Our team and mission

Within the European Space Agency’s Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality, the Small Satellite Platform Unit promotes, identifies and implements technologies and flight opportunities for small satellite platforms (~100 to 300+ kg range ).

The Unit is involved in projects covering all mission phases, from feasibility studies to detailed design, testing and verification, up to in-orbit operation, for various mission profiles for IOD/IOV, optical applications, etc., for both single-satellite and constellation missions. The Unit also provides ESA programme directorates with technical support in the areas of small satellite system engineering and development and closely collaborates with experts from all engineering domains.

The Small Satellite Platform Unit is comprised of a team with a wide range of skills, uniquely tailored to carrying out system and subsystem design developments for applications containing a high level of innovation and requiring innovative engineering approaches.

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, your activities will involve training in design, development, verification, testing and operations of small satellite platforms, subsystems and platform units.

You will gain hands-on experience and carry out dedicated tasks in one or more of the projects currently carried out by the Unit.

You will be working closely with specialists from different engineering domains and disciplines and be mentored by a team of system engineers with a variety of backgrounds and a wide range of expertise.

Your activities and tasks may range from overall system and/or subsystem sizing for conceptual studies and initial mission and spacecraft development phases, to detailed system and subsystem design, through to verification, testing (environmental, functional and performance) and validation, concerning both hardware and software at unit, subsystem and system level.

Training opportunities may also include end-to-end system validation, as well as the development and utilisation of unit and system functional models in related simulation environments.

The position will involve the implementation of design, engineering and verification standards on a daily basis, and training opportunities in the adaptation of general approaches to specific applications based on small satellite engineering and elements containing a high level of innovation.

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 aerospace engineering or electrical/electronics engineering or equivalent with knowledge of space systems and applications.

Additional requirements

Hands-on experience (e.g. gained through internships or placements in industry or with academic projects) in the design, development or functional/performance verification of a satellite's unit or subsystem, preferably avionics (including AOCS subsystem), either relevant to hardware or software, although not mandatory, will be considered an asset.

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.