ESA Graduate Trainee in the Lunar Gateway Baseline, Assembly, Integration, Verification & Validation

Our team and mission

The Lunar Gateway, part of NASA's Artemis program, is a multi-purpose outpost in cis-lunar space supporting long-term human missions and deep space exploration. ESA contributes the HALO Lunar Communication System (HLCS), payloads, and two habitation modules: the International Habitat Module (I-HAB) and the ESPRIT Refuelling Module (ERM).

I-HAB will serve as the Gateway’s second habitable module, providing life-support, crew facilities, research spaces, and multiple docking ports. ERM enables in-orbit refuelling with xenon or bi-propellant, adds stowage, and features six windows for Moon observation. Both modules result from international collaboration with agencies such as JAXA, CSA, and NASA.

Team responsibilities

The Baseline, Verification, Assembly, Integration and Test team is tasked to:

• Maintain the modules requirement baselines.
• Safeguard a timely and complete implementation of all assembly, integration, verification and validation tasks.
• Coordinate human in the loop test campaigns, worksite analysis and human factor integration.
• Ensure that the required tools and models support the operational readiness.
• Define and coordinate the module and integrated verification and validation activities with NASA, JAXA and CSA.
• Oversee and manage the hardware and software exchanges with NASA, JAXA and CSA.
• Organize and implement the launch campaign.

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

This position offers you the opportunity to contribute actively to the development and verification of the ESA modules which will become an integral part of the Lunar Gateway station.

As a member of the Baseline, AIT and Verification Team, you will follow the activities related to human system integration aspects, functional control verification, and related validation and modelling topics. This may include the following tasks:

• Oversee the maintenance and implementation of the Human system integration plan in consultation with prime industry, ESA and NASA experts.
• Support the implementation of the I-HAB Human in the loop verification plan including the definition and planning of activities that are to be executed on the I-HAB physical mock-up models.
• Support the implementation of the I-HAB integration, verification and validation plan.
• Monitor the status of the requirement verification close out and ensure that it is properly implemented and managed in the DOORS (Dynamic Object-Oriented Requirements System) database.
• Safeguard the documented traceability of verification and validation activities in verification control documents demonstrating compliance to Gateway requirements.
• Support the configuration of physical mock-ups, engineering models, tools and simulators that are required to satisfy I-HAB, ERM and Gateway level validation and verification needs.
• Organise Virtual Reality activities in support of the development process.
• Present outcomes and lessons learned to the ESA Lunar Gateway Team.

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 just completed, or be in the final year of your master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or similar engineering fields.

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.

Familiarity with the principles of space system development and verification as well as knowledge of requirement management using DOORS are considered an asset.

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.
• 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.

Nationality and Languages

Eligibility

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).

Languages

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.