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Position Title: Intern in the Earth Observation Department, System Modelling for Satellite Onboard AI Functionality
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, including Earth observation, human spaceflight, and satellite navigation. ESA's mission is to provide Europe with a space capability and to foster International Cooperation in space exploration.

Job Overview:
This Internship opportunity is situated within the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, Netherlands. The selected intern will engage in the CHIME project, which is part of the Copernicus Sentinel Expansion missions. The CHIME mission aims to enhance environmental monitoring through the use of a unique visible to shortwave infrared spectrometer. The intern will work on system modelling to improve onboard Artificial Intelligence functionality for satellite operations, specifically focusing on the automated detection and classification of marine debris using hyperspectral data. This role will involve both theoretical and practical aspects of satellite engineering and system performance evaluation, contributing to the development of innovative solutions for Sustainable Environmental Management.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The intern will be responsible for developing and validating a Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm for onboard processing of hyperspectral data. Key responsibilities include:

• Assisting in the training of the SVM model using a labelled dataset of debris types and non-debris regions.
• Conducting hyperparameter tuning and feature selection to optimize the model's performance.
• Generating representative marine datasets using the CHIME Scene Generator Module (SGM) for on-ground validation.
• Defining reference scenes for ingestion into the end-to-end simulator (E2E).
• Contributing to the validation of SVM performance on a test bench with CHIME-like hyperspectral data.
• Evaluating system constraints for systematic and ad-hoc data acquisition over marine areas, including nighttime operations.
• Prototyping Level 2 products for various applications based on the developed algorithms.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a solid engineering background, with familiarity in using software simulators. Programming skills are essential, along with a basic understanding of space system Design. The intern should be a university student, preferably in their final or second-to-last year of a Master’s level course, and must remain enrolled at their university throughout the internship duration. A good knowledge of English or French is required, and knowledge of an additional language from a Member State is considered an asset.

Educational Background:
The ideal candidate should be a university student, preferably pursuing a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline. The candidate must be in their final or second-to-last year of study and must maintain their enrollment at the university for the entire duration of the internship.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have a foundational level of experience in engineering principles, particularly those related to software simulation and space systems. While prior internship experience is beneficial, it is not mandatory. The focus is on candidates who demonstrate a strong understanding of the theoretical concepts and practical applications relevant to satellite engineering and AI functionalities.

Languages:
The working languages of the European Space Agency are English and French. A good command of one of these languages is mandatory for the position. Additionally, knowledge of another language from a Member State is considered advantageous, enhancing communication within the diverse team environment.

Additional Notes:
This internship is a full-time position based at ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands. The closing date for applications is 30 November 2024 at 23:59 CET/CEST. The European Space Agency is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability, or other characteristics. Applications from women are particularly encouraged. The agency also values individuals with disabilities and strives to provide necessary support in the workplace. Candidates must be nationals of specific European countries or associated states to be eligible for this internship.