Our team and mission

The Radio Frequency Payloads and Technology Division is responsible for RF payloads and technologies for space applications and associated laboratory facilities. More specifically TEC-EF responsibilities encompass at subsystem and instrument level:

• Payloads with RF interface exploiting different technologies (e.g., analogue, digital, optical) including design and performance analysis tools and testing;
• RF active and passive instruments, including design and performance analysis, engineering and testing up to sub-millimetre waves;
• Telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C) subsystems, payload data transmission (PDT) subsystems including deep space and near Earth transponders, proximity and intersatellite (ISL) link antennas and equipment, high speed downlink modulators, digital communication equipment;
• Wave-propagation and interaction, including signal impairments and regulatory aspects;
• Performance assessment of RF and Optical remote sensing data products (including spurious effects mitigation and calibration techniques) at Level-1 and Level-2, and associated data processing techniques;
• Antenna systems, architecture, technologies, and techniques for all space applications, including space vehicle TT&C and user segment terminals, sub- millimetre wave instruments and associated technologies, as well as antenna engineering, and RF testing of antenna and materials;
• RF technologies and RF equipment, also including vacuum electronics and high-power RF phenomena (multipactor, corona and passive intermodulation);
• RF Payload digital equipment, and on-board Payload Signal and Data Processing algorithms and techniques for RF payloads and instruments in close collaboration with TEC-ED; and
• Time and frequency references, modelling, design tools, measurements, performance characterisation and calibration techniques.

The Antennas and Sub-millimetre Waves Section provides functional support to ESA projects in all the application directorates and carries out technological research (R&D) in the field(s) of space antenna systems, submillimetre wave instruments and associated technologies.

Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int  

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic of the internship: Advanced timescale generation and monitoring techniques

You will integrate into the Frequency and Time team and be involved in the UTC (Universal Time Coordinated) laboratory activities. You will work in a fully operational environment using state-of-the-art equipment, such as atomic clocks. One of the main goals of the laboratory is to deliver an official physical realisation of UTC called UTC(ESA), meaning that the time delivered by the laboratory shall be robust (no interruptions) and precise (less than 10 nanoseconds variations).

As part of the laboratory activities, new challenges are identified: in particular, the use of Machine Learning techniques to predict atomic clock anomalies based on the processing of its telemetries.  

In this role, you will:

• Support the development, operation and maintenance of the Time and Frequency Laboratory at ESTEC and its associated analysis/simulation tools;
• Support the improvement of the environmental monitoring capabilities of the Time and Frequency Laboratory at ESTEC;
• Study, trade-off and develop the Machine Learning techniques to predict atomic clock anomalies based on processing of its telemetries;
• Contribute to the generation of innovative ideas in the field of Time and Frequency equipment and technologies.

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education

You must be a university student, preferably studying at master’s level. In addition, you must be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your University for the entire duration of the internship.

Additional requirements

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.

During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.

Knowledge and background in precise time and frequency systems, atomic clocks and Machine Learning algorithms are an asset.