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Working Student - SMILE Lab Support

Package Description

What we offer if you join our amazing team:

• Competitive Salary 

• Corporate Benefits Package 

• Company events

Job Introduction

Serco is a trusted provider of services to National Space Agencies and the European Space Agency (ESA), we have over 40 years’ experience supporting the space sector and providing services for all stages of our customer’s space missions.

We have an exciting (and challenging) opening for a Working Student - SMILE Lab Support in Darmstadt

Please, note the position is offered as a fixed-term contract until 31/10/2025.

Main Responsibilities

Serco are delighted to offer a rare opportunity for students interested in the Space sector to gain valuable experience and skills whilst directly supporting live operations at ESOC.

Serco is looking for a student to support operations, maintenance and evolution of the SMILE facilities at ESOC, Darmstadt.

Objective of the role

As a Werkstudent (Intern), you will be working with the team to support the preparation and conducting of ground facilities operations with a particular focus on small satellite missions.

Please note - Students need to be currently enrolled at university and have finished at least three years of studies (Bachelor).

We are looking for two part time Werkstudent positions to support routine tasks. The workload is highly flexible with the understanding that students will be studying alongside the work with up to a maximum 20 hours per week foreseen. The work will be carried out onsite at ESOC in Darmstadt. There will also be the possibility for the student to increase the workload for a short amount of time (e.g. during the Semester break) to further support operations.

The project will last a minimum of 12 months and will run until October 2025.

Successful completion of this assignment could potentially result in the offer of full time employment with Serco.

Ideally, the candidate will be able to start as soon as possible, however we are flexible to accommodate different start dates based on prior Semester commitments.

The Werkstudent positions are paid, further information will be available upon application

European Space Operations Centre (ESOC), Darmstadt, Germany, tracks and controls European spacecraft, and develops and manages ground systems. As Europe’s centre of excellence for satellite operations, ESOC is home to the engineering teams that control spacecraft in orbit and build the systems on the ground that support missions in space.

Successful Candidate

Do you think you are the person we are looking for? See below what experience or knowledge you should bring:

We are looking for highly-motivated students with a strong interest in the Space sector to undertake this Werkstudent role alongside their studies. The technical skills and requirements are seen as desirable but not mandatory, with the expectation that students will learn these skills on the job.

Mandatory requirements: (there are no real mandatory requirements other than being a student having completed Bachelor’s and having English language skills – the most important thing for us is that

  • A strong interest in the Space industry and/or Space operations
  • Students need to be enrolled at university and have finished at least Bachelor studies
  • Proficiency in written and spoken English is required as the working language of ESA is English.

The following are also considered as desirable  – These are NOT mandatory – but if you have knowledge in any of these areas then please advise on your CV.

  • Knowledge of programming languages, e.g. python.
  • Possession of radio-amateur licence
  • Knowledge of virtual private networks
  • Knowledge of administration of virtual machines
  • Knowledge of signal processing and GNU Radio.

About the Company

Serco is a global team of 60,000 professionals dedicated to delivering essential public services worldwide. As innovators, we strive to redesign and enhance public services for the betterment of all. Our offerings include a chance to contribute to innovation in the public services sector, a company deeply passionate about diversity and inclusion, and a friendly, supportive, and professional environment that respects your work-life balance.

Why Should You Join Serco ?

  • Contribute to innovative projects in the public services sector, and making a difference.
  • Your contributions are valued and recognized, with opportunities for professional/personal growth.
  • Be part of a company passionate about diversity and inclusion
  • Enjoy a friendly and professional environment that respects your work-life balance.

 

We are diverse and inclusive organisation

At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential and we are committed to supporting the needs of all our colleagues. It’s a mix of people from different backgrounds, experiences and opinion that keeps our culture strong and vibrant.

We believe in equity so we strongly encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their abilities in an interview. We also welcome a conversation about any adjustments that would make the interview process more accessible for you. Wherever possible we are open to discussions around flexible working and we operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas.

In the UK we are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader in the government’s scheme and hold the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard; in Belgium we are partner of Diversicom and member of Charter der Vielfalt in Germany.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to The Serco Europe Recruitment Team

Important

Any offer of employment is contingent upon you providing documents to verify your identity and employment eligibility, as required by law.

Please contact the recruitment team if needed

Data Protection:

For more information on how the personal data is processed, please see the link Data Protection policy here

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