ESA Graduate Trainee in Earth Observation End-to-End System and Performance Engineering

Our team and mission

The successful candidate will join the Mission and System Studies Section in the Future Missions & Instruments Division (EOP-FM) in the Future Missions and Architecture Department of the Earth Observation Programme Directorate (D/EOP).

EOP-FM’s role is the definition of ESA’s future Earth observation (EO) missions, satellites and technologies. This encompasses scientific research missions such as the Earth Explorers or Missions of Opportunity in cooperation with non-European Agencies (e.g. NGGM), operational missions such as Copernicus Sentinels together with the EU and meteorology missions together with EUMETSAT and small satellite missions (Scouts and Phi-Sats). The work carried out consists of the end-to-end definition of Earth Observation space missions, including system engineering, orbits and mission analysis, instruments, platforms, end-to-end performance, data flow, launcher interfaces, and ground processing to meet the observation requirements. The definition is carried out in close cooperation with specialists in the different domains as well as with the scientists and/or data users proposing the mission or expected to use its result.

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

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

You will contribute to support the work of the Division in one or more of the following areas depending on the competencies of the ESA graduate trainee:

System Engineering Analysis and Modeling:

• Participate in the development of new System Engineering Tools for preliminary analysis and sizing of future EO missions, ensuring a coherent and representative modelling of each element of the system, (satellite/platform and its subsystems, payload, ground processing) contributing to the system performance.
• Participate to the evolution of the existing System Engineering Tools.
• Use the above System Engineering Tools for system trade-offs, preliminary sizing and performance apportionment, budgeting and evaluation of a selected set of future EO missions.
• Contribution on definition, collection and maintenance of EO satellites system and mission requirements including tools for keep traceability and evolution.

Definition and development of Earth Observation (EO) end-to-end Mission Performance Simulators, suitable for the assessment of the end-to-end mission performance and for the preliminary analysis and sizing of future EO missions. In particular you will perform the following activities:

• Participate in the development of new End-to-end Mission Performance Simulators of future EO missions, in particular for EE12 candidate missions (CryoRad, ECO, Hydroterra+ and Keystone).
• Participate in the evolution and development of the existing end-to-end Mission Performance Simulators.
• Participate in the development, evolution and maintenance of Earth Observation mission sizing tools.
• Participate in the definition and preparation of a future ESA Earth Observation mission.

You will closely interact with ESA specialists in the different technology domains, EO system engineers as well as with the scientists and/or data users proposing the mission or expected to use its results.
For details of the scope and purpose of Earth Observation end-to-end mission performance simulators please consult the following references accessible in the internet:

• Biomass end-to-end mission performance simulator, Lopez Dekker, P. et al. IGARSS 2011. DOI: 10.1109/IGARSS.2011.6050169
• FLEX end-to-end mission performance simulator. Vicent, J. et al. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing (Volume: 54, Issue: 7, July 2016). DOI: 10.1109/TGRS.2016.2538300
• FORUM end-to-end mission performance simulator: Sgheri, L., Belotti, C., Ben-Yami, M., Bianchini, G., Carnicero Dominguez, B., Cortesi, U., Cossich, W., Del Bianco, S., Di Natale, G., Guardabrazo, T., Lajas, D., Maestri, T., Magurno, D., Oetjen, H., Raspollini, P., and Sgattoni, C.: The FORUM end-to-end simulator project: architecture and results, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 573–604, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-573-2022, 2022.

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Modelling of drag in spacecrafts in Low Earth Orbits (LEO) and Very Low Earth Orbits (VLEO):

• Contribution to the modelling of Drag and Lift Coefficients of simple structures, including large deployable mesh reflectors and, possibly, complex satellite shapes under varying conditions.
• Investigate the influence of satellite shape on aerodynamic forces with considerations of realistic satellite properties such as solar array area, deployed & rotating arrays, deployed and possibly rotating large reflectors, attitude profiles, mass etc. for difference mission profiles.
• Derivation of system and mission design considerations for VLEO & large LEO satellites missions.
• Generate recommendations for mission/system design for VLEO & large LEO satellites.
• Perform a literature review on VLEO orbits, free molecular flow physic and on the utilisation of VLEO aerodynamic forces on mission objectives.
• Define a range of mission concepts utilizing VLEO and establish an outline in terms of mission analysis and orbit design for each.
• Develop based on an existing tool a simulator bringing together the fields of free molecular flow theory, material physics, atmospheric composition and physics. The simulator shall:
  • Investigate the impact of materials, atmospheric temperature, satellite geometry/attitude and specific orbits on aerodynamic forces.
  • Investigate the possible impact of surface properties & materials on the aerodynamic forces.
  • Investigate the comparison of aerodynamic forces with the other disturbance forces.
• Prepare and execute the verification and validation of the developed simulator.

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 a technical or scientific discipline (e.g. Physics, Optical engineering, RF engineering, Space system engineering, Aerospace engineering, Geoscience and remote sensing).

Additional requirements

You should also have:

• Continuous pro-active learning and curiosity attitude.
• Good knowledge of a programming language (e.g. Python).
• Problem-solving, critical thinking and creativity-oriented attitude capable of materialize ideas in feasible technical concepts.
• Knowledge of EO remote sensing techniques or EO instruments is an asset.
• Ability to understand complex interactions and interfaces between elements of a system.
• A background in mathematical modelling or orbital dynamics is an asset.

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.