The Freie Universität (FU) Berlin (Department of Geosciences/Planetary Sciences), which cooperates with the Institute for Planetary Research of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), invites applications for a research assistant to work with the PMC Performance Team (PPT) and take part in monitoring whether the scientific performance of the satellite is as required and stable. The contract is full-time and limited to 3 years.
Job Reference: WiMi_PLATO-PPTcommissioning
Application deadline: 27 January 2025
Starting date: –
Where: Freie Universität (FU) Berlin, Malteserstr. 74-100 Haus D, 12249 Berlin (Lankwitz)
Duration of the contract: 3 years – Full-time
Salary: 13 TV-L
Job Tasks
The position announced is part of the work performed by the PLATO Mission Consortium (PMC) and will be performed in close cooperation with DLR, ESA, and other European PMC members. Applicants will contribute to the work of the PMC Performance Team (PPT) and take part in monitoring whether the scientific performance of the satellite is as required and stable.
The work package includes support to, e.g., validation of flight operational procedures (FOPs), science verification tests (SVT and SOVT), as well as support of the ground segment and in-flight calibration activities:
- documentation and support for reviews.
- precise modelling of potential systematics in data.
- monitoring of indicators for the data quality.
- analysis of PLATO light curves.
- analysis of measurement uncertainties
- documentation and support for reviews.
Profile’s requirements
- A Master and PhD degree in space engineering, physics, geophysics, or astronomy
- Long-term professional experience in a scientific or technical environment in the field of space sciences.
Desirable:
- several years of experience in calibration and performance modelling of scientific space instruments
- several years of experience with the transit method to detect and characterize extrasolar planets
- good programming skills
- good documentation skills
- experience in optical payload calibration
- experience in ground processing pipelines for space instruments (preferably optical payload)
- experience with working in large international teams
- very good written and spoken English language competences
- high motivation, ability to work independently as well as part of a team, excellent communication skills
How to apply
Applications should be sent stating the reference code no later than Jan 27th, 2025.
Further information on how to apply and contact information are reported in the Job offer.
platomission.com 
