Space training team – Astronaut Training Database (ATD) software development support

Our team and mission

The European Space Agency (ESA) runs numerous training programmes for personnel involved in human spaceflight, including astronauts, mission developers, engineers, instructors and many other positions. The organisers, instructors and trainees involved in these courses are distributed across several sites around Europe and other partner nations around the world. Additionally, the individuals involved also come from numerous different technical backgrounds.

In order to support the complex development and implementation of these courses, a software system was developed called the Astronaut Training database (ATD). This system is now used to organise, document, and maintain all the training courses related to human spaceflight.

The ATD is a key component of the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) Space Training Team Infrastructure. It provides cross-platform round the clock operational support to various end users located around the world.

Activities and learning areas

The ATD software suite integrates a number of modules for training design, development, implementation, evaluation, administration, management and quality control.  It supports the following operational duties and processes:

• Instructional System Development processes
• Training management and administration processes
• Training delivery / event coordination processes
• Maintenance of an up-to-date repository for training curricula, training plans and schedules, certification data, training records, and supporting information 

Over the years, the ATD database has accumulated a vast amount of structured and unstructured data, including several forms of transactional, scheduling, instructional, and multimedia information. In addition, the ATD codebase has evolved in an ongoing process of updating the software, hardware, and infrastructure to adopt emerging technologies, changing business needs, and security constraints.

The ATD project now seeks support for the definition and implementation of a technology stack update roadmap.

Specific duties

Selected candidates will perform the following duties 

• Familiarisation with the ATD system architecture, code repository, database and technical documentation
• Familiarisation with the software development lifecycle and operational environment
• Familiarisation with the ATD service operations
• Support the implementation and maintenance of ATD application functionality
• Identify areas of improvement across the entire ATD Service
• Support the implementation of vulnerability remediation plans
• Support the definition and implementation of the ATD Technology update roadmap
• Support the definition of architectural changes to compartmentalise data and functionality for different training projects

Competencies and skills

An educational background in software engineering or computer sciences is required.

Demonstrated knowledge and practical experience in the following software engineering areas would be considered an asset: 

• Back-end and front-end development: Programming languages, frameworks, and development tools used in the ATD project, including ASP.NET, .NET Core, Classic ASP, HTML, JavaScript, React, ExtJS, and Microsoft Visual Studio.
• Relational database management and administration: Experience with relational database management systems and database administration, particularly Microsoft SQL Server and T-SQL, as used in the ATD project.
• Cybersecurity: Knowledge of cybersecurity principles, vulnerability assessment, and vulnerability remediation planning.
• IT cloud services and operations: Knowledge and practical experience with cloud-based IT services, infrastructure, deployment, monitoring, and operations.
• AI-based software engineering: Familiarity with the application of artificial intelligence and AI-assisted tools and techniques in software development and engineering practices.
• Web and mobile hybrid application development: Experience designing and developing applications using web and mobile hybrid development technologies.

Check this page for details on internships and upcoming opportunities: jobs.esa.int

For EAC internship opportunities, search “Porz-Wahn” in the workplace search bar.