to the scientific community.\nThe scientist will work closely with scientists, instrument teams, scientific consortia, software engineers and mission operations teams to ensure the integrity, consistency and scientific quality of mission products.\nMain Responsibilities\nMonitor and assess the quality of scientific data products and processing chains.\nVerify the integrity, consistency and completeness of incoming and outgoing mission products.\nAnalyse scientific telemetry, auxiliary data and processing outputs to identify anomalies, inconsistencies or data corruption.\nSupport calibration, validation, verification and commissioning activities.\nPerform data quality assessments using Quick Look Analysis (QLA) and similar monitoring tools.\nInvestigate anomalies and coordinate corrective actions with instrument teams, software engineers and operations teams.\nContribute to the definition and continuous improvement of quality control procedures, monitoring tools and operational practices.\nProduce quality assessment reports and operational documentation.\nParticipate in scientific reviews, validation campaigns and mission support activities.\nLiaise with external scientific stakeholders, instrument teams and scientific consortia.\nRequired Skills and Experience\nEssential\nDegree in Physics, Astronomy, Space Science, Engineering or a related scientific discipline.\nExperience in scientific data analysis and interpretation.\nUnderstanding of scientific data processing workflows and product validation activities.\nExperience with Python and scientific data analysis libraries.\nExperience working in Linux environments.\nAbility to analyse complex scientific datasets and identify anomalies.\nFamiliarity with scientific visualisation and Quick Look Analysis concepts.\nUnderstanding of instrument calibration principles and scientific product quality assessment.\nStrong analytical and problem-solving skills.\nAbility to work effectively with scientists, engineers and operational teams in an international environment.\nGood written and spoken English communication skills.\nAbility to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders.\nDesirable\nPrevious experience with Science Operations Centres or scientific ground segment activities.\nExperience supporting astronomy, planetary science, heliophysics or Earth observation missions.\nExperience with commissioning, calibration or validation campaigns.\nKnowledge of FITS, PDS, CDF, NetCDF or similar scientific data formats.\nExperience with Python scientific ecosystems (NumPy, SciPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, Astropy).\nKnowledge of scientific archives and data dissemination systems.\nExperience with SQL, scripting and software quality verification activities.\nFamiliarity with Agile methodologies and collaborative engineering tools such as Jira and Confluence.\nWhat We Offer\nThe position offers the opportunity to work within a challenging and highly collaborative environment supporting multiple ESA scientific missions.\nThe successful candidate will contribute directly to the quality, reliability and scientific exploitation of mission data products, supporting missions from development and commissioning phases through routine scientific operations.\nThe role provides exposure to a broad range of scientific disciplines, instruments, processing systems and international collaborations, while offering the opportunity to contribute to the evolution of science operations practices 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