Our team and mission

The Future Engineering Division (in support of the program directorates) is responsible for developing and providing the right Engineering Expertise, Tools, Methods and Standards for the development of future projects. The role of the Division’s AI and Data Science Section is to lead the Agency’s centre of excellence for Artificial Intelligence. The section supports the development and exploitation of future space missions focusing on Artificial Intelligence technologies and techniques, development and verification methods for AI systems, data Science technologies and development methods, identification of future applications of AI, in support of other areas of ESA, monitoring advanced technology evolutions (such as quantum computing) to explore their suitability for space applications.

The following technology areas are of particular interest:

• Planning techniques to increase the onboard autonomy of spacecraft, particularly in telecommunication and Earth observation constellation missions;
• Spacecraft engineering process optimisation using artificial intelligence techniques, for example requirement engineering, smart manufacturing, support of Assembly Integration and Validation, and documentation generation;
• Trustworthiness of AI, including generative AI, for the verification and validation of AI-based applications, uncertainty and robustness quantification.

As a Research Fellow, you will work in a team of experienced engineers in the domain of space software and AI. You will be able to interface with experts from other engineering disciplines for applications and potential demonstrations. You will be responsible for:

• prototyping applications, proofs of concept and related tests in the departmental laboratory facilities to assess the technologies developed. This may be in the areas of mission management or engineering processes covering the entire spacecraft’s life cycle;
• providing expertise in AI and/or machine learning (ML) for the development of AI/ML systems and their applications, supporting ESA missions and projects, ESA R&D activities, or ESA working groups on AI/ML;
• supporting the AI Competence Centre duties by proposing activities in line with the ESA strategic objectives related to AI, consolidating data and processing architectures for the development of Ground and Flight AI applications, setting up a knowledge database to share data sets, AI models and knowledge, organising and coordinating events related to AI, establishing partnerships with industries and academies, and disseminating the results of technical reporting through peer-reviewed journal publications, colloquiums and webinars;
• contributing to the development of advanced benchmark problems that can serve as baseline and reference cases for various R&D projects.

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

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

In line with the application areas and technology domains, you will be assigned to consolidating research and applying AI technology to a specific topic(s), which will be detailed and consolidated in accordance with your profile and experience.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

Education

A PhD in artificial intelligence, software engineering or data science is required.
Preference will be given to applications submitted by candidates who have obtained their PhD in the past five years.

Additional requirements

You should also have:

• A good knowledge of critical software development processes is an asset.
• This position, located at the intersection between academic approaches and industrial applications, and between AI and software systems engineering, is at the core of the challenges relating to the current embedded systems. It also provides an opportunity to transition gradually from an academic context to an industrial setting.
• You should have good interpersonal and communication skills in order to interact with the systems engineering, AI and MBSE community and be able to work in a multicultural environment, both independently and as part of a team. A methodological approach and good organisational skills are required.
• You should demonstrate an interest in space, with the ability to and an interest in becoming actively involved in prospective interdisciplinary research.

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.