Young Graduate Trainee in the Mars Orbiting Missions Operations Unit

Young Graduate Opportunity in the Directorate of Operations

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

ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany 

You will report to the Head of Mars Orbiting Missions Operations Unit. Your primary tasks will be related to the quantitative monitoring of spacecraft sub-systems behaviour and the analysis of ground station booking results with respect to mission requirements.

You will learn about ground segment spacecraft operations planning processes as well as spacecraft sub-systems, their load profile during operations and their interaction for execution of the mission. The hardware elements with sensitive aging profiles concern most units: solar array and antenna mechanisms, batteries for energy management, gyroscopes and reaction wheels for attitude control, fuel for orbit control, amplifiers for radio-communications etc. The monitoring and characterisation of this aging represents a major part of the work.

To support the various sub-system engineers within the Flight Control Teams, you will be assigned a number of tasks and studies for monitoring and predicting the behaviour of such on-board equipment.

It is expected that you specify and develop software tools that support data analysis and where relevant simulate future usage and aging trade-offs. You may take advantage of existing tools already developed ad-hoc within the flight control teams, or similar tools and approaches on other planetary missions.

Finally, while integrated in the TGO and Mars Express Flight Control Team, you may also participate in tests and simulations related to the upload of a new Spacecraft Central Software and support Mars relay planning activities.

This position will grant you a wide insight into the different aspects of interplanetary spacecraft operations, including spacecraft platform, space communications and ground segment for complex Mars missions.

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, preferably Aerospace, electronics, computer science or physics.

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.

Familiarity with spacecraft design and related sub-systems would be an asset. A basic knowledge of orbital dynamics would also be beneficial. Familiarity with office suite and programming skills is required.

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge in English 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] .

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.