Young Graduate Trainee in Dynamics, Stability and Assembly of Orbiting Mega-structures
Noordwijk
- Organization: ESA - European Space Agency
- Location: Noordwijk
- Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
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Occupational Groups:
- Closing Date: Closed
EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY
Young Graduate Trainee in Dynamics, Stability and Assembly of Orbiting Mega-structures
Young Graduate 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.
This post is classified F1 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale.
Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
Our team and mission
The Advanced Concepts and Studies Office ensures the overall coordination, coherence and performance of programmes and studies supporting the preparation of the Agency’s future activities, in line with its long-term strategic objectives and priorities. This includes discovery activities via the Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP) and the Advanced Concepts Team (ACT), ESA’s in-house research think tank.
The ACT monitors, performs and fosters beyond-the-horizon multidisciplinary research for space, exploring new approaches to space-related R&D (including competitions, prizes and games), conducting research for disruptive innovation, developing an expert network at academic level and providing a capability for fast first-look analysis of problems, challenges and opportunities. The ACT engages in collaborative research with university institutes and research centres, focusing on advanced research topics of potential strategic interest to the space sector, and in experimenting with new forms of teamwork. To achieve this goal, a multidisciplinary research environment is provided, in which young scientific and engineering postdoctoral and postgraduate researchers carry out work on emerging technologies and innovative concepts.
More information on the team can be found on the ACT website (www.esa.int/act).
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 develop most of your activity in the field of dynamics, stability and assembly of orbiting mega-structures. Ambitious proposals for future space-based systems often include the orbit deployment of large structures. From geo-engineering to orbital hotels and star-shades for exo-planet detection, the problem of determining the interaction of a large structure with its orbital environment, studying its stability as well as developing concepts for its on-orbit self-assembly, is of great complexity. ESA has recently proposed a new preparatory programme called SOLARIS to assess the benefits, implementation options, commercial opportunities and risks of space-based solar power as a contributor to terrestrial energy decarbonisation. This programme is just one of the activities expected to increase the significance of these studies in the coming years.
While you will be encouraged to propose your own projects in the field of dynamics, stability and assembly of orbiting mega-structures, examples of current areas of interest to the team are as follows:
• On-orbit self-assembly concepts;
• Space logistics for on-orbit assembly architectures;
• Non-Keplerian orbits for mega-structures;
• Stability and dynamics of space-based solar power architectures;
• Long-term orbital stability of mega-structures in Earth’s vicinity.
You will review the state of the art in the field and recent concepts proposed on dynamics, stability and assembly of orbiting mega-structures, constructing a taxonomy of approaches, techniques, ideas and designs and their evolution with available technologies. You will then focus on your own line of research and study its specificities. Depending on the nature of the project, this might also involve interfacing with the academic community.
You will be a member of the Advanced Concepts Team (http://www.esa.int/gsp/ACT/index.html) and therefore be expected to contribute to the development and assessment of new concepts and technologies for space applications. You will do so in close interaction with ACT researchers who work on a broad range of disciplines, including informatics, artificial intelligence, climate modelling, energy systems, fundamental physics, biomimetics, computational management science and mission analysis. Based on your background and interests and the opportunities and needs of the team, you will be involved in a number of other ACT initiatives (including studies conducted via the Ariadna scheme, http://www.esa.int/gsp/ACT/ariadna/index.html) and participate in reporting and communicating results of the team (internally and externally). You will also have the opportunity to work closely with and contribute to the SOLARIS team for some aspects of their work
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, space flight mechanics or a related field.
Additional requirements
You should have a good background and strong interest in orbital mechanics and dynamical systems. Programming experience (e.g. C++, C, Python) is considered a requirement. Involvement in open-source projects related to astrodynamics is considered an asset.
You should show a genuine interest in applied academic research, together with sound analytical skills, avid curiosity and a natural aptitude for self-motivation and teamwork.
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.
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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