Young Graduate Trainee in Spacecraft Mission Operations - PLATO and Ariel Exoplanet
Darmstadt
- Organization: ESA - European Space Agency
- Location: Darmstadt
- Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
-
Occupational Groups:
- Operations and Administrations
- Outer space and satellite technology
- Closing Date: Closed
EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY
Young Graduate Trainee in Spacecraft Mission Operations - PLATO and Ariel Exoplanet
Young Graduate Opportunity in the Directorate of Operations
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
ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany
Our team and mission
This opportunity is in the Mission Operations Department’s Astronomy and Fundamental Physics Missions Division. This Division is tasked with preparing the ground segment and operations teams for the launch and subsequent execution of the in-flight mission operations of ESA’s science missions in astronomy and fundamental physics. Missions assigned to the Division include Gaia, XMM, Integral, Euclid, PLATO and Ariel. The training opportunity is within the Flight Control Team of the PLATO and Ariel missions. During the launch preparation phase, this team designs, implements and tests the mission operations ground segment for the launch and in-flight operation of the missions, as well as supporting the spacecraft design and development for the operational phase. Once in flight, all mission operations, spacecraft commanding, and telemetry reception is performed under the team’s responsibility.
The PLATO mission
PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO) is an ESA science mission tasked with the detection and characterisation of terrestrial exoplanets around bright solar-type stars, with emphasis on planets orbiting in the habitable zone. PLATO is due for launch in 2026 and is planned to be operated for at least four years in a Sun-Earth second Lagrange point orbit, 1.5 million kms from Earth. The mission operations will be performed from ESOC, with the science data transferred to ESAC.
For more information on the PLATO mission, spacecraft, payload and operations, please visit https://sci.esa.int/web/plato and https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations
You are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int
Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship
As a Young Graduate Trainee, you will receive training and develop knowledge on spacecraft mission operations as part of the Astronomy and Fundamental Physics Mission Division at ESOC. You will also interact primarily with the Flight Control Team of the PLATO and Ariel missions as they prepare for launch. This will be supplemented with an opportunity to learn about and witness in-flight operations (Gaia).
As part of your broad training in mission operations, your primary task will be to put together and work on a detailed system model of the mission operations ground segment design for PLATO using newly adopted Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools. This model will include internal and external interfaces (in particular to and from the spacecraft and the science operations centre) and will build on existing prototypes. You will look at methods to understand the development status (with respect to requirements and testing) and to compare and analyse the ground segments of other astronomy missions both in-flight and in preparation (Ariel and Euclid). A follow-on prototype model of the Ariel ground segment will also be constructed and feedback on the MBSE tools may be given. In a later phase of the traineeship other operational aspects may be covered, depending on your interests and the development of the PLATO and Ariel missions.
Through this core training opportunity, you will achieve in-depth knowledge of mission operations system design. In addition to this core task, you will also receive training and have the opportunity to experience the operations of an in-flight mission (Gaia).
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 technical or scientific 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.
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, your motivation and overall professional 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.
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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).
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 or balanced 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.
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