Intern in the Climate Action, Sustainability and Science Department - Harmony Mission

ESA - European Space Agency; Noordwijk; On-site; EUR 6,700 - 11,000; Part time

Job summary

European Space Agency (ESA) invites a Master’s student to join the Harmony Mission team in Noordwijk, NL, contributing to Earth observation mission performance evaluation and tool enhancement. You will work within Earth Surfaces and Interior Section, supporting scientific analyses and software improvements.

Requirements include Python skills, English or French language proficiency, and a background in Harmony disciplines. Training and mentorship are provided within an international team.

Qualifications

• Student in Master’s level, enrolled for the entire internship duration.
• Good knowledge of English or French; other ESA languages are an asset.
• Solid background in Harmony science disciplines and applications.
• Proven programming skills with Python.
• Knowledge of active microwave (SAR) or optical remote sensing is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Use high‑fidelity simulation environments to demonstrate the mission’s capability to deliver science data within the stated mission requirements.
• Identify and suggest areas of improvement within the existing tools, both on fundamental aspects and on user‑friendliness.
• Use derived performance evaluations to construct, assess and quantify science data (Level‑2) error budgets with a view to product validation metrics.

Skills

Python programming

English language proficiency

French language proficiency

Teamwork

Education

Master’s student (2nd/last year)

Tools

Python

SAR / remote sensing tools

Job description

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Intern in the Climate Action, Sustainability and Science Department - Harmony Mission

Noordwijk, NL

Our team and mission

The Earth Science Division, of the Climate Action, Sustainability and Science Department, Earth Observation Programmes Directorate, is based at the European Space Research and Technology Centre. The Earth and Mission Science Division provides the creative vision for innovation and new discoveries in Earth system science, using Earth Observation (EO) in close cooperation with the scientific community.

The Earth Science Division team:

• bridges science and technology by translating ideas and concepts into technical reality and scientific success. It does this by defining, consolidating and managing scientific mission requirements throughout all phases of a mission, and by measuring the maturity of the resulting mission concept;
• manages scientific research-based studies, providing the scientific foundation for mission concepts and approval, supports the successful development of space and ground segment, in-orbit satellite commissioning and in-orbit scientific achievements;
• undertakes airborne, marine and terrestrial campaigns contributing to the development of new technologies, mission feasibility assessments, calibration/validation and application development.
  

You will work within the Earth Surfaces and Interior Section of the Earth Science Division, whose role is to provide scientific support throughout the full lifecycle of Earth Observation missions, from mission concept and assessment studies through development, commissioning and routine operations. The Section contributes to mission requirements definition, scientific performance assessment, calibration and validation activities, product development, mission data exploitation, and the advancement of Earth science through the exploration of emerging scientific questions, novel methodologies and future research directions. The Section has expertise spanning Earth surfaces and interior processes, including terrestrial, oceanic and cryospheric systems, as well as geodesy, gravity and magnetic field observations and solid Earth dynamics. Your activities will contribute to and benefit from a diverse and international team of scientists working across a variety of Earth science disciplines.

Harmony is ESA’s 10th Earth Explorer mission dedicated to the observation and quantification of small‑scale motion and deformation (velocity gradient) fields to allow data‑driven representations of processes in Earth System models, primarily, at the air‑sea interface, of the solid Earth, and in the cryosphere. Due to the multi‑faced mission, a number of different simulation and performance estimation models have been constructed.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is seeking a talented and enthusiastic intern to join our team to use and potentially further enhance the currently available mission performance evaluation tools.

Key Responsibilities:

• use high‑fidelity simulation environments to demonstrate the mission’s capability to deliver science data within the stated mission requirements;
• identify and suggest areas of improvement within the existing tools, both on fundamental aspects and on user‑friendliness;
• use derived performance evaluations to construct, assess and quantify science data (Level‑2) error budgets with a view to product validation metrics.

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second‑to‑last year of university course at Master’s level. In addition, you must be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship.

Additional requirements

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.

During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.

You should also have:

• a solid understanding of and background in at least one of the Harmony science disciplines and applications;
• demonstrable programming skills with Python;
• knowledge of either active microwave (e.g. SAR) or optical remote sensing is considered an asset.

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 [e-mail] .

Important Information and Disclaimer
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests.

The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding internship 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

Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Applicants from Canada as a Cooperating State can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).