Spaceflight Dynamics Internship [F/M]

Job Description 👨‍💻

Exotrail is expanding its software-development team of Spaceflight Dynamics Engineers and Software Developers. Our team is developing spacestudio™ & spacetower™, our software suite to design, monitor and operate satellite missions with an emphasis on propulsion operations!

A more recent software solution, called spaceguard™, is focusing on SSA (Space Situational Awareness) topics such as complex satellite maneuvers characterisation and design.

Our software are based on modern languages (Java, TypeScript, JavaScript, Python) and are targeted to satellite integrators and operators. Our main goal is to provide an easy-to-use, yet accurate and powerful tool for satellite integrators to design their platform with respect to mission and space dynamics constraints, and for operators to operate effortlessly constellations of satellites equipped with propulsion.

Our core competencies lie in the development of algorithms to control low-thrust propulsion on small satellites and to integrate a full flight dynamics system within an easy-to-use, modular interface.

Exotrail is looking for a Flight Dynamics Intern to join our space mechanics development team for 6 months. The start date would ideally be from early September to mid-October 2024.

Your job will be to contribute to the development of either spacetower™ or spaceguard™, either on the design features or on the operational aspects. Depending on your skills, you may work on the following technical subjects:

- Implementing uncertainty / covariance analysis on conjunction detection.

- Implementing relative maneuvering strategies.

- Improving user experience with SSA features.

- Exploring new techniques such as Machine Learning for orbital event forecast.

- Improving orbit determination features.

You will work on several tasks including:

📌 Code new algorithms in Java

📌 Compare models and algorithms to external tools

📌 Deep validation of the orbital mechanics concepts involved to provide robust features

📌 Implement automated tests to ensure robustness and non-regression

📌 Write technical documentation for team members and users

📌 Integrate the technical bricks in a user-oriented approach

You will be joining a dynamic and motivated team based in the city centre of Toulouse. The development team operates following the Agile method, allowing to progress at a fast pace with a customer-oriented approach. We accord great importance to freedom, autonomy, and responsibility. You will benefit from the support of all the team in space dynamics and software development, our two areas of expertise in Toulouse. We also promote the culture of software craftmanship and rely on the principles of clean code.

Preferred Experience 💁‍♀️

To complete this internship, Exotrail is looking for an engineering student or applied scientists (Math, Physics) with a solid background in orbital mechanics as well as Java programming. A proactive attitude and a high degree of autonomy are also expected. Interest in frontend developments would be appreciated. Previous experience in those fields would be an asset:

• Space systems
• Flight dynamics software
• Optimization algorithms.

A friendly attitude and team spirit are also really appreciated.

You like working in a changing and challenging environment. You enjoy working in a team, bringing in new ideas and debating with your colleagues to move the project forward. You are action-oriented and you want to bring agility to space and develop new services based on high-level technologies.

About our recruitment process 🤝

We are committed to recruiting the right people for the right job regardless of your private background. Interested candidates should submit their resume and a cover letter outlining their interest.

We will meet at least twice to give you a better idea of what it's like to work at Exotrail:

1. Interview with your future mentor: you will learn more about the internship and the required qualifications.
2. Interview with one of our managers: you will learn more about Exotrail’s value and vision.