Intern in the Mechanical Department, Mechanisms Section

Our team and mission

The Structures, Mechanisms and Materials Division is responsible for all aspects related to all spacecraft structures, mechanisms (including tribology and pyrotechnic devices), materials (including related manufacturing and assembly processes, space environmental effects, cleanliness and contamination control) and associated computational and laboratory facilities.

In particular, the Division is in charge of:

• performing design, development and verification of spacecraft structures, mechanisms, materials and manufacturing processes by means of state-of-the-art expertise, tools and facilities;
• providing support to all ESA Projects including assisting with materials, structures, mechanisms, systems and sub-systems failure investigations;
• defining, coordinating, and executing technology development activities in the field of expertise;
• establishing and managing the necessary computing and internal/external laboratory facilities in conjunction with the TEC infrastructure function;
• supporting the establishment and implementation of standards for the development, qualification and procurement of structures, mechanisms and space grade materials, and manufacturing processes;
• supporting the Product Assurance and Safety Managers in the qualification and approval of all materials, mechanical parts, associated manufacturing processes, including cleanliness and contamination control aspects, for all ESA Projects/Programmes. For the provision of this support, TEC-MS Part Material Process (PMP) experts report functionally to the Product Assurance and Safety Managers;
• supporting the System Engineering Managers in the selection, design and characterisation of all materials and processes and in the selection, design, characterisation and qualification of all structures and mechanisms for all ESA Projects/Programmes;

The Mechanisms section (TEC-MSM) provides functional support to ESA projects and carrying out technological research (R&D) in the field(s) of space mechanisms but also in tribology and pyrotechnics.
Space mechanisms is a very wide and challenging engineering domain requiring specific expertise and for which many topics deserve specific attention, down to the ultimate details.

The section is the focal point for matters relating to the design, engineering and verification of space mechanisms. This entails in particular responsibility for:

• overall mechanisms definition, design and engineering;
• mechanisms performance evaluation, simulation and analysis (including hardware tests where appropriate);
• mechanisms technology research and development (addressing areas such as tribology/lubrication engineering, tribology free and compliant mechanisms, mechanical components including ball bearings & gears, position sensors, electric motors, new/alternative actuation principles e.g. by using active/smart materials, …);
• mechanism and actuator drive and control concepts targeting at higher positioning accuracy and/or lower micro-disturbances;
• pyrotechnics.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic of the internship: Space Mechanisms design, development and testing

The internship position will be given some specific tasks which may include:

• critical review of design / analysis / simulation / optimisation / test activities / characterisation / validation (up to the correlation of analysis with test results) in the domain of space mechanisms,
• feasibility assessment of new mechanisms design concepts;
• participation in the definition and implementation of R&D activities;
• participation in the project review process;
• participation in CDF (Concurrent Design Facility) studies;
• support of in-house research and technology investigations using hands-on laboratory facilities.

In the frame of above-mentioned activities, you may have to use the following software packages: MATLAB/Simulink®, CAD design tools (such as FreeCAD or SolidWorks) or other more specialised software tools (such as Abaqus, ANSYS Maxwell, COMSOL, ADAMS, LabVIEW, CABARET, RBS-DYN, OptiStruct etc.), with particular emphasis on:

• time and frequency domain performance representation and analysis;
• multi-body system modelling and simulation;
• design (including topology optimisation) and FEM analysis of compliant mechanisms;
• electromagnetic system modelling and simulation;
• multiphysics modelling and simulation;
• ball bearing loading/strength and stiffness analysis;
• test data acquisition and post-processing

Furthermore, you may be involved in development, design, manufacturing and test activities using and extending the test benches of the Space Mechanisms Hands-on Laboratory Facility at ESTEC. You may also be involved in the prototyping of various mechanisms by utilising additive manufacturing capabilities available in ESTEC.

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

You must be a university student, preferably studying at master’s level. In addition, you must be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your University for the entire duration of the internship.

Additional requirements

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.

During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.

Specific competence in one of the following disciplines will be considered an asset:

Mechanical and mechatronics engineering, with a good understanding of tribology, ball bearings, gears, electrical motors, sensors, smart materials and compliant mechanisms, as well as of instrumentation and testing of electro-mechanical equipment.
Proficiency in the use of engineering software tools would be very helpful.