Intern in the Electrical Department

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Position Title: Intern in the Electrical Department
Location: Noordwijk
Country: Netherlands
Deadline Date: 30 November 2024 23:59 CET/CEST

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The European Space Agency (ESA) is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to the exploration of space. Established in 1975, ESA has grown to include 22 member states and employs over 2,200 staff members. The agency operates across multiple countries, focusing on various aspects of space exploration, technology development, and scientific research. ESA's mission is to provide Europe with a space capability and to foster international cooperation in space exploration and research.

Job Overview:
The internship opportunity is situated within the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, Netherlands. The intern will work under the direct authority of the Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality, specifically within the Electrical Department. The primary focus of this internship is on the implementation of neural networks on space-grade Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and System on Chips (SoCs). The intern will explore frameworks, models, tools, and hardware to efficiently implement neural networks for space applications, integrating them into spacecraft computing architecture and analyzing their performance. This role is crucial for advancing on-board computing capabilities in space missions, particularly in the context of deep learning and artificial intelligence.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The intern will be responsible for conducting research on neural network implementation techniques suitable for space applications. This includes evaluating existing frameworks and tools, synthesizing neural networks into hardware description languages, and integrating the resulting hardware into spacecraft computers. The intern will also be tasked with developing a laboratory demonstrator to illustrate the most promising hardware and methods. Additionally, the intern will collaborate with various divisions within the Electrical Department, contributing to the development of engineering standards and supporting ESA missions through technical expertise in microelectronics and AI design flow.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must be university students, preferably in their final or second-to-last year of a Master's level course. They must remain enrolled at their university for the entire duration of the internship. A good knowledge of English or French is required, and knowledge of another Member State language is considered an asset. The internship topic requires educational knowledge in microelectronics, including digital integrated circuit modeling languages and computer-aided design tools.

Educational Background:
The ideal candidate should have a background in microelectronics, specifically in areas related to digital integrated circuit modeling languages such as VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog, and SystemC. Familiarity with computer-aided design tools from companies like Synopsys, Mentor, and Cadence is also essential. This educational background will enable the intern to effectively engage with the technical challenges presented during the internship.

Experience:
While specific prior experience is not mandated, candidates should possess a foundational understanding of microelectronics and digital design principles. Experience with FPGA design and implementation, as well as exposure to AI and neural network concepts, will be beneficial for the intern's success in this role.

Languages:
The mandatory language for this position is English or French, with a good command of one being essential. Knowledge of additional languages from ESA member states is advantageous and will enhance the candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
This internship is a full-time position and is open to nationals of specific ESA member states, including Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Canada, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Cyprus are also eligible to apply. ESA is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from all qualified candidates, including women and individuals with disabilities. The closing date for applications is 30 November 2024 at 23:59 CET/CEST.