Young Graduate Trainee in Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR) satellite engineering

Young Graduate Opportunity in the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes

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

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands 

Thhis position will work on the Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR) is one of the six Copernicus Expansion (CopEx) missions, which are part of the Copernicus Space Component being implemented by ESA and the European Commission.

The CIMR mission responds to the EU Artic Policy, providing global daily coverage and sub-daily revisit in the polar regions and adjacent seas with all-weather day/night imaging capability. Its primary objectives are to address Sea Ice Concentration (SIC) and Sea Surface Temperature (SST) with secondary requirements covering a very wide number of parameters related to EU Arctic Policy.

The CIMR spacecraft features a conically scanning microwave radiometer capable of providing high global resolution images of floating artic sea ice parameters across various frequency bands. In order to maintain a wide ground swath, the satellite instrument rotates continuously with respect to the satellite platform at around 7.8 revolutions per minute. The CIMR spacecraft has a unique configuration consisting of a rotating payload and a 3-axis stabilized platform equipped with a dedicated momentum compensation system.

You are encouraged to visit the ESA website: https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Copernicus_Sentinel_Expansion_missions

Together with a complex design, one of the challenges of the CIMR spacecraft engineering is the assessment of the nutation dynamics of the spacecraft caused by rotating payload, as it has a direct impact on the radiometric performance.  

As a Young Graduate Trainee, you will be supporting the ESA CIMR team in various development, analysis and verification activities. In particular, the following workplan is foreseen:

•    Getting familiar with the mission objectives, project setup and current development status
•    Overviewing of the CIMR spacecraft engineering at system and subsystems levels
•    Understanding the CIMR technical design drivers and envisaged design solutions
•    Developing the analytical and simulation framework for CIMR spacecraft dynamics
•    Elaborating various design trade-offs focused on effective analysis and control of the highly coupled flexible dynamical behaviour of the CIMR spacecraft
•    Carrying out detailed dynamics analysis at various in-orbit operational conditions
•    Participating in regular technical exchanges with ESA experts
•    Preparing of ESA technical notes

Throughout the work at CIMR, the candidate will extensively learn the ESA working environment, experiences the project activities performed at satellite engineering level, as well as gets a good overview of the overall spacecraft design.
Furthermore, throughout study and analysis of the complex CIMR spacecraft dynamics, various technical competences and expertise will be acquired.

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 Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

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.

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

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.