Scientist / engineer space instrument operations 100 %

The Space Research and Planetology Division of the University of Bern (UniBe) has a position available for operation and archiving of data for the Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) – an imaging system experiment onboard the European Space Agency's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO).
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%kundenfeld-60%

Scientist / engineer space instrument operations

The main duties of the successful candidates will be to support the operations of the CaSSIS instrument within an existing team by:
• Analysing the predicted spacecraft orbit and supporting the development of our weekly target acquisition programme in collaboration with scientists
• Iterating proposed solutions with research team members
• Refining and optimising the operational procedure
• Determining and reporting correct execution of the transmitted commands
• Validating science telecommands for uplink to TGO
• Incorporating instrument maintenance commands as required into the instrument timeline
• Support of weekly interface meetings with ESA on TGO planning
• Maintaining and upgrading CaSSIS-internal science planning tools
• Calibrating data returned from the CaSSIS instrument using existing pipelines for analysis by the science team
• Applying appropriate standards for archiving of data from interplanetary spacecraft
• Maintaining wikis and web sites with updated information on the instrument and its operation
• Interfacing with international organizations (e.g. ESAC, USGS, etc.) to ensure the data are compatible with those standards.

Additional duties
• Following improvements in automation of our procedures, some time may be available for scientific research at the 25% level.

Essential
• A minimum of an MSc. in an appropriate subject area (geophysics, applied computing, astronomy) although a PhD is desirable.
• Excellent knowledge and experience of numerical coding languages (desirable examples are IDL, MATLAB, Python, Fortran, or equivalent programming tools)
• Experience in processing and manipulating large data sets
• Demonstrated logical and scientifically rigorous approach to work
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office software (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio) or equivalent packages
• Ability to plan and prioritize own workload and deliver outputs in a timely manner
• Ability to communicate and work with colleagues from a wide range of functional backgrounds (e.g. engineering, science, management, technical, non-technical, etc.) as part of a diverse international team
• Flexibility and the willingness to travel regularly.

Desirable
• Knowledge of use of SPICE kernels for orbit analysis
• Knowledge of the operation and characterisation of spaceflight instruments (possibly including telecommand generation)
• Experience in PDS (or equivalent) data archiving
• Experience in processing/reducing instrument data for analysis
• Some knowledge of computer server and network systems would be helpful.

This position will be available initially for 16 months with a high probability of extension for a further 3 years subject to approval of a further extension of the mission and instrument operations. The position is available immediately.

The position is based on-site at the University of Bern, Sidlerstrasse 5, CH-3012, Bern.
The working conditions and salary follow regulations set by the Canton of Bern.

Applications including a cover letter, CV an applicable diplomas should be sent by e-mail to:
Tina Rothenbühler, E-Mail schreiben