Young Graduate Trainee in Frequency Management and Frequency Coordination

Young Graduate Opportunity in the Directorate of Operations

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

ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany

Our team and mission

The Frequency Management Office within the Space Safety Office of the Directorate of Operations is responsible for managing the RF spectrum of ESA missions. This involves coordinating ESA satellites with those of other organizations, coordinating the network of ESA Earth stations with terrestrial systems sharing the same frequency bands, and conducting studies aimed at providing a stable frequency access scenario for flying, currently under development and future satellites. Additionally, the office is responsible for registering ESA satellites and stations with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

In addition the Frequency Management Office is responsible for defining and defending ESA position and future needs in the international (ITU), regional (CEPT) and national (host countries) regulatory bodies to make sure that the frequency bands used and planned by ESA remain or are made available in the long run.

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

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

You will be part of the Frequency Management Office and will assist the Office in the coordination with other space agencies or commercial operators, in the negotiations between ESA and the frequency regulator of the station Host Country, and in the analysis of future International Telecommunication Union (ITU) frequency allocations.

In particular, you are going to be involved in the following activities:

• Radio Frequency interference analysis and international coordination of ESA satellites both with other agencies’ as well as with commercial operators’ satellites and satellite constellations;
• support to the ITU filing of ESA satellites;
• domestic and international coordination of the ESA Deep Space Stations (in Spain, Argentina, and in Australia) with existing and planned terrestrial links;
• computation of terrestrial propagation losses around the ESA stations network (Deep Space and near-Earth) at various frequency bands and interference analysis with other systems under consideration in the same bands;
• support to the studies for defining ESA positions in ITU regulatory activities.

In general, the tasks assigned to you will require familiarizing with ITU regulations and recommendations as well as international standards for radio frequency and modulation of satellite systems. This traineeship opportunity will also require familiarization with a suite of radio frequency assessment software tools.

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 a relevant discipline.

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.

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.