Junior Professional in AI and Data Science
Noordwijk, NL
This post is part of ESA’s Junior Professional Programme. We are looking for enthusiastic candidates with up to 3 years of relevant professional experience after their Master's degree to join ESA for a four-year assignment. During this time, you will be actively working and learning on the job and will benefit from valuable mobility and developmental opportunities that will prepare you for a successful career at ESA. Subject to performance, it is therefore the intention to offer you an indefinite contract which will start at the end of the four years.
Recruitment will take place at the A1 grade on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale. At the end of the fourth year and if you are offered an indefinite contract at the end of your Junior Professional assignment, you will be upgraded to the A2 grade.
Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands or other site, as required.
Developmental assignments form an integral part of the Junior Professional Programme and may entail a temporary relocation to another ESA establishment or other location.
Description
Junior Professional in AI & Data Science in the AI & Data Science section, Future Engineering Division, Systems Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.
The Future Engineering Division, in support of the programme directorates, is responsible for developing and providing the right engineering expertise, tools, methods and standards for the development of future projects. The role of the Division’s Al and Data Science Section is to lead the Agency’s centre of excellence for artificial intelligence (Al). The Section supports the development and exploitation of future space missions focusing on Al technologies and techniques, development and verification methods for Al systems, data science technologies and development methods, identification of future applications of Al, and monitoring evolutions of advanced technologies, such as quantum computing, to explore their suitability for space applications.
Duties
As a Junior Professional, you will be expected to demonstrate the feasibility and advantages of the application of artificial intelligence technologies in space systems, particularly in one or more of the following areas:
- Mission design and engineering: developing AI assistants capable of supporting the development of space missions during their entire lifecycle, ensuring compliance with the highest standards;
- Insights from mission data: developing, adapting and deploying AI techniques in space assets to support the analysis of data directly on board, minimising the time required to extract insights and minimising the downlink of large amounts of data.
- AI trustworthiness: developing and validating trustworthy AI methods for space applications, with emphasis on explainability, robustness, uncertainty quantification, safety assurance and compliance with relevant engineering standards.
You will use existing laboratory facilities, and potentially the ESA Space High-Performance Computer, to demonstrate appropriate technologies, and will actively search for promising application areas and provide demonstration testbeds and benchmarks for Al techniques and applications.
Development programme
In addition to your daily work, you will take part in an extensive learning and development programme. From day one, you will learn on the job and benefit from tailored development opportunities, including participation in technical and key skills training courses.
Furthermore, there is a mobility component to the Junior Professional Programme that can be either an internal rotation to another team within ESA, an external secondment outside of ESA or a combination of both. Internal rotations aim to boost your professional experience and knowledge of the European Space Agency, whereas external secondments aim to boost your professional experience and knowledge of the European space sector.
This programme represents a significant investment by ESA in your personal and professional development and is designed to provide you with the required knowledge and skills for a career at ESA. You can expect to be given many opportunities to develop your professional experience and competencies, to learn from ESA experts and to contribute to ESA 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 and professional experience
A master’s degree in computer science, artificial intelligence or a related discipline is required with up to three years of professional experience.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
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, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.
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 via email at contact.human.resources@esa.int.
Important Information and Disclaimer
Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations & security clearance by their national security administrations.
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.
The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.
Nationality and Languages
Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.
According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the Member States.
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.