Job Description:

Job Overview

You are passionate about space flight dynamics and looking for a meaningful opportunity to enfold your talents? Then you are on the right track!

We are supporting the European Space Agency with highly qualified services at the European Operations Control Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt. For a new service position within flight dynamics division we are searching for a flight dynamics authority to complement our international service team!

Key Responsibilities

You will provide support in Orbit Determination of interplanetary missions. The service is primarily related to the preparation and execution of operations for future ESA Science missions, i.e. PLATO, RAMSES, ARIEL, and Comet Interceptor. In parallel to this, also service will be provided to the operations of other Science missions.

Additional tasks are the support to other projects, scientists and industry, and participation in reviews.

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

Essential Skills and Qualifications

University degree in a relevant engineering field, astronomy, mathematics or physics.

Desirable Skills

The ideal candidate we are looking for contributes to our service team with the following characteristics:

• Very good skills in linear algebra, in particular for problem solving related to geometry in the Euclidean 3–dimensional space.

• Skills in numerical methods for equations solving, integration of differential equations,  function approximation and interpolation, optimisation, and linear algebra problems.

• Proficiency in classical mechanics, including: kinematics and dynamics of point masses, dynamics of rigid bodies, 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 above knowledge to develop solutions to technical problems in cooperation with customers and other specialists.
• Very good C++ programming skills and experience, in particular in object-oriented design and coding skills using C++ as main programming language; knowledge of Fortran 77/95/2003 is a valuable asset.
• Experience in scripting languages, e.g. python, shell-scripting languages.
• Experience in Linux operating system.
• Desire to extend technical skills.
• A high sense of operational responsibility and good communication skills.
• Fluency in English, both in speech and writing.
• Coordinate and interact with other service providers in operations and other fields.

Furthermore

Additional desirable skills are

• Familiarity with the ESOC environment.
• Previous operational experience in Flight Dynamics or spacecraft missions in general.
• Familiarity with modern software development tools (git, CI/CD, CMake, docker…)
• The ability to multi-task efficiently; working on multiple activities, multiple subsystems and if applicable multiple missions simultaneously.

Furthermore, knowledge about current and planned ESA missions should be a given.

Seniority:

Senior

Primary Location:

DE - Darmstadt - ESOC

Contract Type:

Hybrid Working:

Hybrid