Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands  

Description

AI System Engineer in the Software Technology Section, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality (D/TEC).

The Software Systems Division deals with relevant software technologies for ground and space systems. This covers all life-cycle aspects from requirements specification to development, verification, validation and maintenance. 

Within this Division, the Software Technology Section is a team of highly skilled and motivated engineers aiming to provide expert support related to the development of software, maintain the common laboratory facilities and explore the use of new technologies in order to improve the way space systems are developed and enable new types of missions. 

Of these technologies, artificial intelligence offers great potential for enhancing the performance, reliability and autonomy of space systems and expanding the use, exploitation and comprehension of space data to provide the public with high-quality insights and knowledge.
Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to visit the ESA website: www.esa.int

Duties

Your main tasks and responsibilities will encompass:

• analysing current and future space missions in terms of on-board and on-ground data processing needs (data analytics);
• identifying optimal solutions for ground and onboard applications considering both software and hardware aspects (data processing);
• participating in project reviews in the domain of data analytics and data processing;
• participating in the animation of a strong ESA AI community and fostering partnerships with ESA Member States’ industry and academia;
• participating in the establishment and support of a data & AI academy aimed at enhancing the skills of all ESA staff in AI product management and use;
• participating in standardisation and harmonisation activities related to artificial intelligence, and in the definition and execution of technology activities;
• identifying the laboratory facilities required for the correct execution of tasks.

In performing these duties, you will be expected to interface with the different project teams to present the results of the analyses and propose optimal solutions providing information on their benefits and constraints.

You will support the development of projects and the definition and execution of the R&D activities in your domain of expertise, covering one or more of the following topics:

• artificial intelligence techniques: supervised learning, unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning, self-supervised learning, neuromorphic, natural language processing, transformers/LLMs, symbolic AI, planning, evolutionary algorithms, fuzzy logic;
• applications of AI techniques: virtual assistants, text processing, speech processing, computer vision, image recognition, video analysis, industrial robots, service robots, expert systems, recommender systems, autonomous systems, agents;
• trustworthiness of AI, verification, validation of applications; 
• execution in embedded systems;
• legal, ethical and security aspects specific to artificial intelligence.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

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

Education

A master's in computer science or equivalent is required for this post.

Additional requirements

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 contact.human.resources@esa.int.
 
Important Information and Disclaimer
In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the master’s degree, the position may be filled at A1 level.

Applicants must be eligible to access technology and hardware which is subject to European and US export control 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.

Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.

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, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia. 

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 internal candidates and secondly 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.