EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY
Young Graduate Trainee in Atmospheric Remote Sensing Earth Observation Mission Concept Development
Young Graduate Opportunity in the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes
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
Our team and mission
As a Young Graduate Trainee (YGT), you will join the Atmospheric Section in the Earth and Mission Science Division of the Climate Action, Sustainability and Science Department within the Earth Observation Programmes (EOP) Directorate. In the execution of your tasks, you will also work in close cooperation with colleagues from other Departments within the EOP Directorate, notably the Future Missions and Instruments Division.
The Earth and Mission Science Division is a team of scientists coordinating research and development activities, in partnership with European and broader international academia and industry.
We aim at advancing Earth Observation and Earth system science, mostly in the context of developing future space missions, novel applications, and contributing towards maximising the science impact of future mission candidates and missions in implementation. Our core responsibility is to develop the scientific and user-related aspects of future Earth Observation satellite missions. Tasks include establishing and maintaining mission requirements, as well as scientific studies, research, and field campaigns in support of a wide range of research missions (Earth Explorers and Missions of Opportunity) and operational missions (Copernicus Sentinels, Earth Watch and Meteorology missions), from their early phases (“ideas”) through implementation to mission operation.
You are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int
Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship
In the framework of EOP’s 11th cycle of Earth Explorer missions (EE11), two candidate missions – CAIRT and WIVERN – were down-selected for Phase A feasibility studies by ESA Member States after the October 2023 User Consultation Meeting. The successful YGT will join ESA’s CAIRT team to support the scientific definition and performance evaluation of the mission, in view of working towards maximising its scientific output, and contributing towards the preparation of the feasibility assessment and final mission selection process scheduled for summer 2025. CAIRT is a limb imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (iFTS), observing the Earth’s limb between roughly 5 and 115 km of altitude, to investigate the coupling between circulation, chemistry, and climate in the middle atmosphere and beyond.
You will work on the theory, testing, and application of CAIRT’s end-to-end performance simulator, including the generation of realistic atmospheric scenes, the simulation of signals observed by the spacecraft, the generation of instrument data streams, and their processing into scientific products to be distributed to scientific users. You may also compare such data to similar output produced by other simulators or experimental airborne campaigns. You will produce and analyse output that contributes towards the preparation of the Report for Mission Selection.
You may further assist in other mission science and promotion tasks, including interacting with the scientific community and the CAIRT team, supporting workshop and meeting preparation, as well as mission communication, visualisation, and public outreach.
You will become acquainted with the competitive process behind the definition and maturation of ESA Earth Observation research mission concepts through to their selection for mission implementation, and learn about the technical and scientific approaches to mission performance and feasibility assessment
Technical competencies
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
Education
You should have just completed, or be in the final year of your Master’ s degree in a relevant scientific or technical discipline
Additional requirements
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.
You should also have:
- Good knowledge in (applied) physics and mathematics are essential.
- Experience with scientific programming/modelling/computing are essential; familiarity with coding best practice (e.g. source control and management, open software, etc.) are an asset.
- Knowledge and/or experience in atmospheric science, remote sensing techniques, Earth Observation, spectroscopy, retrieval theory (e.g. optimal estimation), and/or relevant (optical) instrumentation are assets
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 and FAQ 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 contact.human.resources@esa.int.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.