Neo Scientist

Are you looking for a new opportunity in a fast-moving global company with a family feel? A job where you could have an impact?

We are looking for a NEO Scientist to support at ESRIN’s premises in Frascati, Italy.

This role will require regular travel to Darmstadt, Germany, with a six-month secondment to the MPC in the USA.
- This position is open to protected categories under Italian Law 68/99 (“Rules for the right to work of disabled people”)._
- Questa posizione è aperta alle categorie protette L. 68/99._

**Tasks and Activities**:
The scope of work will include:

- Study phase:

- Identification of the requirements for establishing a back-up of the MPC services.
- Improve the linking process. ‘Linking’ is the activity to match newly incoming asteroid position observations (tracklets) to previous observations in the existing MPC database. A successful link connects the new observations to a known object
- Identification of collaborative actions between the reporting of Artificial Satellite astrometry and ephemerides at MPC and at ESA’s PDO
- Support the process of asteroid naming
- Analysis of the available web-based services in order to support the implementation of the MPC support precursor services.
- Detailed specification of the software solutions proposed for the new services.
- Interface with the MPC to analyze the service options.
- Interface with the ESA DS team where needed regarding software and hardware matters.
- Implementation phase:

- make use of web-based services that had been analyzed during the study phase.
- Further detailed specification of the software solutions proposed for the new services, whenever needed.
- Technical support in the follow-up of the software implementations performed in the foreseen independent software development contracts.
- At the end of this phase, a prototype service shall be ready for operation.
- Interface with the MPC to analyze the prototype service solutions.
- Interface with the ESA DS team where needed regarding software and hardware matters.
- Operations phase:

- Interface with the MPC in close collaboration for the precursor service operations.
- Identification and analysis of potential additional services to be included in support to the MPC
- Further detailed specification of the software solutions proposed for the new services, whenever needed.
- Further technical support in the follow-up of the software implementations performed in the foreseen independent software development contracts.
- Interface with the ESA DS team where needed regarding software and hardware matters.

**Skills and Experience**:
The following skills and experience are mandatory:

- MSc in Physics, Astronomy, Aerospace Engineering or equivalent academic degree.
- Between 2-5 years of working experience with NEO related topics covering each of the following domains: NEO science and dynamics, observation of NEOs or minor body celestial mechanics.
- Knowledge of and experience in working with NEO data.
- Good knowledge of MPC processes, data and communications.
- Experience in the specification of software.
- Experience in the validation and verification of software.
- Experience in working with data models.
- Experience in communicating with international partners including space agencies, international entities and scientific community.
- Experience in acceptance testing and validation techniques.
- Willingness to travel for work within Europe and North America.

**Why should you apply?**:

- You will have the opportunity to work within a major institution.
- **We encourage everyone to think outside the box and to push the boundaries of traditional knowledge.** This role is an opportunity to join a forward-thinking company and allows for a deeper understanding of the industry.
- Benefits include: competitive remuneration packages; unique career opportunities, including working in other countries; personalized training and development programmes; flexible relocation support.