Our team and mission

This position is based at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) - Darmstadt, Germany

The Ground Systems Engineering and Innovation Department is responsible for all the ground systems engineering and support activities required to support mission operations and implement innovation. The Department maintains and manages a full level of competences, technologies and services in all engineering disciplines related to ground systems, infrastructure, technology evolution and Engineering R&T and innovation. The Department provides expert support in these areas to the Directorate of Operations for all current and potential missions and leads, in the role of architect, ground systems evolution and innovation implementation in the infrastructure and to other ESA programs. The Department is furthermore responsible for the overall technical innovation and technical standardisation coordination for the ground segment.

The Department is relying on the following domains of expertise:

• Ground Station Engineering 
• Flight Dynamics and Mission Analysis
• Mission Operations Data Systems Engineering
• Navigation Support 
• Multi-Mission Infrastructure – Ground Segment Integration and Testing

For further details, interested candidates are encouraged to visit this link.

For further information visit our web site: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity for the internship

You can choose between the following topics:

1) Topic 1: Ground Systems Cybersecurity and DevSecOps

Cybersecurity is growing to be more and more important in ground segment engineering and spacecraft operations. It affects all layers of the mission operations infrastructure, from IT systems to mission operations applications. The objective of this topic is to propose innovative ways to improve the cybersecurity posture for the mission operations ground segment, in particular talking into account modern requirements like remote access. With the software domain moving more and more towards continuous integration and services, DevSecOps is a very relevant subject in the cybersecurity domain and would be an interesting specialization for the internship. 

2) Topic 2: Missions Operations Software Innovation

Mission Operations software (i.e. the software used to monitor and control the spacecraft functions) is a key area of responsibility of the department. Future mission needs require innovation and evolution of this software. For example, future missions will be composed of multiple assets controlled and operated by multiple entities and principal investigators. To be able to operate these missions the monitoring and control application infrastructure need to evolve into a distributed system, interconnecting multiple ground segments in a service-oriented architecture. The department maintains the Advanced Ground and Space Applications (AGSA) lab to trial new technologies and concepts in this domain. As an intern, you  will investigate possible innovations to the mission operations software domain, in particular using the advanced capabilities available in the AGSA lab.

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3) Topic 3: Digitalization and Model-Based Systems Engineering 

Digitalization is a key development currently permeating industry and intergovernmental organizations such as ESA alike. In the ground systems engineering and innovation department, specific emphasis is put on digitalization of engineering processes to make the engineering itself more efficient and flexible as well as reduce redundancy. In particular, modern technologies such as model-based system engineering play a role here.

The internship will revolve around the application of modern digitalization and model-based system engineering techniques to space mission operations ground segments. 

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

Education

You must have student status and be enrolled at university for the entire duration of the internship. You should preferably be in your final or second to last year of a university course at master’s level in a technical or scientific discipline.

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.

Additional Requirements:

1) Topic 1:

• Knowledge or academic specialization in the area of cybersecurity and cyber-secure software and systems engineering is an asset.

2) Topic 2:

• Knowledge or academic specialization in the area of software engineering and potentially innovation management is an asset.

3) Topic 3: 

• Knowledge or academic specialization in the area of digitalization and model-based system engineering is an asset.