Young Graduate Opportunity in the Directorate of Navigation
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
LEO-PNT is an In-Orbit Demonstration project within the FutureNAV programme of ESA’s Directorate of Navigation. This project includes the definition, development, launch, operations and experimentation of a reduced constellation of In-Orbit Demonstration satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Its objective is to demonstrate innovative positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services to complement and augment existing Global Navigation Satellites Systems (GNSS) such as Galileo and GPS. LEO-PNT encompasses space, ground and user technologies and services, and aims to demonstrate capabilities that would serve to meet challenging future user demands in PNT and to accelerate the readiness of European industry in this domain. LEO-PNT aims to adopt ‘New Space’ approaches for fast-track implementation.
Some of the possible advantages of LEO-PNT are faster high-accuracy positioning, enhanced services in harsh environments, more robust PNT services, geometry and frequency diversity, additional PNT data and two-way PNT links. Those features would support a wide range of applications in various market sectors and verticals, including autonomous vehicles – road and UAVs – and digital mobility in general, railway, maritime, critical infrastructure, 5G/6G networks and the Internet of Things.
The LEO-PNT Project Team is responsible for defining and implementing the In-Orbit Demonstration, as well as identifying directions, conclusions and lessons learned for the path towards a future European LEO-PNT operational system.
You are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int
As a Young Graduate Trainee, will report to the LEO-PNT Project Manager within the ESA Directorate of Navigation, and you will work in close collaboration with the LEO-PNT Lead System Engineer and other colleagues in the LEO-PNT team.
Based on the LEO-PNT In-Orbit Demonstration building blocks, assumptions and intermediate results, you will establish a framework for extrapolating the advantages and added value for a future operational LEO-PNT system in various aspects of the mission, including:
You will also have the opportunity to collaborate with the team working on the GENESIS project, also part of the FutureNAV programme, in particular for ‘New Space’ aspects.
The objective of the traineeship is to become involved in all the systems engineering aspects of a space project that is based on LEO satellites and follows ‘New Space’ approaches, and to gain skills related to space-based positioning, navigation and timing missions. You will have access to experienced team members to build on the engineering capability gained from your studies and the opportunity to prove that you can work independently on certain tasks.
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
You should have just completed or be in the final year of a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering, telecommunications engineering, electrical engineering or applied physics/mathematics.
Strong technical, analytical, organisational and reporting skills are expected, as are a proactive attitude to solving problems and an interest in innovative technologies and methodologies.
Knowledge of mathematical and engineering packages and programming languages for scientific and technical computing, such as Python, STK, MATLAB/Octave/Scilab, would be considered an asset.
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 perspective/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.
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 archived.