Young Graduate Opportunity in the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality

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.

This post is classified F1 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale.

Location

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands 

Our team and mission

Under the direct authority of the Knowledge Management Unit within the Agency's Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality. The Unit's mission is to both propose objectives and coordinate all aspects of the implementation of Knowledge Management in ESA by ensuring the capture, retention and sharing of expertise in direct support of ESA as a learning organisation.

As a Young Graduate Trainee, you will have an assignment that will contribute, through research and pilot studies, to ESA's ability to implement a more inclusive approach to capturing and sharing learning, through access and acquisition, using relevant but novel means, forms and representations that directly recognise the diversity and access needs of the spectrum of talent working at ESA. Work with the Head of Unit to address the following needs:

1.    Identifying learning resources within the agency base to provide inclusive, diverse access at the point of use and time of need, taking into account:

• Cross-generational borders
• Diversity and cultural ranges
• The spectrum of learning preferences, means and approaches

2.    Increasinging the Agency’s efficiency and effectiveness through enabling and promoting

• Quick access to relevant learning
• Meaningful acquisition of experience and learning in and between different parts of the organization
• Openness to creating and acquiring new skills in a sympathetic and productive form

Particular emphasis is placed on the need to learn from experience, with a focus on achieving cultural change towards openness and sharing as a stated goal of knowledge management for ESA as a whole.
 

You are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

As a Young Graduate Trainee, you will undertake research and propose and realize proof-of-concepts to obtain a high level theoretical and practical understanding of;
a) cutting-edge AI techniques that can help solve existing problems in the knowledge domain
b) the application of advanced AI-based capabilities to existing and new knowledge management solutions
c) areas of improvement in the context of HCI (Human-Computer Interaction) applied to knowledge management systems
d) ESA’s cultural diversity, its working norms and preferences for learning delivery means

This research work would result in the generation of a both report on user-based needs and use case scenario’s (for future deployment) summarizing the work undertaken and reflected in a proposal for a proof-of-concept Development.

The activities to be covered include:

• Analysing the state of the art of projects based on Artificial Intelligence at ESA to identify synergies and avoid duplicate efforts.
• Assessing areas of improvement where AI-based approaches would bring long-term benefits.
• Providing and maintaining a high-level overview of AI-based means, techniques, and tools in line with the extremely rapid progress in the field of AI.
• Identifying and reviewing Agency data “sources of truth” and assessing their relevance.
• Identifying opportunities for novel approaches using Natural Language Processing techniques to extract insights from ESA information systems.
• Identifying potential applications of disruptive AI technologies to support decision making, automatic entity recognition and integration with other knowledge-related capabilities and activities (e.g. knowledge graphs, taxonomies, intelligent search, knowledge dissemination, …).
• Developing and implementing advanced models using machine learning/artificial intelligence techniques to enhance document categorization and automate content tagging for efficient knowledge retrieval, extract insights from unstructured data, improving information discovery and decision-making processes, create intelligent recommendation systems for personalized content delivery, improving user engagement and knowledge consumption, identify potential knowledge gaps within organizational data, supporting proactive knowledge management strategies and ensuring comprehensive knowledge coverage.
• Generate actionable insights using models to drive business strategy, optimise operations, and identify growth opportunities based on both existing information repositories.
• Collaborate on complex projects and reports with diverse workforce at all levels.
• A critical evaluation of current means, their effectiveness, and create a proposal for the development of a proof-of concept.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation

Operational Efficiency

Fostering Cooperation

Relationship Management

Continuous Improvement

Forward Thinking

Education

You should have just completed or be in the final year of your master’s degree in Data science, Artificial Intelligence or related studies

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.

In addition, regarding enabling the acquisition and sharing of learning from experience within a diverse organisation, you should provide details of relevant non-technical experience in support of your application.

You should also be able to verbalise your understanding of (and experience in) diversity of learning means and techniques in organizations where both conventional and unconventional means have been deployed and the results that have been achieved.

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.

During the interview motivation and overall professional perspective/career goals will also be explored.

Other information

For behavioural competencies expected from ESA staff in general, please refer to the ESA Competency Framework.

For further information on the Young Graduate Programme please visit: Young Graduate Programme and FAQ Young Graduate Programme

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 email contact.human.resources@esa.int.

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Please note that applications are only 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, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia, as  Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia and Cyprus 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 first be given to candidates from under-represented Member States*. 

In accordance with the European Space Agency’s security procedures and as part of the selection process, successful candidates will be required to undergo basic screening before appointment conducted by an external background screening service. 

*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.