Main duties

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.

Requirements

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.

We offer

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.

Application

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

The closing date for initial applications is 20 June 2024 although the position will remain open until filled.

www.space.unibe.ch