ESA Graduate Trainee in OPS-SAT Space Lab

Job Requisition ID: 19245

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
The Astronomy and Fundamental Physics Missions Division (OPS-OA) is responsible for the design, implementation and operations of the mission operations ground segment and the spacecraft operations for Science and selected Space Safety programme missions in the area of operations, typically from start of phase B through in-flight commissioning to routine mission operations until the end of mission.

The GAIA and OPS-SAT Mission Operations Unit in OPS-OA is responsible (amongst others) for the operations the OPS-SAT Space Lab. The OPS-SAT Space Lab is responsible for managing and executing all the in-flight experiments that are carried out on OPS-SAT missions. An OPS-SAT mission is defined as a mission that allocates a certain amount of mission time to OPS-SAT Space Lab organised experiments. There are presently three OPS-SAT missions in development (all launching in 2026) and we are negotiating for access to a flying spacecraft at the moment. The spacecraft are all nanosatellites and comprise powerful, open, reconfigurable laboratories in space. The missions are primarily operated by others but Space Lab often arranges direct access via a RF ground station located on site at ESOC (part of the SMILE infrastructure) or two optical ground stations belonging to ESA. Each mission has a unique theme with OPS-SAT VOLT being optical and quantum communication, OPS-SAT ORIOLE optical communications and Infra-Red Imaging, CyberCube being cyber security and PRETTY being GNSS and software defined radio.

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

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship
The purpose of this activity will be to assist the OPS-SAT Space Lab manager in the implementation of the experiment service for the related OPS-SAT missions. You will be following the development and testing of the OPS-SAT VOLT, OPS-SAT ORIOLE and CyberCube space, ground and payload segment and at the same time assist in the co-ordination, planning and testing of the experiments on these missions. Advising the many experimenters and co-ordinating activities with industry will be key tasks.

You will also contribute to the operations of any OPS-SAT flying missions (e.g. PRETTY) performing mission planning, execution and post analysis etc.

As part of this traineeship programme you will also be introduced to area of mission operations. Depending upon your profile, this may also involve support to projects of other mission operations activities in the Division and Department.

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 or scientific discipline.

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.

Experience of working on a cubesat project, FPGA programming and/or optical communication is desirable

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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