Our team and mission

The Technology Coordination and Planning Office, within the Technology Department of the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality, leads the implementation and evolution of processes relating to technology planning and coordination across the Agency and with external stakeholders, including ESA Member States, the EU and industry. The Office also provides support to the Director on EU matters to do with technology, coordination of competence domains and general interaction with ESA Member States and industry. In so doing, the team interfaces with individuals at various levels inside and outside the Agency.

The Office’s specific duties include:

• managing the Technology Harmonisation process at European level, mapping needs and capabilities and leading to roadmaps agreed by national and European institutions and industry, and monitoring the implementation;
• acting as Chairperson of the Technology Harmonisation Advisory Group (IPC THAG) and providing the secretariat function of the Technology Advisory Working Group (IPC TA-WG);
• leading the coordination with the European Commission and the European Defence Agency (EDA) on Critical Space Technologies for European Non-Dependence;
• leading the coordination with EU on technology matters;
• leading the implementation of the processes for Agency-wide management of technology development within ESA;
• evolving the Agency-wide technology management process as required to improve efficiency and use;
• providing the TEC Liaison and Control Officer function;
• being TEC representative for internal networks and fora related to the above responsibilities.

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

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

You will contribute to a range of activities of the Technology Coordination and Planning Office, in particular to the:

• coordination and harmonisation of space technology development in Europe;
• extensive mapping of technologies submitted for harmonisation with ESA, national and industry experts; drawing up of roadmaps and harmonised implementation schemes for discussion and agreement with ESA Member States;
• preparation of the European Space Technology Master Plan;
• analysis of ESA internal technology management processes;
• evolution of the procedures, tools and databases supporting the processes coordinated by the Office.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation

Operational Efficiency

Fostering Cooperation

Relationship Management

Continuous Improvement

Forward Thinking

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

Education

You should have just completed, or be in the final year of your master’ s degree in a technical or scientific discipline, in particular systems engineering, business engineering/management, or industrial engineering.

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. Previous experience of working in international teams can be considered an asset. Your motivation, overall professional perspective and career goals will also be explored during the later stages of the selection process.