Our team and mission

This position is based at the ESA HQ – Paris, France

Under the direct authority of the Director of Space Transportation, the Chief Technical Advisor is in particular responsible for:

• ensuring independent technical advice and synthesis to Director of Space Transportation and verifying technical documentation before formal approval by the Director;
• performing independent technical assessment on selected industrial files;
• identifying and facilitating technology synergies and coherence across the Directorate, ensuring interfacing with Directorate of Technology Engineering and Quality (TEC) on all space transportation technology matters and advanced concepts;
• facilitating the life cycle coherence of flagship demonstrators towards application in products and systems;
• supporting the ESA Inspector General’s actions and the project managers for the STS project reviews and launch reviews, including support for technical inquiries;
• coordinating the Space Transportation Product Assurance & Safety unit and acting as interface to TEC-Q;
• facilitating the synergies across testing facilities developed and used within STS managed programmes;
• supporting the Export Control and Technology transfer coordinator and in the relevant interactions with the IPC;
• preparing, implementing, maintaining and improving the Quality Management System (QMS) for the activities managed by the Directorate.

In the execution of his/her responsibilities, the Chief Technical Advisor is supported by the Product Assurance Office (STS-CP).

The Space Transportation Technology Coordination Office (STS-CT) has the mission to foster transversal technology synergies and harmonization within the STS directorate and across ESA.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic of the internship: Space transportation technology harmonization and coordination

In the framework of this traineeship, you will perform, and facilitate activities as support to your tutor, including, but not limited to:

• Support to the elaboration of technical synthesis on launch system related topics (launcher system, trajectory analysis, structures, aerothermodynamics, cryogenic propulsion, avionics, launch base, etc);
• Support to the management of activities with European industry for future launch systems (reporting, actions tracking, risks assessment, planning, etc);
• Support to the compliance assessment of launch systems requirements (mission needs, performance, etc);
• Support to the compliance assessment of launch systems technical and interfaces specifications.

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 must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a university course at Master’s level and you need to remain enrolled at your University for the entire duration of the internship.

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.

Knowledge, background and skills with launch systems and technical related fields (structure, propulsion, aerothermodynamics, avionics, etc) is an asset.