Internship title: Development and enhancement of cost models for ground segment systems

Developing a sound technical understanding of selected ground segment subsystems across different satellite missions is essential for understanding their functions, interfaces, operational context, and implementation logic. The intern will engage with scientific, engineering, project control, and technical experts to understand these aspects and consolidate the knowledge into clear technical descriptions suitable for expert review and future reuse.

The intern will also collect, structure, and analyse relevant technical and financial information for the selected subsystems and mission contexts. This will include reviewing engineering documentation, contracts, procurement information, economic assumptions, and historical cost data, and organising the information in a consistent, database-ready format to support traceability, comparability, and future cost analysis.

Furthermore, the intern will contribute to the development and enhancement of subsystem cost models by identifying key cost drivers, deriving cost-estimating relationships, and supporting the application of appropriate statistical or data-driven methods. The intern will also support the design of scalable data workflows and prototype tools, including a user interface concept, to help estimate subsystem costs and forecast future ground segment implementations.

• Review and consolidate technical information on selected ground segment subsystems across different missions
• Collaborate with scientists, engineers, technical experts, and data engineering teams throughout the project.
• Prepare concise technical notes, summaries, and presentations to communicate findings and support expert reviews.
• Support the collection, structuring, and organisation of technical and financial data from contracts, procurement records, engineering documentation, and other relevant sources.

• Assist in identifying key cost drivers and preparing data to support the development of subsystem cost models using statistical approaches (e.g. Bayesian statistics)
• Contribute to the design and population of a database for structured storage of subsystem and cost-related information.
• Support the development and testing of machine-learning-based approaches for cost estimation and forecasting.
• Develop a prototype user interface for cost estimation and forecasting of future ground segment implementations.

• Have the ability to work effectively in English;
• Be computer literate;
• Be intrinsically motivated and curious about the internship subject;
• Be able to work independently and collaboratively;
• Have the ability to take the initiative in researching ideas;
• Have the ability to collect, collate, conceptualize and present information clearly.

Additional advantageous requirements:

• First experience in cost analysis within industry, agencies, or international organisations would be considered an asset, particularly in the aeronautics or space sectors and involving complex technological systems.
• Ability to process high volume of data and synthesize complex information using Excel and other tools with a high degree of accuracy.
• Knowledge of space systems development lifecycles, system engineering and/or main project management processes is considered as an asset.