ESA Graduate Trainee in Coordination for Sounding Rockets and Stratospheric Balloon Experiments

Our team and mission

The ESA Academy is the agency’s overarching programme for university student space projects and training opportunities.
Through a tailored transfer of space know-how and interaction with space professionals, the Academy takes students
through a learning path that complements their academic education.
The ESA Academy programme comprises of three main segments:

• An academic Training programme which offers individuals a portfolio of highly qualifying training sessions covering a wide range of space-related topics offered by professional experts;
• A Projects programme, allowing teams to design build, test and operate small satellites and payload experiments on space-related platforms, among others through the ESA Academy Experiments programme;
• An Engagement programme, providing students with funding opportunities, joint learning activities and networking opportunities. It encompasses mechanisms to offer access to ESA expertise;

Specifically, located under the Projects programme, REXUS/BEXUS (Rocket/Balloon Experiments for University Students) is geared towards university student teams, allowing them to carry out scientific and technological experiments on research rockets and balloons. Each year, two rockets and two balloons are launched, carrying up to 20 experiments designed and built by student teams.
REXUS/BEXUS allows participating student teams to experience the full life cycle of a space project in a short timeframe. Student teams are guided by experts from ESA and programme partners (national space agencies and space centres, industry, launch providers) throughout all project phases. Starting from experiment concept, to design, integration, and testing, and finally operations, data analysis and presentation of results.
A strong emphasis is placed on regular interaction with professional engineers and scientists through engineering documentation, frequent meetings, workshops and technical reviews. The outcome of participation is a unique practical experience and training with ESA and its partners that complements and enhances university students’ academic journey.
A further element of ESA Academy’s Projects programme is a dedicated Rocketry Training geared towards individual entry level bachelor students. The Rocketry Training covers fundamental principles of rocketry for students without prior knowledge on the subject.
ESA Academy also supports the European Rocketry Challenge, a rocket launch competition for European university teams.

The ESA Academy, as part of the ESA Education Office, operates in close cooperation with specialists from ESA and industry, from university departments and other research organisations. ESA’s ESEC-Galaxia site in Belgium hosts several facilities tailored for the ESA Academy, including the CubeSat Support Facility, a cleanroom hosting integration and test equipment for CubeSats and experiments, and the Training and Learning Facility, a state-of-the art training room also equipped to support Concurrent Engineering workshops.

Information on the activities of the ESA Academy can be found at https://www.esa.int/Education/ESA_Academy.

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

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

You will support the coordination of the hands-on project activities conducted by the university student teams participating in the REXUS/BEXUS programme. In close coordination with representatives of the programme partners (space agencies and space centres, industry, launch providers), under guidance from an ESA tutor, You will support student teams developing experiments from selection (concept) throughout their design, fabrication, testing, launch and post-flight activities.

Specific tasks will include:

• periodic review of experiment technical (experiment design/operation) and project management documents;
• tracking teams’ technical progress between formal reviews;
• interfacing with ESA technical experts;
• assistance with coordination of logistical arrangements for reviews, integration and test events, launch campaigns and workshops;
• ensuring an effective dissemination and utilization of experiment results;
• direct support to teams and programme partners at project-related events, including launch campaigns, in the form of both hands-on support and delivery of presentations;
• contribute to overall programme development and maintenance, including its website, social media and other outreach aspects;
• supporting the development of the programme schedule and maintaining key programme databases.

Furthermore, You may be involved in the support to other rocketry activities, such as the Rocketry Training Programme or the European Rocketry Challenge.
Specific tasks can include:

• support in the review of training material and management documentation (for example periodic reporting by training providers);
• interfacing with ESA technical experts;
• assistance with coordination of logistical arrangements for launch events;
• review of technical documentation.

You will also be involved in additional technical and managerial tasks to further develop the programme. As EGT you may also contribute to other student activities and projects of the ESA Academy, as required.

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 recently completed or be in the final year of your master’s degree in a technical or scientific discipline.

Additional requirements

You should show a strong understanding of both system engineering principles and practices as well as good understanding of project/programme management.

You should be able to demonstrate excellent organisational skills, the ability to follow multiple concurrent activities and a proactive approach to programme coordination.

You should have good interpersonal and communication skills and 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.

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.Noting the location of this role, and the need to be flexible with daily travel due to participation in campaigns and training delivery it is strongly recommended that you have access to a car for the duration of the appointment.

Noting the location of this role, and the need to be flexible with daily travel due to participation in campaigns and training delivery it is strongly recommended that you have access to a car for the duration of the appointment.