Job Advertisement

Position Title: Intern in the Mission Management and Ground Segment Department
Location: Frascati, Rome
Country: Italy
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 in Europe and collaborates with various international partners. ESA's mission is to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. The agency is known for its commitment to scientific research, technological innovation, and the promotion of International Cooperation in space exploration.

Job Overview:
The Internship opportunity is situated within the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes at the ESA Centre for Earth Observation (ESRIN) in Frascati, Italy. The intern will work under the direct authority of the Director of Earth Observation Programmes and the Head of the Mission Management and Ground Segments Department. The primary focus of this internship is the development of a service performance monitoring tool for the Rapid Response Desk (RRD), which is a service funded by the European Commission under the Copernicus Contributing Missions (CCM) program. The RRD is responsible for maintaining the system for satellite data delivery to Copernicus Users. The intern will engage in various tasks, including familiarizing themselves with Service Management concepts, assessing parameters for the monitoring tool, and developing the tool to enhance user satisfaction and operational efficiency. This role is crucial for improving the delivery of satellite data and ensuring that the needs of users are met effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The intern will be responsible for several key tasks, including:

• Familiarizing themselves with the context of service management and applying this knowledge to the RRD and CCMEs’ services.
• Assessing the necessary parameters and information to set up and feed a monitoring tool based on technical and operational information from CCMs.
• Developing a monitoring tool for independent Analysis, focusing on defining indicators for operational efficiency in data delivery to users.
• Including functionalities in the tool to identify user request patterns and anticipate user needs.
• Testing the developed tool against representative operational scenarios to demonstrate its ability to generate regular statistics and trend analyses for Copernicus services.
• Identifying gaps in the data portfolio and proposing improvements based on the tool characterization.
• Producing a final report detailing the results obtained from the internship activities.

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. Additionally, candidates should possess fair to good programming skills, Data Management skills, and knowledge of Data Analytics tools such as Power BI. Basic experience or knowledge of project/service management is also required. A good command of English or French is mandatory, and knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes being a university student, ideally in the final or second-to-last year of a Master's degree program. The candidate must be enrolled at their university throughout the internship period, ensuring that they can apply their academic knowledge in a practical setting while gaining valuable experience in the field of Earth observation and data management.

Experience:
The internship is designed for candidates who are still pursuing their education, thus specific professional experience is not a prerequisite. However, candidates should have some familiarity with programming, data management, and project/service management concepts. This internship is an opportunity for students to gain practical experience and apply their academic knowledge in a real-world context, particularly in the field of Earth observation and satellite data services.

Languages:
The working languages of the European Space Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these languages is required for the internship. Additionally, knowledge of another language from a Member State would be considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to communicate within the diverse environment of ESA.

Additional Notes:
This internship is a full-time position and is part of a contract type designated as 'Intern.' The closing date for applications is set for 30 November 2024 at 23:59 CET/CEST. The European Space Agency is committed to diversity and inclusion in its workforce, 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 seeks to provide necessary support in the workplace. Candidates must be nationals of specific European countries or associated states to be eligible for this internship.