Internship 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.
Location Noordwijk
Our team and mission
This position is based at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) - Noordwijk, Netherlands
Under the direct authority of the Radio Frequency Systems and Payloads Division, the Radio Frequency Payloads and Technology Division is responsible for RF payloads and technologies for space and ground applications and associated laboratory facilities. More specifically, its responsibilities encompass:
- Payloads with RF interface for telecommunication and navigation exploiting different technologies (e.g. analogue, digital, optical) including design and performance analysis tools and testing;
- Earth observation and scientific RF active and passive instruments, including design and performance analysis, engineering and testing up to sub-millimetre waves;
- Wave-propagation and interaction relevant to space communications, navigation and remote sensing, including interference and regulatory aspects;
- Antenna systems, architecture, technologies and techniques for all space applications, including space vehicle TT&C and user segment terminals, as well as antenna engineering, and RF testing of antenna and material;
- RF technologies and RF equipment, also including vacuum electronics and high-power RF phenomena (multipactor, corona and passive intermodulation);
- Time and frequency references, modelling, design tools, measurements, performance characterisation and calibration techniques.
For further information visit our web site: http://www.esa.int
Field(s) of activity for the internship
Topic: Antenna Measurements
The ESA-ESTEC Antenna Laboratory is dedicated to measure antennas for space applications at high accuracy. The laboratory is equipped with several facilities covering the frequency range from 400 MHz to 5 THz (see this website for more information). The quantities measured in each facility should be given to the customer with an uncertainty. This uncertainty is highly dependent on the quantity measured, the facility used, the antenna under test (very often unknown) and the alignment of the positioner and should be kept as small as possible when measuring space antennas.
After an introduction to the facilities of the ESA-ESTEC Antenna Laboratory, you will carry out antenna measurements for different space missions in different facilities. During the measurements, several effects will be identified, and you will need to quantify their impact on the measured quantity. This impact will result on an uncertainty on the final measurement result and will be reported. The development of a tool could be envisaged to speed up the calculations necessary to obtain the uncertainty.
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward ThinkingEducation
You must have student status and be enrolled at university for the entire duration of the internship. You should preferably be in your final or second to last year of a university course at masterโs level in a technical or scientific discipline.
Additional requirements
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.
Other information
For behavioural competencies expected from ESA staff in general, please refer to the ESA Competency Framework.
If you require support with your application due to a disability, please email contact.human.resources@esa.int.
Internships can take place remotely, on-site or partially on-site depending on the pandemic situation, and in line with the relevant Establishmentโs policy (e.g. possible Green Pass requirement) applicable at the time of starting the internship.
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).