ESA Graduate Trainee in System Performance Engineering for the Atlantic Constellation

 

Location

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands 

Our team and mission

The Atlantic Constellation is a cooperation initiative between Spain and Portugal. As part of this effort, Spain requested the European Space Agency to develop the Spanish Component of the Atlantic Constellation, denominated ESCA project. ESA’s Earth Observation Directorate oversees the procurement activities associated to the ESCA Project until Flight Acceptance Review of the satellites constellation and its associated Ground Segment. The ESCA goal is to develop a small satellite constellation for remote sensing, with frequent access capability to the territories of Spain and Portugal, and the surrounding seas.

The ESCA project baselines a constellation of eight small satellites equipped with several payloads instruments, including a high-resolution multispectral imager operating in the visible and near infrared, a GNSS reflectometry receiver, an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver, and a Satellite Internet of Things (Satellite-IoT) receiver. These satellites will deliver low-latency, systematic remote sensing, as well as targeted emergency response capabilities, with main focus the Spanish and Portuguese territories however with the extended capability of performing acquisitions anywhere in the world and with the potential for future collaboration with other International Partners and complementary projects.

The ESA technical team working on the development of the project is a compact and agile group consisting mostly of engineers of various disciplines: optical, performance, system, product assurance, ground segment and operation amongst others. The main goal of the project team is to ensure the project meets its technical and programmatic requirements, by means of a close collaboration with the ESCA Industrial partners and all other project stakeholders.

 

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

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

You will be part of the team developing the Spanish Component of the Atlantic Constellation.

 

Your main tasks will include:

 

• supporting the technical team in the definition of system mathematical models (optical, radiometric, etc.) to evaluate performance requirements verification;
• assisting the technical team in the definition and management of the system requirements;
• providing support in the definition and management of system interfaces;
• assisting the performance team in ensuring that system performance and data quality meets user requirements;
• supporting, internally to ESA, any technical reviews, ensuring the outcome of design and verification activities are compliant with the technical requirements;
• assisting, internally to ESA, the team in the conduct of any test campaigns when required.

Technical competencies

Knowledge of relevant technical/functional domainsRelevant experience gained during internships, project work and/or extracurricular or other activitiesGeneral knowledge of the space sector and relevant activitiesKnowledge 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 relevant scientific degree, with strong preference to Remote Sensing, Physics or Aerospace Engineering.

Additional requirements

Familiarity with remote sensing data processing, optical systems performance modelling and simulation aspects, are considered strong assets.
Knowledge of satellite systems and/or remote sensing instruments development and validation is also an asset.
 

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 orientatio