Junior Professional in Innovative Optical Payloads for Future EO Missions
Noordwijk, NL
This post is part of ESA’s Junior Professional Programme. We are looking for enthusiastic candidates with up to 2–3 years of relevant professional experience after their Master's degree to join ESA for a four-year assignment. During this time, you will be actively working and learning on the job and will benefit from valuable mobility and developmental opportunities that will prepare you for a successful career at ESA. Subject to performance, it is therefore the intention to offer you an indefinite contract which will start at the end of the four years.
The selection process for the 2025 cohort of Junior Professionals will take place during Spring 2025, with a projected start date in October or November 2025.
Recruitment will take place at the A1 grade. At the end of the fourth year and if you are offered an indefinite contract at the end of your Junior Professional assignment, you will be upgraded to the A2 grade.
Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands or other site, as required.
Developmental assignments form an integral part of the JP Programme and may entail a temporary relocation to another ESA establishment or other location.
Description
As a Junior Professional Engineer in EO small and innovative optical payloads in the Future Missions and Instruments Division, Future Missions and Architecture Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes, you will report to the Head of the Optical Instruments Section and be involved in the development of innovative Earth observation (EO) optical instruments.
The types of payload involved will include EO multispectral imagers, imaging spectrometers and Fourier-Transform spectrometers for ocean, land and atmosphere sensing, along with active laser payloads for surface and atmosphere sensing, covering the full wavelength range from ultraviolet to far infrared, as well as quantum sensors.
The role of the Future Missions and Instruments Division is to prepare the Earth observation missions, instruments and technologies of the future, encompassing a wide range of research missions (Earth Explorers missions, Missions of Opportunity, Scout missions) and operational missions (Copernicus Sentinels and meteorology missions). The work carried out is mainly related to:
- the end-to-end definition of space missions, including orbits, instruments, platforms, end-to-end performance, data flow, launcher interfaces and ground processing to meet the observation requirements.
- the definition and pre-development of optical instruments, including breadboarding of critical elements for technology development and risk retirement.
- the performance modelling and development of tools in order to assess new instrument concepts and their feasibility.
You will work in close cooperation with specialists in the different technology domains, as well as with the scientists and/or data users that are proposing the mission or are expected to use its results.
Duties
You will be involved in the study and pre-development of one or several payloads and you will be expected to contribute to a dynamic and creative environment engaged in the preparatory phases of EO missions.
Over time, you will assume responsibility for the following main tasks:
- supporting the evaluation of proposals for small satellite missions that will fly compact optical instruments;
- studying or defining and initiating feasibility/assessment studies on innovative and compact optical payloads with potential for research-oriented missions such as SCOUT missions, or for commercial initiatives such as those under NewSpace;
- defining, developing, maintaining and upgrading optical payload performance models and tools in order to assess new instrument concepts and their feasibility;
- maintaining knowledge of relevant technology developments inside and outside ESA, reviewing and assessing the potential for photonics and emerging technologies to be used in future EO small satellite missions.
Development programme
In addition to your daily work, you will take part in an extensive learning and development programme. From day one, you will learn on the job and benefit from tailored development opportunities, including participation in technical and key skills training courses.
Furthermore, there is a mobility component to the Junior Professional Programme that can take the form of an internal rotation to another team within ESA, an external secondment outside ESA or a combination of both. Internal rotations aim to boost your professional experience and knowledge of the European Space Agency, whereas external secondments aim to boost your professional experience and knowledge of the European space sector.
As a Junior Professional, you may have the opportunity to conduct the mobility component of your Programme in other Directorates at the Agency, focusing on innovative optical technologies and small satellites. Another possibility will be an external secondment to gain hands-on experience in instruments/technologies in industry or an institute.
This Programme represents a significant investment by ESA in your personal and professional development and is designed to provide you with the required knowledge and skills for a career at ESA. You can expect to be given many opportunities to develop your professional experience and competencies, to learn from ESA experts and to contribute to ESA activities.
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
A Master's degree in optical engineering or physics is required for this post.
Additional requirements
You should have between two and three years of professional experience, preferably in a relevant domain, after completion of your Master's degree.
Familiarity with small satellites.
Familiarity with photonics and emerging technologies.
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
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.
Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.
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 are only 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, the United Kingdom and Canada, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.
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 first be given to internal candidates and secondly 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.