Young Graduate Trainee in Applied Machine Learning to Instrument Operations for XMM-Newton

Young Graduate Opportunity in the Directorate of Science

ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.

This post is classified F1 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale.

Location

ESAC, Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain

Our team and mission

The European Space Agency maintains a world-leading Science Programme with missions in heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics and fundamental physics. Its mission is to 'Empower Europe to lead space science'. The Department for Science and Operations (SCI-S), within ESA's Directorate for Science, hosts the scientists and engineers that oversee the space missions from study to end of operations; it develops the science operation systems for the missions and operates the missions in space; it archives and curates their data during operations and beyond. Our main objective is to maximise the scientific output of the missions for the benefit of humankind.

The X-ray Multi-Mirror observatory (XMM-Newton) is one of ESA’s major science missions. Launched in December 1999, it is still in excellent health and is expected to, i be operated for many more years to come. Staff and contractors at ESAC supporting the XMM- Newton Science Operations Centre (SOC) are responsible for all aspects of science operations. These include general support to the scientific community, handling of proposals for observations as submitted by astronomers, long- and short-term planning of observations, dealing with Targets of Opportunity, instrument monitoring and handling, scientific calibration, analysis software development, processing of the data to create standard products, and ensuring data distribution via the archive facilities.

You are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int and the XMM-Newton SOC website: https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

As part of its duties, the XMM-Newton Science Operations Centre (SOC) carefully monitors the health and status of the instruments onboard the satellite. This serves to identify anomalies or trends which may need attention or can affect the quality of the results provided to the community. This task is done by trained specialists, knowing the instruments and their expected behaviour very well.

As part of its continuous improvement, the SOC has in recent years moved the data for this monitoring into a state-of-the art database, called ARES, also used by other ESA missions and accessible via a developed Python interface. At the same time, the SOC is making more and more use of the new ESA Datalabs platform https://datalabs.esa.int/, which can provide software and working environments for data analysis to teams via a shared Web platform without the need to install highly specific software on individual computers.

Based on these two developments, a first exploration is already ongoing on how methods from data science – Machine Learning or AI – can support and enhance the work of the specialists in monitoring the instruments. Frameworks for data science methods are also being made available in Datalabs, by the Data Science section. We now want to combine these different developments and push their use to the next level by demonstrating the ability to create operational tools for XMM-Newton instrument monitoring in Datalabs applying advanced data science methods for, e.g., anomaly detection or computer vision.

Your goal will be to develop innovative data science tools for real-life application to the needs of a flying space mission, based on the frameworks in place or being developed now. You will work closely with experts in the XMM-Newton SOC and in the Data Science Section of the Department for Science and Operations to learn about scientific operations and their needs as well as data science methods and their uses. Your creativity and resourcefulness will be sought in the exploration of different options and the search for the best solutions.

During this project you will gain specific expertise in data science methods, the operations of scientific satellites and their instruments, working in a scientific platform such as Datalabs, and not least in systematic software development – presumably in Python – in a professional environment. You will also benefit from working within an international team of astronomers, instrument specialists and software engineers with their diverse cultural and technical backgrounds.

Technical competencies

Knowledge of relevant technical domains

Relevant experience gained during internships/project work

Breadth of exposure coming from past and/or current research/activities

Knowledge of ESA and its programmes/projects

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation

Operational Efficiency

Fostering Cooperation

Relationship Management

Continuous Improvement

Forward Thinking

Education

You should have just completed, or be in the final year of your Master’ s degree in data science, astrophysics, computer science or a related degree.

Additional requirements

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.

You should also have demonstrated, practical expertise in Python programming and software development in general would be strongly desirable. Knowledge about data science methods would be an advantage.

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.