Job Advertisement

Position Title: Intern in the Space Environments and Effects Section
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'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. ESA operates across multiple countries, with its headquarters located in Paris, France, and various centers across Europe, including the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, Netherlands, where this Internship is based.

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 Space Environments and Effects Section (TEC-EPS) plays a crucial role in supporting the development of ESA missions and programs by investigating the space environments in which these missions operate. The section assesses the likely effects of these environments, provides risk assessments, and defines mitigation methods to ensure the safety and success of ESA missions. The internship focuses on analyzing data from an in-orbit network of radiation instruments on key ESA missions, including MTG-I, Sentinel-6, EDRS-C, Galileo, INTEGRAL, Proba-1a, and Proba-V. Interns will engage in various analyses related to energetic proton and electron fluxes, contributing to environmental model improvements and gaining hands-on experience in space radiation monitoring.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Interns will be responsible for performing detailed analyses on radiation data obtained from various ESA missions. Key duties include:

• Processing and analyzing radiation environment data from the in-orbit network of radiation instruments.
• Cleaning and organizing data to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Conducting comparisons of results from different instruments to identify trends and discrepancies.
• Performing dedicated analyses of selected Solar Particle Events to understand their impact on space missions.
• Predicting radiation fluxes in key orbital locations based on the data collected.
• Comparing findings to environmental model predictions to enhance understanding and improve models.
• Preparing a final report summarizing the analyses conducted and presenting findings to the team.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must be university students, preferably in their final or second-to-last year of a Master's level course. A strong background in space radiation environments is essential, along with experience in Data Processing and Analysis. Familiarity with relevant IT tools is also required. Knowledge of space radiation monitors or related instrumentation is considered an asset. Additionally, candidates must remain enrolled at their university for the entire duration of the internship.

Educational Background:
The position requires candidates to be enrolled in a university program, ideally pursuing a Master's degree in a relevant field such as physics, engineering, or space science. The internship is designed for students who are in their final or second-to-last year of study, ensuring that they have a solid foundation of knowledge and skills applicable to the tasks they will undertake during the internship.

Experience:
Candidates should possess demonstrated knowledge of space radiation environments and have prior experience in data processing and analysis. This experience can be gained through academic projects, internships, or relevant coursework. Familiarity with Data Analysis software and tools is highly beneficial, as interns will be expected to utilize these tools to conduct their analyses effectively.

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 would be considered an asset, enhancing communication and collaboration within the diverse ESA team.

Additional Notes:
This internship is a full-time position based at the ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands. The closing date for applications is 30 November 2024 at 23:59 CET/CEST. ESA is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability, or other characteristics. The agency values diversity and seeks to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing necessary support in the workplace. Applications are only accepted from nationals of specific member states, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and others, as well as from certain associate and cooperating states.