Young Graduate Trainee in Technology Coordination and Planning

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 Technology Coordination and Planning Office, which reports to the Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality, leads the implementation and evolution of processes relating to technology planning and coordination across the Agency and with external stakeholders, including ESA Member States, the EU and industry. The Office also provides support to the Director on EU matters to do with technology, coordination of competence domains and general interaction with ESA Member States and industry. In so doing, the team interfaces with individuals at various levels inside and outside the Agency.

The Office’s specific duties include: 

• managing the technology harmonisation process at European level, mapping needs and capabilities and drawing up roadmaps as agreed by national and European institutions and industry, and monitoring their implementation;
• providing the Chairperson for the Technology Harmonisation Advisory Group and fulfilling the secretariat function of the Technology Advisory Working Group;
• leading coordination with the European Commission and the European Defence Agency on critical space technologies for European non-dependence;
• leading coordination of technology matters with the EU;
• leading implementation of the Agency-wide process of managing technology development within ESA, and fulfilling the secretariat function for various working groups and the TECNET Chairs Forum;
• evolving the Agency-wide technology management process as required to improve efficiency and use, including the supporting tools;
• monitoring the implementation of agreed work plans and leading the evaluation of technology development results at aggregate Agency level;
• supporting the Director in the overall coordination of Competence Domains;
• providing the directorate’s liaison to the Industrial Policy Committee (IPC);
• working closely with the Industrial Policy & SME units, coordinating the directorate interaction with industry at various levels and supporting the related coordination;
• being the directorate’s representative for internal networks and fora related to the above responsibilities;
• contributing to the dissemination of the results of activities performed and knowledge transfer across the Agency.

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

As a Young Graduate Trainee, you will contribute to a range of activities of the Technology Coordination and Planning Office. In particular, you will assist with the:

• coordination and harmonisation of space technology development in Europe;
• extensive mapping of technologies submitted for harmonisation with ESA, national and industry experts; drawing up of roadmaps and harmonised implementation schemes for discussion and agreement with ESA Member States;
• preparation of the European Space Technology Master Plan;
• analysis of ESA internal technology management processes;
• evolution of the procedures, tools and databases supporting the processes coordinated by the Office;
• evaluation of the technology development results at aggregate Agency level.

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, in particular systems engineering, business engineering/management, or industrial 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.