ESA Graduate Trainee in Commercial Data Analysis for Lunar Resource Exploration
Noordwijk, NL
Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
Our team and mission
The Lunar Science Team is responsible for scientific activities at the Moon in the Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration. Our activities emphasise:
- Understanding lunar resources and their potential for the future;
- Understanding the lunar environment, its effects on human activities and the impact of human activities on the environment;
- Preparing for future habitation at the Moon;
- Working with other teams to support research into crew health and performance;
- Preparing opportunities to utilise the Moon as a unique location for scientific research and an archive of Solar System history.
Our activities stretch across the missions and platforms of ESA, international partners, and new commercial actors.
You are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int
Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship
The Lunar Science Team is pioneering a commercial approach to accessing new scientific data on the Moon to support our research priorities. In these cases, private companies develop missions and scientific instruments, operate them and generate data. ESA acts as a customer, obtaining data that we need on a commercial basis through direct purchase or through partnerships. This has never been done before in lunar exploration.
In this early phase we are establishing the first activities of this type, working with innovative companies to access the data and to support them in establishing the capabilities that they need. We are learning together and trying something new and potentially transformative.
The selected ESA Graduate Trainee will be assigned to support commercial data acquisition, to support the interactions with the partners involved, in industry and the science community, to support the definition of the data sets we want and all the steps to establishing data products that the science community can use to help us better understand the Moon.
Technical competencies
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook
Education
You should have just completed, or be in the final year of your master’ s degree in physical science, Earth science, or a related field.
Additional requirements
You should have good interpersonal and communication skills and should be able to work in a multicultural environment, both independently and as part of a team. Previous experience of working in international teams can be considered an asset. Your motivation, overall professional perspective and career goals will also be explored during the later stages of the selection process.
A background or experience with one or more of the following is desirable:
- Lunar science, planetary science, or heliophysics;
- Space science, optical, or nuclear instrumentation;
- Scientific data processing and analysis;
- Development of PDS4 scientific data products.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.
At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at contact.human.resources@esa.int.
Important Information and Disclaimer
Applicants must be eligible to access technology and hardware which is subject to European and US export control regulations.
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.
The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.
Nationality and Languages
Please note that applications can only be considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).
According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will be given to external candidates from under-represented Member States*.
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.
*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.