This position can be based
•    At the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) – Darmstadt, Germany
•    At the European Space and Research Technology Centre (ESTEC) – Noordwijk, Netherlands

Duties and Responsibilities

In execution of these tasks, the Space Safety Office has the following entities:

• Space Weather Office (OPS-SW)
• Planetary Defence Office (OPS-SP)
• Space Debris Office (OPS-SD)
• Clean Space Office (OPS-SC)
• Frequency Management Office (OPS-SF)

The Space Debris Office constitutes the focal point for ESA space debris activities and is responsible for coordinating the Agency’s space debris research activities. Its work is centred around a wide range of operational and scientific analysis software, developed, maintained and operated under its control. Through the provision of domain expertise, the office is deeply involved in implementing the Agency’s zero debris approach.

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic of the internship: Supporting the implementation of the Zero Debris Approach (evolution of the space debris environment and operational needs)

The applicant will be involved in activities supporting the implementation and further development of ESA’s Zero Debris Approach, which is aligned with the Zero Debris Charter. You will be supporting analyses on the status and future evolution of the space debris environment and work with ongoing and future satellite missions. You will be assigned to topics in the areas of analysis of mitigation and remediation techniques, evaluation of new concepts and the development and application of the necessary means to verify and qualify such concepts, as well as addressing operational needs through technologies for automated collision avoidance and/or re-entry safety.

Your work will support the ongoing analysis and implementation of improvements to ESA’s reporting on compliance with Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines and Policies, and support the development of tools for environment impact assessment.

Required Qualifications 

You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a university course at the Master’s level and you need to remain 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 Member State language would be an asset.

Good knowledge and background in engineering modeling, data science, simulation and mathematics is an asset.

Previous demonstrated experience with scientific computing in Python is an asset.