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Young Graduate Trainee for Power Management and Distribution

Posted 24 Mar 2024
Work experience
0 to 2 years
Full-time / part-time
Full-time
Job function
Degree level
Required languages
English (Fluent)
Dutch (Fluent)

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EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY

Young Graduate Traineeship Opportunity in the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. Applications from women are encouraged.

Post

Young Graduate Trainee for Power Management and Distribution

This post is classified F1.

Location

ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

Our team and mission

a. Power systems

Among ESA spacecraft, different varieties of power systems building-blocks and architectures driven by current mission constraints and technology trends have been and are being applied. Each of these systems is designed to accommodate particular needs from the viewpoint of mission orbits and on-board power loads (high, medium or low power, pulsed power, solar electric propulsion etc) and are using different types of topologies (direct energy transfer, Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), etc.).

b. Power conversion and distribution

Power conversion is at the heart of space power electronics and has a high impact on overall satellite system performance levels, functionality and reliability.

On a satellite, typically DC to DC conversion is achieved by converters, with or without galvanic insulation.

New and very promising power switches based on wide band gap semiconductors are appearing on the commercial market and are soon likely to be available for space applications, to enable higher switching frequencies and/or higher efficiencies.

On secondary power conversion, very promising concepts of point-of-load converters are appearing that are likely to change dramatically the way regulated voltages are produced in each single electrical unit on our spacecraft.

Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity

1. The proposed training project may consist in one of the following tasks:

  • MPPT (Maximum Power Point Trackers) control cell development and optimisation, with integration on existing solar array converter stage;
  • Study of advanced techniques to get similar or better power bus quality (impedance, dynamic behaviour) than the state of the art and at the same time higher power system efficiency, by using AC amplifiers and slow but efficient DC/DC conversion;
  • System-level analysis and modelling of different power system architectures;
  • Trade-off different power system architectures for specific missions.

All activities above entail relevant breadboard realisation and testing in our lab.

2. The proposed training project may consist in one of the following tasks:

  • Advanced power conversion stage based on SiC power devices;
  • Advanced power conversion stage based on GaN power devices;
  • Power conversion control concepts based on digital control
  • Characterisation and system-level evaluation of a power conversion and distribution scheme based on point-of-load converters;
  • Development of a point-of-load converter based on new European components;
  • Development of a current limited overload protection (latching current limiter) based on new European components.

All activities above entail relevant breadboard development and testing in our lab.

For analyses, various advanced model and simulation tools are available (ORCAD Cadence PSPICE, PSIM, Matlab, Mathcad, EcosimPro. etc).

For breadboard and tests, relevant electrical/electronic components, tools and instrumentation are available in the labs (solar array simulators, power and signal generators, scopes, sensors, active/passive loads, network analyser, impedance test bridges, etc.).

Technical competencies

Knowledge of relevant technical domains

Relevant experience gained during internships/project work

Breadth of exposure coming from past and/or current research/activities

Knowledge of ESA and its programmes/projects

Behavioural competencies

Self Motivation

Communication

Continuous Learning

Cross-Cultural Sensitivity

Teamwork

Education

You should have just completed, or be in the final year of a university course at Master's level (or equivalent) in a relevant technical or scientific discipline.

Additional requirements

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. 

You should demonstrate good interpersonal skills and the capacity to work both independently and as part of a team.  

During the interview your motivation and overall professional perspective/career goals will also be explored.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

Aerospace & Defence
Noordwijk
4,000 employees