Young Graduate Trainee in CubeSat Systems Engineering

Young Graduate Opportunity in the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality

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 

The CubeSat Systems team is responsible for the project management and system engineering of CubeSat nano- & micro-satellite missions for the in-orbit demonstration (IOD) of new miniaturised technologies, proof of concepts and capabilities at low-cost and rapid schedule. The team also provides technical support to ESA Programme Directorates as required in the area of CubeSat systems, defines and coordinates a roadmap of CubeSat IOD missions & associated technologies, and conducts relevant future mission studies.

You are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int  and the Technology CubeSats website: https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Technology_CubeSats

This opportunity involves training in CubeSat design, development, and operations though participation in the ongoing CubeSat projects with industry/research institutes, including those targeting lunar and deep space missions (e.g. near-Earth asteroid rendezvous, distant retrograde orbit etc.).

As a Young Graduate Trainee, you will gain experience through assisting the team in the conduct of CubeSat project reviews and the related follow up of specific technical actions with specialist colleagues in other teams, as appropriate.

As nine ESA IOD CubeSats have already been tested, launched and operated under the team’s responsibility, the acquired ground & flight test data and lessons learned accumulated through the project forms a knowledge base for improvements in the standard IOD CubeSat project management and engineering/quality approach. As such, you will have the opportunity to participate in the team’s ongoing efforts to make improvements to the CubeSat project standards and to further refine a set of CubeSat engineering guidelines, in conjunction with other teams at ESA.

You will also assist the team in the follow up of future CubeSat mission studies shaping long-term strategic directions (e.g. swarms concepts in Earth orbit and deep space), as appropriate.

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 space-related technical or scientific discipline.

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.

Specific competence in space system engineering with academic CubeSat project involvement shall be considered an asset.

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.