ESA Graduate Trainee in Science Payload Preparation

The Future Missions Department is in charge of mission preparation activities (system definition studies Phases O/A/BI and technology development) and fast missions implementation in the Science Directorate. Within the Department, the Payload Validation Section is responsible for conducting laboratory based validation activities, with a particular emphasis on imaging focal plane technologies and instrument electronics, in support of the development of the instrumentation for future ESA space science missions.

This EGT position offers the possibility of either a hands-on laboratory based project and/or a software simulation and modelling project. Both projects will contribute to the preparation of future space science missions. The laboratory-based project will focus on one of the following themes: Verifying visible and infra-red detector electro-optical performance and detector readout electronics within the section's laboratories; Explore the capability of typical Instruments electronics to operate in a cryogenic environment for the L4 Enceladus mission; Work on a new plasma facility in the section.

Your role within this project will include the following tasks: Define the project: interaction with stakeholders (e.g. mission study, project or operations team, or payload consortium, instrument developers, scientists) for requirements specification, test plan definition and implementation schedule; Design and or modify the laboratory test set-up (generally by tailoring existing set-ups as required); Commission and characterize the test set-up; Perform the tests according to the test plan; Data analysis and reporting.

In this project you will learn about space science instruments, space science detector technology, performance characterization equipment and techniques, test plan and procedure preparation, data acquisition and analysis. The software simulation and modelling project will focus on the development and utilisation of the Pyxel framework https://esa.gitlab.io/pyxel/ To support the Departments' activities, the Section has developed an open-source software tool: Pyxel, a novel and multi-purpose Python framework for instrument simulation.

Your role within this project will be to: Develop further and maintain the Pyxel framework; Add additional existing detectors models to the framework in the context of building new instrument simulators; Contribute to management and development of the Pyxel user community/collaboration (GitLab issue management, organising workshops, documentation, tutorials); Utilise Pyxel in the simulation of a space science instrument and laboratory based payload validation activities.

You should have recently completed or be in the final year of your master’s degree in in technical or scientific discipline, preferably with specialisation in opto-electronics or equivalent. 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.