Young Graduate Trainee in System Engineering for Sustainable Space Transportation

Young Graduate Opportunity in the Directorate of Space Transportation

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.

This post is classified F1 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale .

Location

ESA Headquarters, Paris, France 

As part of the ESA Directorate of Space Transportation, the Future Space Transportation team (STS-F, including FLPP) is leading the maturation of the required technologies, demonstrators and enabling capabilities for future space transportation systems, covering to-, in- and from-space transportation. To do so, the Future Space Transportation department is:

• performing Systems studies on future space transportation, market studies of the SpaceTech sector and new concepts studies, to better respond to future European institutional needs and to increase the competitiveness of the European space transportation sector,
• maturing key Technologies for future space transportation (on avionics & Guidance-Navigation-Control, structures & processes, propulsion, modelling & simulation),
• and building Demonstrators (Prometheus engine, reusable first stage Themis, reusable upper-stage, in-space transportation In-Orbit Demonstration…) to integrate & validate the relevant technologies and to demonstrate new space capabilities.

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

In Europe, to build a sustainable space logistics (including to-, in- and from-space transportation) is a keystone of the development of technologies for future space transportation systems. Sustainability ensures a balance between economic growth, environmental care and social well-being.

Joining the System unit of the ESA Future Space Transportation department, you will provide valuable support on:

• Synthesizing future Space Transportation System studies, with focus on environmental impact aspects, coming from the Agency and a wide range of industrial stakeholders (large systems integrators, space products suppliers, start-ups…) and market analyses to shape the vision of future sustainable space transportation,
• Identifying key trends, disruptive technologies, promising space concepts, and relevant demonstration opportunities feeding this vision with focus on environmental impact,
• Preparing the future sustainable space transportation roadmaps (considering all sustainability parameters), at the crossroads of System studies, Technologies maturations and Demonstrators integration, to unfold this vision within ESA and with the SpaceTech sector in Europe,
• Consolidating the state of the art on the tools and demonstrators for future sustainable space logistics,
• Carry out internal studies using ESA tools,
• Consolidating an internal database for European stakeholders who could contribute to this roadmap implementation.

You will work with a large degree of autonomy, accessing inputs as per relevance, and liaising dynamically with your tutor to report your progress, overcome potential difficulties, and set your priorities for next steps.

You will deploy an analytical and synthetical mind, able to harness the complexity of multidisciplinary space systems and to steer your work and added-value to achieve your goals with high-standards.

During your YGT experience, you will develop your skills on Space Systems Engineering and Project Management and benefit from an exceptional overview of the space transportation sector in Europe.

As a team player, you will contribute to the success of your team by bringing a combination of technical expertise and collaborative skills. You will be able to navigate different international stakeholders, in the different department of the Agency, and with the industrial sector.

Knowledge of relevant technical domains

Relevant experience gained during internships/project work

Breadth of exposure coming from past and/or current research/activities

Knowledge of ESA and its programmes/projects

Result Orientation

Operational Efficiency

Fostering Cooperation

Relationship Management

Continuous Improvement

Forward Thinking

You should have just completed or be in the final year of your master’s degree in a technical or scientific discipline, with a background in the field of aerospace engineering with good understanding or motivation for environmental care. Fluent English is mandatory.

A good understanding of environmental impact including Life Cycle Assessment method would be considered as an asset for the position.

Basics on Systems Engineering and Project Management would be a plus, alongside a motivation to apply such skills.

You shall have an analytical and synthetical mind, able to understand multidisciplinary space systems and to steer your work and added-value to achieve your goals with high-standards.

You shall have a problem-solver profile, deploying proactivity and autonomy to overcome potential arising difficulties, in order to reach your objectives.

An agile mindset is expected, to be able to adapt to changing circumstances while keeping in mind your overarching objectives.

You should have good interpersonal and communication skills and should be able to work in a multi-cultural environment, both independently and as part of a team.

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.

During the interview motivation and overall professional perspective/career goals will also be explored.

Other information

For behavioural competencies expected from ESA staff in general, please refer to the ESA Competency Framework .

For further information on the Young Graduate Programme please visit: Young Graduate Programme andFAQ Young Graduate Programme

Applicants must be eligible to access technology and hardware which is subject to European and US export control regulations.

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 email [email protected] .

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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).

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 first be given to candidates from under-represented Member States *. 

In accordance with the European Space Agency’s security procedures and as part of the selection process, successful candidates will be required to undergo basic screening before appointment conducted by an external background screening service. 

*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.