ESA Graduate Trainee in Science Payload Preparation

Our team and mission

The Future Missions Department is in charge of mission preparation activities (system definition studies Phases 0/A/B1 and technology development) and fast missions implementation in the Science Directorate. Within the Department, the Payload Validation Section is responsible for conducting laboratory based validation activities, with a particular emphasis on imaging focal plane technologies and instrument electronics, in support of the development of the instrumentation for future ESA space science missions. The majority of these activities take place during the assessment and definition phases (phase A/B1). It also provides general support to the Directorate’s other Departments for specific validation activities, for missions under development (phase B2CD) or during operations (phase E).

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

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

This EGT position offers the possibility of either a hands-on laboratory based project and/or a software simulation and modelling project. Both projects will contribute to the preparation of future space science missions.
The laboratory-based project will focus on one of the following themes:

• Verifying visible and infra-red detector electro-optical performance and detector readout electronics within the section’s laboratories;
• Explore the capability of typical instruments electronics to operate in a cryogenic environment for future missions, e.g. the L4 Enceladus mission;
• Support the implementation and commissioning of a new multifunctional modular characterization cryostat for NIR devices;
• Work on a new plasma facility in the section.

Your role within this project will include the following tasks:

• Defining the project: interaction with stakeholders (e.g. mission study, project or operations team, or payload consortium, instrument developers, scientists) for requirements specification, test plan definition and implementation schedule;
• Designing and or modifying the laboratory test set-up (generally by tailoring existing set-ups as required);
• Commissioning and characterising the test set-up;
• Performing the tests according to the test plan;
• Data analysis and reporting.

In this project you will learn about space science instruments, space science detector technology, performance characterisation equipment and techniques, test plan and procedure preparation, data acquisition and analysis.

Software simulation and modelling project

The software simulation and modelling project will focus on the development and utilisation of the Pyxel framework https://esa.gitlab.io/pyxel/.
To support the Departments activities, the Section has developed an open-source software tool: Pyxel, a novel and multi-purpose Python framework for instrument simulation. It is designed to host and combine models, codes simulating instrument effects such as optical diffraction, charge deposition by cosmic rays, charge diffusion, detector point spread function, readout noise sources, charge transfer Inefficiency or persistence on images produced by any imaging detectors (CMOS image sensors, CCDs, MCT hybridised arrays, MKIDs etc.).
Pyxel has been developed over the last 4 years and used for a number of applications ranging from Earth observation spectroscopy to Mars rover navigation camera and space science weak lensing experiments.
Your role within this project will be to:

• Develop further and maintain the Pyxel framework;
• Validate and add additional detector models to the framework in the context of building new instruments simulators;
• Contribute to management and development of the Pyxel user community/collaboration (GitLab issue management, organising workshops, documentation, tutorials);
• Utilise Pyxel in the simulation of a space science instrument and laboratory based payload validation activities.

Technical competencies

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 should have just completed, or be in the final year of your master’ s degree in technical or scientific discipline,preferably with specialisation in opto-electronics or equivalent.

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. Previous experience of working in international teams can be considered an asset. Your motivation, overall professional perspective and career goals will also be explored during the later stages of the selection process. 

Knowledge of and hands-on experience of detector characterization and knowledge of space radiation effects upon detectors is considered to be an advantage.
An interest in and knowledge of space science mission instrumentation is considered to be an advantage.
Experience in Python programming or equivalently in computer programming with experience in developing software for experimental physics application is considered as a strong advantage.