Intern in the Technology Department on Advanced Data Handling & Processing Hardware

Our team and mission

This position is based at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) - Noordwijk, Netherlands

Under the direct authority of the Head of the Electrical Department, the Avionics & EEE Division is responsible for all aspects related to Avionics (with inputs from AOCS/GNC), Data Systems, Microelectronics, Flight Software and EEE Components and associated laboratory facilities. The responsibilities also extend to technology/product development and support to standardisation. More specifically TEC-ED responsibilities encompass:

• Definition of Avionics architecture (with inputs from AOCS/GNC) including procurement of associated products and supported through the Division’s following responsibilities:
  • On-board computer and Data Handling (PL/PF) for space systems, including their procurement and end-to-end validation (in close collaboration with TEC-EF);
  • Engineering of on-board software in all phases including pre-development and independent verification & validation of critical software, supporting software-system and functional engineering activities.

• Microelectronics and EEE Components
  • Microelectronic devices and systems including development of radiation hardening techniques for such systems;
  • EEE Components both passive and active, including product development. Qualification, reliability and Radiation Hardness Assurance in support of TEC -Q;
  • Contribute to the European Space Component Coordination (ESCC) and all associated activities.

• Development and operation of a reference laboratory for components evaluation against the space environment (including radiation), reliability assessment, Data Systems, Microelectronics and Flight Software domains.

Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity for the internship

You can choose between the following topics:

1) Topic 1: Advanced Data Handling Architecture (ADHA) Facility
The ADHA program aims to specify and develop a data handling architecture based on standardised, interchangeable and interoperable electronics modules equipped with the latest generation of microelectronic components, assembled and integrated into units of standardised electrical and mechanical form factors. 
Working on the ADHA flatsat you participate in the integration and validation of various hardware and software modules developed for the ADHA Flatsat. This will involve bringing up Engineering Model (EM) modules developed for ADHA and integrating them into the ADHA flatsat, ensuring that each one functions correctly within the unit and the larger system.
 
In addition to working with existing modules, you will have the opportunity to design small printed circuit boards (PCBs) for test modules of the Flatsat facility. You will create custom PCBs to meet specific requirements, from initial design through to final implementation, and also develop test software for integration testing of other ADHA modules. Your designs will be integral to developing test new functionalities within the Flatsat, enabling more sophisticated simulations and testing scenarios. 

You will gain an insight in topics such as Avionics and Data Handling architectures, modular units, on-board interfaces, and unit integration concepts. 

2) Topic 2: Cubesat Flatsat
CubeSat FlatSat is one of the lab facilities maintained by the On-Board Computer and Data-Handling section. This set-up contains all the subsystems present in normal CubeSat missions, for example On-Board Computer, Telemetry and Telecommand Subsystem, Payload Processing Units etc. It can be used for testing all the data-handling concepts expected in real operations. Generic information about the FlatSat can be found here: ESA - Opened-out ‘FlatSat’ for CubeSat testing

Possible tasks for the Cubesat Flatsat facility include the following: 

• Development of a Mission Operations Center for the FlatSat;
• Extending the Payload capabilities of the FlatSat by integrating new payloads;
• Development of a Payload processing chain (i.e. implement payload data transfer with dedicated radio link);
• Development of software components for the On-Board Computer of the FlatSat (i.e. file system, fault detection etc.).

All the aforementioned tasks/developments can be considered fully technical and hands-on, and require practical knowledge related to embedded systems.

On top of implementing selected technical topics, the intern will be responsible also for general management of the CubeSat FlatSat, and maintaining the documentations of the activity.

You will gain experience and an insight in topics such as Cubesat architectures, as well as data handling and on-board processing architectures and concepts.

3) Topic 3: On-Board Processing and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Facility

Your role in the On-Board Processing and AI Facility will involve several key tasks that support the facility, including: 

(a) Integration and maintenance of edge processing hardware devices: 

You will be responsible for setting up these edge processing hardware devices and ensuring they are properly connected and integrated seamlessly into the overall system and server infrastructure. You will also be involved in setting up and maintaining services that allow users to remotely access, manage and use the edge processing devices.  

(b) Benchmarking of on-board processing algorithms on space representative hardware: 

You will be responsible for testing and optimizing standard and custom on-board data processing algorithms on the edge processing hardware available in our lab, to determine the efficiency and limits of different hardware processing options.  

(c) Development of new on-board payload data processing algorithms:

Your work can also include the development of new on-board processing algorithms, based on new applications from representative space missions. Examples include optical imaging, compression, encryption and AI/ML (Machine Learning), for Earth Observation, Science and Exploration missions. 

The algorithms can be either based on classical methods, or neural networks (NN).   

You will gain an insight in topics such as on-edge processing hardware architectures, AI hardware accelerators, implementation and benchmarking of commonly used on-board processing and AI/ML algorithms on relevant space-grade hardware, and automating continuous integration for hardware-in-the-loop benchmarking for these algorithms.

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 must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a university course at Master’s level and you need to remain enrolled at your University for the entire duration of the internship.

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.

Depending on the topic selected, the following skills would be considered as assets: 

• General knowledge of microcontroller/microprocessor embedded systems, including operating systems (i.e. FreeRTOS);
• Knowledge of programming languages used in embedded systems (i.e. C/C++);
• Knowledge of interfaces and protocols used in embedded systems (i.e. CAN Bus, RS-485);
• Hardware board bring up (FPGA, VPU, GPU, etc);
• Experience in deploying ML models on embedded/edge processing devices.