Young Graduate Trainee in Earth Observation Commercialisation

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

ESRIN, Frascati, Italy 

You will work in the Invest Office of the ɸ-lab Division, within the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes (EOP). The Invest Office focuses on Earth Observation commercial aspects and is in charge of promoting investment in industrial innovation within the Earth Observation domain, developing partnerships with new actors entering the Earth Observation sector.

Φ-lab manages the ESA Investing in Industrial Innovation (InCubed) programme. While institutional and private European space actors have so far created a flourishing Earth Observation sector in Earth science, meteorology, environmental and security monitoring, the Earth Observation market is undergoing a rapid transition, with new implementation approaches (e.g. constellation of micro-satellites, vertical integration of spaceborne with non-spaceborne data), new industrial players (e.g. IT companies) and new funding models (e.g. PPP, venture capital). It is crucial for Europe to adapt to this rapidly evolving market and seize the opportunities it provides.

Φ-lab is designed as an open working environment bringing together ESA staff and external space and non-space actors, innovators, data scientists, and investors on a permanent or temporary basis.

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

We are in the middle of a perfect storm in Eearth Observation, with many factors crashing into the sector encouraging new commercial players and investors into the market. The Investing in Industrial Innovation (InCubed) programme aims to develop and stimulate the European Earth Observation commercial sector. It is one of the first co-funded programmes and operates in the very dynamic Earth Observation commercial New Space landscape.

As a Young Graduate Trainee, you will provide support for the tasks to be performed by the Φ-lab Invest Office. This entails, for example:

• Supporting InCubed programme activities spanning end-to-end development (satellites, constellation development, systems, data exploitation platforms, ground segment, and data analytics);
• Development and analysis of viable commercial and innovative Earth Observation products and services;
• Contributing to monitoring trends and emerging opportunities in global markets, including existing and planned Earth Observation missions;
• Supporting entrepreneurial initiatives and helping develop new business opportunities in Earth Observation to improve European economic operators’ competitiveness in related global markets;
• Analysing business plans, and understanding business cases and the concept of minimum viable product;
• Analysing the European Earth Observation landscape and emerging commercial market within an international context;
• Contributing to socioeconomic and market analyses to document the value and impact of European efforts in an international Earth Observation context;
• Being at the cutting edge of New Space and helping develop European capability;
• Preparing presentations, fact sheets and communication material for InCubed and the team’s activities;
• Contributing to Ф-lab online articles and posts, and providing support to and participating in dedicated events and workshops relevant to the team’s domain;
• Providing support to activities relating to customer engagement, commercial viability and innovation;
• Helping improve the InCubed programme.

Please visit the InCubed website to find out more: https://incubed.esa.int/

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 relevant technical or scientific field, whilst an additional business or economics background would be considered highly valuable.

The InCubed programme has a very wide scope (from satellite development, systems and constellations to developing ground segment and data platforms based on data analytics). You must therefore be comfortable with dealing with a wide range of topics and willing to learn and deal with new concepts quickly and effectively.

In addition, it is desirable to have a good knowledge of the Eeath Observaton landscape including the emerging Earth observation commercial market and a keen interest in the development of Earth Observation commercial solutions and their associated business context. Further, an ability to work effectively with a wide range of companies from start-ups to large organisations is considered an asset.

You will have to demonstrate an ability to understand New Space business and economic concepts within the complex, innovative Earth Observation landscape.

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.