Young Graduate Trainee in Opto-Electronics Engineering and Detector Testing

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 Optoelectronics Section provides functional support to ESA projects and carries out technology research(R&D) in optoelectronic device technologies and applications. In particular, the Section deals with the specification, development and characterisation of photonic components, subsystems and active optical instruments, such as detectors and lasers operating in the UV to FIR wavelength ranges, fibre-optic sensors, lidars, optical communication systems and quantum technologies.

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

You will contribute to visible and infrared detector characterisation.

Detectors, such as charge-coupled devices (CCD), CMOS image sensors (CIS) operating in the visible range and detectors based on materials such as mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) and indium gallium arsenide (inGaAs) operating in the infrared range, are essential components for imaging and spectroscopy space missions in both Earth observation and astronomy. The Optoelectronics Section has created a high-performance detector characterisation facility and requires a competent, enthusiastic person to:

• Characterise the electro-optical performance of visible and infrared wavelength detectors;
• Optimise the detector characterisation facility, in particular aspects of calibration and uncertainty analysis;
• Further develop the characterisation facility capabilities.

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.

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 one of the following disciplines will be considered an asset:

• Electrical engineering with the focus on optoelectronics.
• Theoretical or hands-on/laboratory experience of one or more of: optoelectronics, detectors (CCD, CIS,MCTs), spectroscopy, instrumentation.
• Experience in engineering software tools (e.g. Python, LabView, MATLAB).

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.