Our team and mission

This position is based at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) – Darmstadt, Germany

Under the direct authority of the Mission Operations Department, the Solar System and Exploration Missions Division is responsible for the ground segment and mission operations implementation for the ESA scientific missions that travel in interplanetary space and for all the exploration missions. The responsibilities of the Division start typically from Phase B through in-flight commissioning to routine mission operations until end of mission.

The Division acts as the interface to the ESA Project (and later Mission) Manager of these missions and carries responsibility for all technical, financial and schedule aspects of the ground segment and operations implementation and execution. The Division is responsible for directing and executing flight operations in all mission phases, in particular acting as Flight Operations Director for pre-flight simulations, for Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) and for critical and commissioning phase operations.

The Inner Solar System Missions Operations Unit is responsible for the operations of the ESA flag missions Bepi Colombo, Solar Orbiter and Cluster II.

For further information visit our web site: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic: Development of features for web-based timeline visualization tool for Operations Planning & Automation

You will be assigned to the Inner Solar System Missions Operations Unit which includes Cluster II, Bepi Colombo and Solar Orbiter and potentially contribute to development of tools in any of these missions. The Cluster mission has developed a web-based timeline visualisation tool, called OPSWEB, now in use by many missions to display the operations plans and visualise their progress. The tool requires new models and features to be added or older features to be fixed.

As an intern, you will use Python for creating backend adapters, parsers and models and will need to know Javascript to make modifications in the frontend. You will learn how to configure timelines using the platform’s proprietary grammar and implement visualisations requested by the mission operators to support the needs for planning and monitoring of real operations. All features need to be carefully tested before deployment to the operational environment. You will also be exposed to the mission operations activities taking place in the mission and learn how large inter-planetary satellites are operated.

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

You must have student status and be enrolled at university for the entire duration of the internship. You should preferably be in your final or second to last year of a university course at master’s level in a technical or scientific discipline.

Additional requirements

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.

Additional Requirements:

• You shall have a bachelor’s degree in physics or in an engineering discipline and shall be proficient in programming (full stack developer ideally) with good knowledge of Python, Javascript, REST API and Database management.