Intern in the Future Missions and Architecture Department - System Architect Office

ESA; Noordwijk; On-site; EUR 13,000 - 20,000; Full time

Job summary

ESA in Noordwijk, Netherlands, invites applications for an Intern position in the Future Missions and Architecture Department—System Architect Office. The role focuses on establishing and maintaining a reference Architecture for European Earth Observation systems across missions, partners, and commercial actors.

Workplace is ESTEC, Noordwijk. The internship emphasizes developing EO scenarios, using simulation tools, and contributing to a holistic system-of-systems view extending to 2050+.

Qualifications

• Must be a university student in final or penultimate year, enrolled for the entire duration of the internship.
• Good knowledge of English or French; knowledge of another ESA language is an asset.
• Interest in Earth Observation remote sensing and data analysis; programming knowledge (Python) is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative Earth Observation scenarios and apply relevant simulation tools.
• Analyze the effectiveness of EO satellite systems in synergy and identify gaps in capability.
• Explore opportunities for new System-of-Systems architectures and observatory concepts.
• Collaborate with users and stakeholders to align with evolving European user needs through 2024–2060 horizons.

Skills

Earth Observation

Python

Education

Master's degree student

Tools

Python

Databases

Job description

This position, Intern in the Future Missions and Architecture Department - System Architect Office, located in the Earth Observation System Architecture Office within the Department of Future Earth Observation Missions and Architecture, will be responsible for establishing and maintaining a reference Architecture for European Earth Observation systems, encompassing all ESA Earth Observation missions (Earth Explorers, Sentinels, Meteorological, Third Party, Scouts) and taking account of European, national, and commercial systems as well as of systems of international partner Agencies.

• Workplace: Noordwijk, NL
• Location: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
• Type of Appointment: Intern
• Directorate: Earth Observation Programmes

Our team and mission

The office maintains a detailed view of the European Earth Observation Ecosystem (real world current and planned missions) and a Reference Architecture Blueprint (future world strategic view). Annual observation gap analyses are conducted against user/stakeholder needs that are utilised in formulating EOP strategy.

Using foresight and scenario building approaches and together with the Earth Observation Science Department and with an active external network, the office explores ahead for new domains of Earth Observation with an observatory function. It permanently searches for innovation and opportunities to evolve the Reference Architecture Blueprint. Promising approaches are studied in detail to facilitate the scientific and technical readiness of new Earth Observation concepts.

In close dialogue with users and stakeholders, the office conducts system of systems analyses, to assess the scientific, technological, industrial and operational synergies of different Earth Observation missions and systems to identify potential opportunities out to the 2050+ timeframe.

Field(s) of activity for the internship

You will develop innovative technical Earth Observation scenarios and apply or develop relevant simulation tools to analyse the effectiveness of the use of Earth Observation satellite systems in synergy. The analysis will identify gaps in capability and explore opportunities for new systems of systems architectures and Earth system observatory concepts considering evolving European user needs in a holistic manner. Analyses will cover the 2024 – 2040 and 2040 – 2060 time horizons.

Initial scenarios are to be built around mandatory core missions with reference quality performances (e.g. large Copernicus missions) complemented by other elements in a mixed system architecture approach.

Potential tools / guidelines include initial EO system scenarios, an internal data base as well as complementary approaches to benchmark system design and compare different scenarios.

These activities offer ample scope for the successful candidate to develop a detailed understanding of future EO space system architecture development using a system analysis-scenario based approach.

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

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.

You should also have:

• knowledge of Earth Observation remote sensing technologies and the respective downstream science and applications;
• knowledge of relevant strategic and technological trends and developments inside/outside the space EO domain;
• IT knowledge in the areas of data bases and programming (e.g. Python).

During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests.

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).