Young Graduate Trainee in Satellite Telecommunications and TT&C

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 RF Systems Division is responsible for space instrumentation and end-to-end communication systems, subsystems, and equipment and technologies, which covers the following:

• Telecommunication system and subsystem design and validation;
• Radio navigation system and subsystem design and validation;
• Commercial ground and user segment products for navigation, telecommunications and remote sensing;
• Systems for Tracking Telemetry and Command (TT&C) and Payload Data Transmission (PDT) for communication, navigation, remote sensing and scientific applications;
• Systems testing for performance evaluation and validation;
• Laboratories to test/prove the soundness of concepts and validate them.

The RF Systems Division consists of four Sections and associated divisional laboratories. These are:

This YGT opportunity relates to Sections 1) and 2).

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

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

You will provide support for the Division’s activities in satellite telecommunications and/or satellite Tracking Telemetry Command (TTC) and Payload Data Transmission (PDT). The focus of your work will depend on your expertise but could cover:

• Telecoms systems architecture, technology, equipment, protocol, signal design, receiver and signal processing, etc. The work may entail simulations using or upgrading existing simulators in MATLAB or other programming languages (e.g. performance assessment of broadband SATCOM systems, Internet-of-Things, etc.) or testing and measurement campaign in the telecom laboratory;
• TTC and PDT systems architecture for near-Earth and deep space missions, equipment, technology, protocol, signal design, receiver and signal processing, etc. The work may entail simulations using or upgrading existing simulators in MATLAB/Python or other programming languages and/or a testing and measurement campaign in the TTC laboratory.

You will be able to explore in detail the theoretical background of telecom systems and/or TTC/PDT architecture by learning how typical space missions, satellites, receivers and test equipment work.

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 Telecommunications or Electronic Engineering.

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.

It will also be an asset to have:

• Programming Skills (Python, MATLAB or other programming languages);
• Hands-on experience in use and testing of basic laboratory hardware (RF/microwave/digital).

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 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 andFAQ 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 [email protected] .

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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, Croatia 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 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.