Graduate Trainee in Autonomous Collision Avoidance Data Validation in Flight Dynamics Operations

Location

ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany 

Our team and mission

The Flight Dynamics Division provides support to a wide range of mission families, including Earth observation missions, Lagrange point missions in the Sun-Earth system and interplanetary missions (Biomass, EarthCARE, Euclid, Hera, Juice, and many more). The Division covers all domains relevant to spacecraft operations, such as orbit determination, manoeuvre optimisation and trajectory prediction, AOCS monitoring, and telecommand parameter generation.

The Division delivers end-to-end support, encompassing mission preparation and planning, software development and configuration, multi-level testing, participation in ground-segment simulation and validation campaigns, and provision of operational support during all critical and routine phases from launch to end of mission.

You will join the Flight Dynamics Systems Section, which provides test and validation support for these activities. The Section is responsible for defining and developing approaches and software to validate operational flight dynamics data, ensuring correctness before operational use. This work requires both a solid understanding of mission objectives and in-depth knowledge of algorithmic modelling for astrodynamical problems.

You are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

The primary objective of your work will be the preparation and support for the implementation of autonomous collision avoidance operations within the flight dynamics orbit and manoeuvre data validation domain.

Earth-orbiting spacecraft operated by ESOC are continuously monitored for potential collision risks with other spacecraft or debris. When a collision warning is issued, a coordinated chain of operations involving multiple ground segment teams is triggered. While the optimisation, command and validation of collision avoidance manoeuvres are partially automated, the goal is to establish a fully autonomous process chain. This chain will generate critical operational data, and your role will focus on the automatic and autonomous validation of these data products, which may involve adapting existing processes.

You will:

• be part of a team responsible for orbit-related data validation across all missions supported by flight dynamics;
• join the operations support team and gain hands-on experience with real-life operations for various mission families within the flight dynamics orbit and manoeuvre validation group;
• collaborate with different support groups within flight dynamics and learn the current approach to collision avoidance for Earth-orbiting spacecraft;
• develop expertise in the existing C++ and Python software systems used for these purposes;
• support the modification and enhancement of existing tools to meet new mission requirements and support their deployment for operational use;
• contribute to the definition and implementation of fully autonomous data validation processes for collision avoidance operations.

Technical competencies

Knowledge of relevant technical/functional domains

Relevant experience gained during internships, project work and/or extracurricular or other activities

General knowledge of the space sector and relevant activities

Knowledge of ESA and its programmes/projects

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation

Operational Efficiency

Fostering Cooperation

Relationship Management

Continuous Improvement

Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education

You should have just completed, or be in the final year of your master’ s degree in mathematics, physics, aerospace engineering or a related field.

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. Previous experience of working in international teams can be considered an asset. Your motivation, overall professional perspective and career goals will also be explored during the later stages of the selection process. 

You should also have preferably object-oriented programming experience.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness  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, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. 

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 via email at contact.human.resources@esa.int.  

Important Information and Disclaimer Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.

During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.

The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have. 

Nationality and Languages  Please note that applications can only be considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia  as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Malta 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 be given to external candidates from under-represented Member States*. 

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.  

*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.