ESA Graduate Trainee in Technology Programme Management

Job Requisition ID: 19385

Date Posted: 1 February 2025

Application Deadline: 28 February 2025 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication: External Only

Type of Contract: ESA Graduate Trainee

Directorate: Technology, Engineering and Quality

Workplace: Noordwijk, NL

Grade Band: F1 - F1

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Our team and mission
The Technology Programmes Office is responsible for managing the preparation, procurement, execution and results dissemination of technology development and demonstration activities. The intention is to prepare technologies and industrial capabilities for future space missions, to foster innovation, to promote spin-in and to support companies in the development of products and services.

The Office manages two technology development mechanisms: the General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) and the Technology Development Element within the Basic Activities.

The Office team prepares technology development activities by collecting activity ideas and evaluating these ideas based on the potential impact, the technical objective, the work to be performed, the means and the associated cost.

The team coordinates with technical experts and contract officers to organise the procurement of these activities and to manage the execution of these activities. The team monitors the execution and oversees the collection, assessment and dissemination of the results.

Hundreds of activities are initiated per year addressing several Space applications and covering a broad range of technology disciplines.

You are encouraged to visit the ESA websites: http://www.esa.int and https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Engineering_Technology/Shaping_the_Future

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship
A particular focus for you is to participate in the preparation of new activities (for work plans) and to participate in the monitoring of implementation and assessment of achievements. Participating in activity preparation includes
supporting the coordination of the evaluations. This implies working with the Office team and technical experts to assess the potential impact, the technical objective, the work to be performed, the means and the associated cost. The
assessments are performed on ad-hoc basis or through specific calls for proposals. The assessment of activity achievements includes interactions with technical experts to collect and to evaluate the results of specific activities. It
also includes support to communicating, disseminating, and archiving results of all R&D activities.

As a Trainee, you will gather knowledge on technology activity management and processes. You will be encouraged to investigate recent developments and reported best-practices and proven methodologies in the field of technology R&D
management.

You will also gain knowledge in the technologies developed within the technology programmes and to develop know-how with regards to the evaluation of ideas and to achievement assessments. In addition, you will support the dissemination
of results and lessons-learned within the Agency, with Member State delegates and with industry and partners.

Finally, through contact with ESA experts, you will contribute to knowledge management; you will gather knowledge of state-of-the-art and future technologies, understanding of ESA collaboration with Member States and partners, and of the
European Space Industry landscape.

Technical competencies
Knowledge of relevant technical/functional domains

Relevant experience gained during internships, project work and/or extracurricular or other activities

General knowledge of the space sector and relevant activities

Knowledge of ESA and its programmes/projects

Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation

Operational Efficiency

Fostering Cooperation

Relationship Management

Continuous Improvement

Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education
You should have just completed, or be in the final year of your master’ s degree in a technical or scientific 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. Previous experience of working in international teams can be considered an asset. Your motivation, overall professional perspective and career goals will also be explored during the later stages of the selection process.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
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.

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 via email at [email protected].

Important Information and Disclaimer
Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations & security clearance by their national security administrations.

During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.

The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.

Nationality and Languages
Please note that applications can only be considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Malta 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 be given to external candidates from under-represented Member States*.

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.

*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.

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