ESA Graduate Trainee in Materials, Environments and Contamination Control

Our team and mission

The Materials, Environments and Contamination Control Section (TEC-MSE) provides expert engineering support to ESA projects, carries out technological research and performs laboratory testing activities focused on the environmental survivability of materials and cleanliness and contamination control engineering. The section supports all mission phases: from requirements definition in early project phases, instrument /satellite development, on-ground assembly integration and test, including launch campaign support and in-orbit induced environments. TEC-MSE has expertise in areas such as atomic oxygen degradation, UV and laser induced contamination, planetary dust contamination, radiation and charging, optical performance degradation, and other synergistic environmental and contamination effects. The section also provides materials and processes support for flight safety, including expertise related to habitable/pressurised environments, materials offgassing and toxicity.

The experts in the section have a strong focus on space hardware, laboratory capabilities, development of innovative environmental testing facilities and non-standard testing techniques, as well as associated modelling related to non-metallic materials, in-orbit contamination and environmental effects. The section’s laboratory work is frequently performed in the state-of-the-art Materials and Electrical Components laboratory at ESTEC, which has unique space environmental testing facilities and a wide range of materials analysis equipment.

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

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

The activity field is related to ongoing efforts to develop computational models which can be used to predict the evolution in the functional properties of spacecraft materials when exposed to harsh space environments, such as atomic oxygen, intense UV and particle radiation, high velocity impacts, and thermal cycling. This is relevant for future space missions covering a wide range of applications, from Very Low Earth Orbit, to the surface of the Moon, Mars, the inner solar system and beyond.

In the frame of this EGT opportunity, you will:

• Perform a thorough literature study and review available experimental data,
• Identify/select the most relevant tools to build a reliable predictive model (e.g. AI based, Molecular dynamics analysis, parametric function, …)
• Determine the required experimental test campaign to provide meaningful inputs to feed and validate the models
• Perform the materials selection and Design of Experiments, the samples definition, characterization and testing using the unique experimental facilities available in the laboratory.
• Based on your results, identify the most suitable type of predictive models for the determination of the materials end-of-life functional properties, potentially enabling the link between the material physical-chemical modifications and the impact on the performances
• This traineeship has a strong focus on laboratory testing and materials characterizations, for which a hands-on approach is required. You will work in an international team environment and you will also have the opportunity to work on other projects within your areas of interest and to collaborate with colleagues from a wide range of different technical disciplines

Technical competencies

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 Materials Engineering, Experimental Physics, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent.

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.