ESA Graduate Trainee in Space Logistics

Our team and mission

ESA’s Advanced Concepts Team (ACT) monitors, performs, and promotes cutting-edge multidisciplinary research for space. It explores innovative approaches to space-related R&D, including competitions, prizes, and games, as well as research aimed at fostering disruptive innovation. The team develops an expert network within academia and provides rapid first-look analyses of challenges, opportunities, and problems.

The ACT collaborates with universities and research centers, focusing on advanced topics of strategic relevance to the space sector while experimenting with novel teamwork methods. To achieve its objectives, the ACT fosters a dynamic, multidisciplinary research environment where early-career researchers—spanning postdoctoral and postgraduate levels in science and engineering—contribute to the development of emerging technologies and innovative concepts.

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

As an ESA Graduate Trainee, you will primarily focus on the field of space logistics, defined as the study and application of mathematical modelling, optimisation, and statistical analysis to plan and manage the transportation, storage, and distribution of resources through interplanetary trajectories. This work acts as an enabler for exploration, operational, and commercial activities. As space missions across the Solar System become more frequent and cost-effective, space logistics is emerging as a key area of focus. This field integrates established methodologies, such as Integer Linear Programming (ILP) and Reinforcement Learning (RL), with the design of interplanetary trajectory networks.

While you are encouraged to propose your own original projects within this domain, the following areas have been identified as potential topics for innovative research:

• Multi-body rendezvous for efficient asteroid mining, debris removal, or on-orbit servicing.
• Construction strategies for orbiting megastructures.
• Optimisation of transport and navigation systems for the cis-lunar region.
• Reliability studies of large constellations using inter-satellite links.
• Communication network for deep space exploration
• Playing chess with asteroids: optimising asteroid cyclers orbits using algorithms inspired from the game of chess.

As a member of the Advanced Concepts Team (ACT), you will contribute to the development and evaluation of new space technologies and concepts. You will collaborate with experts from diverse fields, including artificial intelligence, computer science, fundamental physics, and mission analysis. Depending on your background and interests, your work may include various initiatives, such as studies conducted under ESA’s Ariadna scheme, and you will help disseminate research findings within ESA and to external audiences.

The following recent publications are an example of possible outcomes of research in this field:

• Bannach, M., Acciarini, G. and Izzo, D., 2024. On the Keplerian TSP and VRP: Benchmarks and Encoding Techniques. In International Astronautical Congress, Milan, 2024.
• Ho, K., 2024. Space Logistics Modeling and Optimisation: Review of the State of the Art. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 61(5), pp.1417-1427.
• Bannach, M., Acciarini, G. and Izzo, D., 2024. Reliability of Constellations with Inter-Satellite Communication. In International Astronautical Congress, Milan, 2024.
• Bannach, M., Blazquez, E., Izzo, D., Acciarini, G., Hadjiivanov, A., Heißel, G., Mastroianni, R., Origer, S., Grover, J., Dold, D. and Rudge, Z., 2024, July. The Space Optimisation Competition. In Proceedings of the Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference Companion (pp. 21-22).

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, computer science or a related subject.

Additional requirements

You should have good interpersonal and communication skills and 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.

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.

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 & security clearance by their national security administrations.

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.