NEO Scientist

Are you looking for a new opportunity to take your career to a higher orbit? To join an international group with a successful track record in Space Engineering? A job adapted to your career ambitions and in which you could have an impact for the years to come.

We are looking for a Near Earth Object Scientist to work at ESA’s premises in Darmstadt, Germany, with a secondment to the MPC in the USA.

Tasks and activities

The scope of work will include:

• Study phase:
  • Identification of the requirements for establishing a back-up of the MPC services.
  • Improve the linking process. ‘Linking’ is the activity to match newly incoming asteroid position observations (tracklets) to previous observations in the existing MPC database. A successful link connects the new observations to a known object.
  • Identification of collaborative actions between the reporting of Artificial Satellite astrometry and ephemerides at MPC and at ESA’s PDO.
  • Support the process of asteroid naming.
  • Analysis of the available web-based services to support the implementation of the MPC support precursor services.
  • Detailed specification of the software solutions proposed for the new services.
  • Interface with the MPC to analyse the service options.
  • Interface with the ESA DS team where needed regarding software and hardware matters.

• Implementation phase:
  • Make use of web-based services that had been analysed during the study phase.
  • Further detailed specification of the software solutions proposed for the new services, whenever needed.
  • Technical support in the follow-up of the software implementations performed in the foreseen independent software development contracts.
  • At the end of this phase, a prototype service shall be ready for operation.
  • Interface with the MPC to analyse the prototype service solutions.
  • Interface with the ESA DS team where needed regarding software and hardware matters.

• Operations phase:
  • Interface with the MPC in close collaboration for the precursor service operations.
  • Identification and analysis of potential additional services to be included in support to the MPC.
  • Further detailed specification of the software solutions proposed for the new services, whenever needed.
  • Further technical support in the follow-up of the software implementations performed in the foreseen independent software development contracts.
  • Interface with the ESA DS team where needed regarding software and hardware matters.

Skills and experience

The following skills and experience are mandatory:

• A master’s degree or PhD in Physics, Astronomy, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent.
• Between 2-5 years of working experience with NEO related topics covering each of the following domains: NEO science and dynamics, observation of NEOs or minor body celestial mechanics.
• Knowledge of and experience in working with NEO data.
• Good knowledge of MPC processes, data, and communications.
• Experience in the specification, validation & verification of software and working with data models.
• Experience in communicating with international partners including space agencies, international entities, and the scientific community.
• Experience in acceptance testing and validation techniques.
• Willingness to travel within Europe and North America.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.

Why should you apply?

• You will have the opportunity to work within leading space organisations across Europe.
• We encourage everyone to think outside the box and to push the boundaries of traditional knowledge. This role is an opportunity to join a forward-thinking company and allows for a deeper understanding of the industry.
• To be part of a company that values integrity, inspiration, care and collaboration.
• Benefits include: competitive remuneration packages; unique career opportunities, including working in other countries; access to training and development programmes; flexible relocation support.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all candidates, irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.

As part of our commitment to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process, we will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process.