ESA Graduate Trainee in Next Generation Ground Station Graphical UI and Dashboards

Job Requisition ID: 19252

Date Posted: 1 February 2025

Application Deadline: 28 February 2025 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication: External Only

Type of Contract: ESA Graduate Trainee

Directorate: Operations

Workplace: Darmstadt, DE

Grade Band: F1 - F1

Location
ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany

Our team and mission
Our team is designing and implementing space communication architectures and technologies for radiofrequency and optical space communication. We build ground stations, hardware and software required for communicating with spacecrafts in Earth orbits, around Moon and at interplanetary distances. Each ground station is composed of a variety of complex hardware and software systems, which are monitored and controlled locally, or remotely from the Operations Control Centre located in ESOC, Darmstadt.

Our group is in charge of developing, deploying and maintaining software applications for the ground stations of the ESA Tracking Network. That encompasses the domain of monitoring and control, data communication as well as planning and scheduling. In this context one recurring task is the development of graphical user interfaces for the various systems deployed at ground stations of the ESA Tracking Network and at the European Space Operations Center.

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

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship
We provide Graphical User Interfaces to our operators and software support to facilitate seamless remote access to systems located in ground stations all over the world.

To harmonize look and feel and to finally lower costs for development, deployment and operations, a generative approach has been implemented for the development of Graphical User Interfaces common to most ground station systems. Right now, our group is embarking on the next, web-based generation of Graphical User Interfaces. Our approach is to generate compelling User Interfaces out of so-called Management Information Bases, provided by the ground stations sub-systems. The generated User Interface typically covers 90-100% of the required functionality. Well defined extension point cover eventual needs to contribute displays designed specifically for a ground station sub-system.

As an ESA Graduate Trainee, you will directly contribute to the activity by supporting the following tasks:

• Familiarization with the ESA Management Information Base concept for ground station sub-systems;
• Familiarization with the selected web-framework and code generator technology;
• Implementation of the next generation Graphical User Interfaces (most likely using REACT) for ground station systems;
• Testing, potentially including automated Graphical User Interface tests;
• Work on the integration of our Generic Subsystem Controller (GSSC) framework with Time Series database;
• Integrate Grafana dashboards into the GSSC environment, explore using Grafana dashboards/functionalities for active control (as opposed to monitoring only).

By supporting the activity, you will get first-hand experience in the way ESA is doing software development. You will acquire or deepen know-how of modern web-technologies realizing modern user interfaces. Moreover, you will get practical insight into system architectures separating an application into application layers like user interface and M&C interface, business logic and, if applicable, a persistency layer.

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

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education
You should have just completed, or be in the final year of your master’ s degree in a technical study programme related to software engineering, computer science or network 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 [email protected].

Important Information and Disclaimer
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.

*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.

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