Intern in the Deep Space & External Services Section, Mission Operations Department

Job Requisition ID: 18953

Application Deadline: 12 January 2025 23:59 CET/CEST

Establishment: ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany

Directorate: Directorate of Operations

Publication: External Only

Type of Contract: Intern

Date Posted: 19 December 2024

Internship Opportunity in the Directorate of Operations.

Location
Darmstadt
Our team and mission
This position is based at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) - Darmstadt, Germany

Under the direct authority of the Head of the Mission Operations Department, the Head of the Ground Facilities Operations Division manages, operates and maintains the Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TT&C) stations of the ESA tracking station network ( ESTRACK) , ensures its integrity, and interfaces with other operational entities for the provision of non- ESA TT&C station support. The Head of Division specifies the user requirements for all ground facilities in support of missions and validates all related equipment before operational use. The Head of Division is responsible for the management, operation and maintenance of the Operations Control Centre facilities at ESOC, and for providing station and network support to other agencies and external customers as required. The Head of Division is also responsible for the operational communications and computer systems as well as the local health/safety and security at all the grounds stations of the ESTRACK network.

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

Behavioural competencies
Field(s) of activity for the internship
You can choose between the following topics:

1) Topic 1:
In the context of the ESA Special Mission Infrastructure Lab Environment (https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/Want_to_SMILE) the backend of an amateur station should be migrated to an amateur station located in Kiruna Sweden in a performance oriented way.

The existing backend should be enhanced and adapted from a station located in ESOC to an amateur station located in Kiruna Sweden. The existing interfaces to a schedular and the monitoring and control interface shall be adapted to operate the Reindeer station in Kiruna.

2) Topic 2:
In the context of the ESA Special Mission Infrastructure Lab Environment (https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/Want_to_SMILE) it shall be investigated if it is possible to add VHF to ESOC-2 SMILE station.

The existing ESOC-2 station shall be extended to VHF. The internship shall define all steps that need to be performed to add VHF support. At the end the cost as well as the manpower and activities required to perform this upgrade shall be presented as well as possible Cubesats that could be supported in addition by SMILE.

3) Topic 3:
In the context of the ESA Special Mission Infrastructure Lab Environment (https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/Want_to_SMILE) GNU radio flowgraphs for UHF Satellite uplink and encoding should be developed in a performance oriented way. The flowgraphs should be configurable for various missions and provide data interfaces to the users.

Furthermore the performance and possible improvements should be investigated. This should be an enhancement to an internship held in 2024 for UHF reception and decoding.

Education
You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a university course at Master’s level and you need to remain enrolled at your University for the entire duration of the internship.

Additional requirements
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.

Knowledge of Python

Knowledge of Signal Processing in digital domain

Knowledge of GNU Radio is an asset

A Radio Amateur Certificate is an asset

Other information
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].

Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia, as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia and Cyprus as European Cooperating States (ECS).

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