Internship 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.
Location Darmstadt
Our team and mission
This position is based at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) - Darmstadt, Germany
The ESA Space Safety Programme Office takes care of all potential hazards from space or in space, which can impact human activities on Earth or again in space. The spectrum of tasks ranges from gathering the basic understanding of space hazards originating from our Sun, from man-made space debris, or from asteroids potentially colliding with the Earth. It also addresses basic approaches to mitigate these hazards and to implement space systems end-to-end in a sustainable and eco-compatible way. Moreover, several corner stone missions are underway to demonstrate basic methods of space weather forecasting, asteroid deflection and active space debris removal from orbit.
The Space Debris Office constitutes the focal point for ESA space debris activities and is responsible for coordinating the Agencyโs space debris research activities, for all space debris related operational and analysis services in support of ESA missions, and for ESAโs cooperation on space debris issues at inter-agency level. Its work is centred around a wide range of operational and scientific analysis software, developed, maintained and operated under its control. Through the provision of domain expertise the office is deeply involved in implementing the Agencyโs zero debris approach.
For further information visit our web site: http://www.esa.int
Field(s) of activity for the internship
You can choose between the following topics:
1) Topic 1: Status and future evolution of the space debris environment and supporting missions (Environment)
As an intern, you will be involved in activities around analyses on the status and future evolution of the space debris environment and supporting missions. You will be assigned to topics in the areas of analysis of mitigation and remediation techniques, evaluation of new concepts and the development and application of the necessary means to verify and qualify such concepts.
The work will support the ongoing analysis and implementation of improvements to ESA's reporting on compliance with Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines and support the development of tools for environment impact assessment. You will support the definition of study work in that field and contribute to the technical follow-up of such studies. The intern will attend regular team meetings and support the coordination of activities within a group of experts. You will be required to contribute to updating existing analysis tools.
You will work in a small team. You will have the opportunity to actively contribute to on-going projects andresearch activities, develop new tools, and present results to the international community.
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2) Topic 2: Status and future evolution of the space debris environment and supporting missions (Collision Avoidance)
As an intern, you will be involved in activities around analyses on the status and future evolution of the space debris environment and supporting missions. You will be assigned to developing technologies for automated collision avoidance.
The work will support improvements to ESA's collision avoidance process in view of growing orbital population, better situation knowledge and extended data sources, as well as emerging automation needs, e.g., under the related cornerstone of the Space Safety Programme. You will support the definition of study work in that field and contribute to the technical follow-up of such studies. You will attend regular team meetings and support the coordination of activities within a group of experts. You will be required to contribute to updating existing analysis tools.
You will work in a small team. You will have the opportunity to actively contribute to on-going projects and research activities, develop new tools, and present results to the international community.
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
Education
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:
1) Topic 1:
- Good knowledge and background in engineering modeling, simulation and mathematics is an asset.
- Previous demonstrated experience with scientific computing in Python is an asset.
2) Topic 2:
- Good knowledge and background in engineering modeling, simulation and mathematics is an asset.
- Previous demonstrated experience with scientific computing in Python is 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).