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Intern in the Electrical Department

Noordwijk

  • Organization: ESA - European Space Agency
  • Location: Noordwijk
  • Grade: Internship - Internship
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Technology, Electronics and Mechanics
    • Mechanics and Electronics (Engineering)
  • Closing Date: Closed

 

Internship Opportunity in the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

 

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

Noordwijk

Our team and mission

The Electrical Department is responsible for executing activities in the following domains: electromagnetics, antenna systems, space environment, power system, data handling for payloads and platforms, computers and microelectronics, communications and navigation payloads and end-to-end systems. The Department manages the corresponding technical laboratories and facilities, elaborates Engineering Standards and is responsible for technology activities for the technical discipline areas of the Department.

 

The Radio Frequency Payloads & Technology Division is responsible for RF payloads, instruments and technologies for space and ground applications, including all equipment having a Radio Frequency space/ground interface and its associated Laboratories. The division supports the definition, specification and development/ procurement of laboratories either for ESA projects and technology programmes or external customers.

 

Within the Division, the RF Payload Engineering and Digital equipment Section responsibilities encompasses payloads and instruments with Radio Frequency interface for telecommunication, remote sensing and navigation exploiting different technologies (e.g. analogue, digital, optical) including design and performance analysis tools and testing and digital functions. Additionally, the section covers the research, design, development and testing of Radio Frequency Digital equipment for telecommunication/navigation payloads and RF/microwave and millimetre wave remote sensing instruments, as well as Payload Signal and Data Processing techniques.

 

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: On-board digital signal and data processing techniques for RF payloads and microwave instruments

This internship opportunity will focus on the evaluation and implementation of novel and efficient on-board signal processing functions for future RF payloads and instruments such as digital beamforming, filtering, signal generation, as well as on-board data processing and others. You will assess novel signal and data processing techniques, carry out hands-on work in the lab and prototype novel digital beamforming functions and evaluate performance on representative HW.

 

2) Topic 2: Evaluation of RF System-on-Chip (RFSoC) and RF Transceivers

Key enablers for future Software Defined Radio/Radar (SDR) applications are FPGAs with integrated processors and RF analogue blocks, as well as RF transceiver integrated circuits, embedding in the same package the RF front-end functions and the conversion between analogue and digital domains, also known as "Agile Transceivers". Your contribution will be in the evaluation of these devices taking into account different applications, such as Earth Observation instruments. You will integrate them in typical signal processing architectures & chains, and evaluate their performance in our laboratory and under radiation.

 

3) Topic 3: Machine Learning techniques for RF Payloads and Instruments

Evaluation of Machine learning techniques for future RF payloads and instruments. Possible applications include data compression, cognitive radars, radio frequency interference identification, data compression, and others. You will study Machine Learning techniques and devices for one or more applications relevant to RF payloads and microwave instruments. Besides the study, you will target the implementation of a use-case based on a relevant dataset.

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 master’s 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.

 

1) Topic 1: Technical knowledge in Radio Frequency payloads and instruments, Analog and digital signal processing and/or radio frequency and digital sub-systems

 

2) Topic 2: Technical knowledge in Radio Frequency payloads and instruments, Analog and digital signal processing and/or radio frequency and digital sub-systems

 

3) Topic 3: Technical knowledge in Radio Frequency payloads and instruments, Analog and digital signal processing and/or radio frequency and digital sub-systems

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 Establishment’s policy (e.g. possible Green Pass requirement) applicable at the time of starting the internship.

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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 and Cyprus as European Cooperating States (ECS).

This vacancy is now closed.