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 small mission implementation in the Directorate of Science. Within the Department, the Payload Validation Section is responsible for conducting laboratory-based testing activities, with a particular emphasis on imaging focal plane technologies, to support the development of instrumentation for future ESA space science missions. The majority of these activities take place during the assessment and definition phases (phase A/B1).The Section also provides general support to the Directorate’s other Departments for specific validation activities, missions under development (phase B2CD) or during operations (phase E). Further details on the Section’s work can be found at http://sci.esa.int/sci-fv/57057-payload-technology-validation/.

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 be offered the possibility of working on either a hands-on laboratory-based project 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 verifying science instrument detector performance within the Section’s laboratories.

Within this project, your activities will include:

• 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 setup (generally by tailoring existing setups as required);
• commissioning and characterising the test setup;
• 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.

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 Department’s 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 five years and used for a number of applications ranging from Earth observation spectroscopy to Mars rover navigation camera and space science weak lensing experiments.

Within this project, you will:

• further develop and maintain the Pyxel framework;
• add additional existing detector models to the framework in the context of building new instrument simulators;
• contribute to managing and developing 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

Education

You should have just completed or be in the final year of your master’s degree in physics, astronomy or an engineering discipline with relevant course content.

Additional requirements

Knowledge of and hands-on experience of detector characterisation and knowledge of space radiation effects upon detectors would be considered an advantage.

An interest in and knowledge of space science mission instrumentation would be considered an advantage.

Experience in Python programming or equivalent with experience in developing software for experimental physics application would be considered a strong advantage.

Knowledge of Gitlab and Jupyter notebook, as well as experience in open-source software development would be considered an advantage.

You should have good interpersonal and communication skills and should be able to work in a multi-cultural 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.