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Young Graduate Trainee in EarthCARE Mission and Optical Payload Engineering

Noordwijk

  • Organization: ESA - European Space Agency
  • Location: Noordwijk
  • Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Engineering
    • Physics and Mathematics
    • Outer space and satellite technology
    • Scientist and Researcher
  • Closing Date: Closed

EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY

Young Graduate Trainee in EarthCARE Mission and Optical Payload Engineering

Job Req ID:  17316
Closing Date:  28 February 2023 23:59 CET/CEST
Establishment:  ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
Directorate:  Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes
Publication:  External Only
Vacancy Type:  Young Graduate Trainee
Date Posted:  1 February 2023

 

Young Graduate Opportunity in the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes

 

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

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands 

 

Our team and mission

The ESA EarthCARE team is preparing to launch the Earth Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer mission in the second quarter of 2024. Next year, the Mission and Optical Payload Section will be preparing for the acceptance review prior to the launch campaign, verifying readiness of the ATmospheric LIDar (ATLID), Broad-Band Radiometer (BBR), Multi-Spectral Imager (MSI) and supporting satellite systems for launch. We will be finalising the plans for commissioning the instruments and their data products on orbit, as well as the synergetic data products that include data from the Japanese Cloud Profiling Radar. We are also conducting verification of the ground segment and will be preparing for its formal acceptance, including the facilities and interfaces for conducting the mission planning and executing operations, monitoring on-orbit instrument quality metrics and processing data to deliver science products. Within the team, a variety of work is taking place, from instrument engineering and testing to processor development, mission science analyses and algorithm development. The majority of the team is based at ESTEC (Netherlands), but we also have one staff member based at ECSAT (UK) and we liaise heavily with our ground segment partners at ESRIN (Italy), ESOC (Germany) and JAXA (Japan), as well as industrial teams building the satellite, processor developers, meteorological forecasters and science users.

 

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 undertake an investigation into the EarthCARE mission data product(s), analysing the impact of scene type on the performance of a selection of algorithms.

 

EarthCARE’s objective is to investigate the interaction between clouds, aerosols and radiation, providing global profiles of clouds, aerosols and precipitation along with co-located radiative flux measurements. The data will be used to evaluate the representation of these constituents in weather forecasting and climate models. The payload consists of the ATmospheric LIDar, Broad-Band Radiometer, Multi-Spectral Imager and a Cloud Profiling Radar (from Japan).

 

Instrument ground processors ingest data from a satellite and produce Level 1 data, calibrated, geometrically corrected and annotated with ancillary data. The data from one or more instruments is input to Level 2 processors that produce scientifically interesting information about the atmosphere. To test the science data processing chain, three science scenes have been prepared using simulated data. The simulation chain includes a weather model, a forward model that simulates the input to be received at each instrument, and instrument simulators, resulting in simulated instrument data packets.

 

Calibration algorithms that convert hardware outputs to science data can impact the level of representativeness of the data products when compared to the actual atmospheric conditions sampled in a scene. Scene type can also influence the instrument and processor performance, with the possibility of measurement bias being introduced in certain scenes.

 

You will perform an analysis of the impact of scene type and algorithm selection, assessing the impact on performance of the final L1 data product, e.g. analysis of the performance of ATLID cross-talk algorithms. ATLID signal is split into three channels: a cross-polar channel, and the Rayleigh and Mie channels, both of which are co-polar. The simulated data contains scenes that provide differing levels of input to the three channels. You will assess the performance impact of different algorithms and the methodology used to account for lidar cross-talk parameters (spectral, polarisation) against a variety of different scene types. You will develop offline analysis codes to assess performance against the output products. Results will indicate preferred algorithms for overall performance (over multiple scene types) or for performance in different atmospheric conditions or scenes. This will lead to a trade-off of the proposed algorithms that considers their overall scene performance, their performance over selected scene types, the expected frequency of selected scene types, and the impact of proposed modifications on the ground processor and other facilities such as the Calibration and Monitoring Facility.  

 

Learning Objectives
You will obtain an overview of the ground segment and its internal and external interfaces, in particular for the processing chain and calibration monitoring. You will gain in-depth knowledge of a lidar’s physical implementation, data signals and auxiliary data and how data is transformed into a useful product. Running the data processor will lead to an understanding of the interfaces and interactions with the forward model and simulator. You will acquire sufficient knowledge of the instruments and mission to understand how data products relate to atmospheric samples. In performing the trade-off, you will gain insight into the practical impact that may be expected when introducing a configuration change into a complex system. You will learn how the mission implementation is expected to achieve the mission goals.

Technical competencies

Knowledge of relevant technical domains
Relevant experience gained during internships/project work
Breadth of exposure coming from past and/or current research/activities
Knowledge of ESA and its programmes/projects

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 physics-related 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.

You should have an enthusiasm for the application of satellite observations to investigate atmospheric and climate questions.

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.

This vacancy is now closed.
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