ESA Graduate Trainee in System Analysis of In-Flight Data

Our team and mission

The satellite project department in the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications runs various active projects to promote high performance telecommunication satellites in geostationary Orbit, in low earth Orbit and in Lunar Orbit. This multidisciplinary team works on various satellite platforms and on multiple types of telecommunication payloads covering bent-pipe payloads, software defined payloads, quantum key distribution payloads and optical telecommunication payloads. The team works closely with technical experts of all fields and with the operations teams.

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

You will study the data collected in-orbit during operations of state-of-the-art telecommunication satellites to evaluate their in-flight performance, identify trends and characterize the robustness of the original design. Working in close collaboration with mission leaders, technical experts and the team collecting the operational data, you will set-up the scope of the study, identifying key performance indicators and the associated telemetries. The final objective of the study will be to generate a synthesis of the available data, leveraging data analysis and artificial intelligence tools to identify areas of optimization for future designs, and to prepare an efficient operational process to evaluate similar future data sets.

Technical competencies

• Knowledge of relevant technical/functional domains
• Relevant experience gained during internships, project work and/or extracurricular or other activities
• General knowledge of the space sector and relevant activities
• Knowledge of ESA and its programmes/projects

Behavioural competencies

• Result Orientation
• Operational Efficiency
• Fostering Cooperation
• Relationship Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Forward Thinking

Education

You should have recently completed, or be in the final year of your master’s degree in Aerospace engineering or data engineering.

Additional requirements

You should have good interpersonal and communication skills and should be able to work in a multicultural environment, both independently and as part of a team. Previous experience of working in international teams can be considered an asset. Your motivation, overall professional perspective and career goals will also be explored during the later stages of the selection process.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.

At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at contact.human.resources@esa.int.

Important Information and Disclaimer
Applicants must be eligible to access technology and hardware which is subject to European and US export control regulations.

During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.

The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.

Nationality and Languages
Please note that applications can only be considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).

According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States. When short-listing for an interview, priority will be given to external candidates from under-represented Member States.

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.