Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
The selected candidate will work in a team that covers space antenna systems, space vehicle TT&C antennas, user segment terminal antennas, and submillimetre wave instruments and associated technologies. More specifically, the team deals with:
You are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int
Conical scanning is required for different Earth Observation missions based on radar and radiometric instruments. Typically, this specific beam scanning is achieved by spinning the entire antenna system around the nadir axis. Although effective, this solution presents several problems. Specifically, vibrations can cause de-pointing which might impact the instrument performance. Moreover, mass is an issue since the rotation of the full antenna system requires counterweights of similar mass.
An annular focusing quasi-optical system can be used to simplify the mechanical beam steering solution. In fact, this particular configuration presents an annular focus region which matches the conical scanning requirement. Annular focusing reflectors have been shown to provide good performance in one scanning plane. However, an offset configuration will limit the performance in the rest of the field of view.
The Antenna Analysis and Design team has been working on the concept of annular focusing planar lens solutions, which are symmetric and will then achieve similar performance over all the scanning planes. Theoretical studies and trade-off analysis of such lenses were carried out and validated using internally developed tools and commercial software. Further, a similar configuration has been preliminary studied in a recent work from NASA JPL.
As a Young Graduate Trainee, you will focus on the design, prototyping and testing of annular focusing planar lens solutions. In particular, your research activities will be to:
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
You should have just completed or be in the final year of your master’s degree in electrical engineering.
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.
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.
During the interview motivation and overall professional perspective/career goals will also be explored.
Other information
For behavioural competencies expected from ESA staff in general, please refer to the ESA Competency Framework.
For further information on the Young Graduate Programme please visit: Young Graduate Programme and FAQ Young Graduate Programme
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 email contact.human.resources@esa.int.
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Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia, as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia and Cyprus as European Cooperating States (ECS).
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 candidates from under-represented Member States*.
In accordance with the European Space Agency’s security procedures and as part of the selection process, successful candidates will be required to undergo basic screening before appointment conducted by an external background screening service.
*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.