Internal Research Fellow (PostDoc) in Product Assurance / ESA Mission Classification

Our team and mission

You will be assigned as a Product Assurance and Safety (PA&S) Internal Research Fellow in the Quality and PA (Product Assurance) Management Division, Quality Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality at ESA. The Division provides PA&S functional support to ESA projects and technology developments and is responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of product assurance engineering and management programmes. It conducts technological research and development (R&D) in PA management, techniques, methodologies and tools, collaborates in standardisation and training activities, and serves as the focal point for the ESA Mission Classification scheme. As a PA&S Internal Research Fellow, you will provide specific support to the Head of Division on the ESA Mission Classification scheme.

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

Your tasks and responsibilities will be to familiarise yourself with PA processes and disciplines while, at least during the first one or two years, providing specific and extensive support to the Mission Classification activities. You will:

• Become familiar with PA/QA practices, methodologies and disciplines (PA/QA, RAMS (reliability, availability, maintainability and safety), software PA, EEE components, and materials and processes) by shadowing and receiving coaching and tutoring from Senior PA Engineers, in parallel to specific Mission Classification activities.
• Develop your knowledge of ECSS (European Coordination for Space Standards) and your understanding of the ECSS Next Generation (ECSS NG) requirements.

Regarding support for ESA Mission Classification, you will work directly with the Head of Division, and your tasks will include:

• Becoming familiar with the various classes of mission and the criteria used to classify a mission.
• Supporting the yearly/bi-yearly maintenance of the mission classification PA requirements and the associated PA requirements document templates for each class of mission.
• Supporting, when feasible, the adaptation of the ECSS NG to the ESA Mission Classification pre-tailoring activity (for both PA/QA and engineering disciplines) and updating pre-tailoring statistics accordingly.
• Actively contributing to the preparation of presentations and other communication media to promote ESA Mission Classification within the Agency, with ESA Member States and official bodies, and with ESA industrial partners.
• Contributing to the preparation of other strategy/decision papers, reports, information notes, and other reporting media.
• Preparing training materials and providing training within the Agency as well as to industry and other official bodies (ESA delegations, national space agencies, etc.).

Technical competencies

• Knowledge relevant to the field of research
• Research/publication record
• Ability to conduct research autonomously
• Breadth of exposure from past and/or current research/activities
• Ability to gather and share relevant information
• General interest in space and space research

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

You should have recently completed, or be close to completion of, a PhD in a related technical or scientific discipline. Preference will be given to applications submitted by candidates within five years of receiving their PhD. In particular for this position, a PhD in engineering (space engineering in particular) and/or a PA discipline is required.

Additional requirements

In addition to your CV and your motivation letter, please prepare a research proposal of no more than 5 pages. This proposal should be uploaded to the "additional documents" field of the "application information" section.

You should have:

• Strong experience in the technical domains covered by the position.
• Concrete presentation, training, and communication skills.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work in a multi-cultural environment, both independently and as part of a team.

Your motivation, overall professional perspective, and career goals will also be explored during the later stages of the selection process.

Important Information and Disclaimer

Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions 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

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 first be given to internal candidates and secondly 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.

*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.