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
The Electric Propulsion Section is a team of 13 professionals located at ESTEC. The EPL team includes a Laboratory Manager, an Infrastructure & Quality Manager, several test managers, and test engineers.
Main tasks of the Electric Propulsion Section are:
- Providing expert technical support to the Agencyโs project teams responsible for the development of spacecraft, throughout all the project phases.
- Contributing to the preparation and implementation of work plans for electric propulsion in the Agencyโs technological programs;
- Preparing and technically managing Agency contracts for studies, experimental investigations, engineering developments and qualification of electric propulsion technologies.
- Taking charge of key tasks for the maintenance and operations of the ESA Propulsion Laboratory, including technical, quality and infrastructure management responsibilities together with test servicing of electric propulsion systems.
In addition, in recent years, the Electric Propulsion Section has prepared and managed several Agency contracts targeting development and qualification of Electric Propulsion systems specific for Cubesats and Microsats and has managed and executed several functional and performance verification tests in the ESA Propulsion Laboratory (EPL).
Much of the Labโs work involves characterizing engine performance during firing. EPL holds an ISO 9001 certificate and can perform measurements for electric and cold-gas thrusters, components, and systems. It exploits in-house procedures, which have demonstrated to be reliable and repeatable for measuring thrust, mass flow rate and electrical parameters related to propulsion system operations, along with related calibration processes. The laboratory offers also the possibility to perform endurance test campaigns, useful to verify the thrusterโs performance evolution over time. They can be extended for hundreds or even thousands of hours at a time.
For further information visit our web site: http://www.esa.int
Field(s) of activity for the internship
Topic: Cubesat Propulsion Testing at the ESA Propulsion Lab
As an intern, you will be integrated to the EPL team and assigned to the correspondent test activity. The intern will acquire skills and knowledge on Cubesat Propulsion testing inside the EPL main test facilities and using EPL test equipment (tools, GSE, diagnostics)..
In particular, you will be trained in:
- Operation of EPL test facilities: pumping down to low and very low vacuum, venting, leak detection and removal, pumping speed estimation and verification, partial & background pressures measurements, temperature measurements.
- Test preparation: definition and integration of test set-up, definition of test electrical/mechanical/fluidic interfaces, definition of test objectives & pass/fail criteria, definition of test sequence, preparation of test procedures, identification of test resources, leak detection, electrical checks, calibration and commissioning of a thrust balance, installation/alignment/calibration of diagnostic probes.
- Test execution: activation/operation of a Thruster and acquisition of relevant performance data, operation of a thrust balance and acquisition of relevant test data, operation of faraday probes of different design and acquisition of relevant test data (ion current density for divergence angle assessment), operation of probes of different design and acquisition of relevant test data.
- Application of ISO approved EPL procedures: measurement of thrust (direct and indirect), mass flow rate (direct and indirect) and power with uncertainty budget calculation.
- Test reporting. post-processing and reporting of measured data collected for the Thruster, Thrust Balance, Beam Diagnostics system and Test Facility.
- Preparation and execution of major Test Reviews: Test Readiness Review, Post Test Review, Test Review Board.
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.
Additional Requirements:
- Spacecraft propulsion, electric propulsion, space system engineering
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).
- Spacecraft propulsion, electric propulsion, space system engineering