Astro Dynamics Engineer

Job Description:

Are you passionate about Astro Dynamics and looking for a meaningful opportunity to enfold your talents? Then you are on the right track!

Detailed information on the missions and the activities of ESOC can be found on www.esa.int;

Key Responsibilities

We support the European Space Agency with highly qualified services at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt. For future service positions within the Flight Dynamics Division, the Navigation Support Office, and the Space Debris Office, we are searching for specialists to complement our international service team. Please visit our website to view currently open service positions in these areas. In case there is none, your successful application will be added to our talent pool!

Essential Skills and Qualifications

• University degree in a relevant engineering field, astronomy, mathematics, or physics.
• Proficiency in classical and orbit mechanics, including orbit determination aspects, and familiarity with related coordinate systems & reference frames.
• Ability to design, implement, validate, and operate software that applies the above solutions on Linux platforms.
• Knowledge about software life cycle & documentation.
• Proficiency in English, both in speech and writing.
• A high sense of operational responsibility and good communication skills.
• Ability to work independently.
• Familiarity with the ESOC environment.
• Experience in MATLAB/SIMULINK, Mathematica, and shell scripting.
• Experience with network services and protocols, and Linux system administration.
• The ability to multitask efficiently, working on multiple activities simultaneously.

Flight Dynamics Skills

• An outstanding expertise in linear algebra, in particular for problem solving related to geometry in the Euclidean 3–dimensional space.
• Skills in numerical methods for solving equations, integration of differential equations, function approximation and interpolation, optimisation, and linear algebra problems.
• Proficiency in kinematics and dynamics of point masses, dynamics of rigid bodies, dynamics expressed in non-inertial reference frames, e.g., including dynamics in rotating frames, rotation dynamics expressed in body fixed frame, conservation laws in mechanics, gravitational forces and field, orbit dynamics, Keplerian orbits, and Kepler laws.
• Skills to apply the above knowledge to develop solutions to technical problems in cooperation with customers and other specialists.
• Experience in software development in C++ and Scientific Python. Knowledge of scripting languages and Fortran.
• Aspiration to take operational responsibility in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Coordinate and interact with other service providers in operations and other fields.

Navigation Skills

• In-depth familiarity with GNSS applications, data types, data processing, and algorithms.
• In-depth familiarity with GNSS-related coordinate systems.
• Real-time processing of Galileo products.
• Experience in EGNOS V2/V3 to implement new and novel configurations.
• Experience in software development using Scientific Python. Knowledge of scripting languages and Fortran.

Space Debris Skills

• Profound expertise of space debris matters (observation, modelling, mitigation, risk assessment).
• Detailed understanding of space surveillance techniques and principles.
• Good knowledge of re-entry aerothermodynamics principles and tools.
• Knowledge about database systems, especially SQL
• Experience in software development in C++ and Scientific Python. Knowledge of scripting languages and Fortran.
• Good presentation skills.
• Throughout understanding of the way of working of the ESTEC CDF, the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), the ESA Space Safety Program, and the ESOC flight dynamics and spacecraft control teams.

Primary Location: DE - Darmstadt - ESOC

Contract Type: Employee-Permanent