Engineer Earth Science, Remote Sensing or Computer Science

Have you (almost) completed your degree studies? Are you inspired by space exploration and keen to pursue a career in this exciting field? If so, perhaps you should take a closer look at the German Trainee Programme. Organised by DLR, it offers you the chance to work shoulder to shoulder with experts from the 22 member states of ESA - keeping your finger on the pulse of Europe’s space programmes. Over a period up to 24 months, you will actively contribute to the latest research and/or technology projects. This is complemented by a generous scholarship. What better way to launch your career in international space business? The next GTP commences on 1st February 2019. You will be integrated in the activities of the Research and Development (R&D) Section in the Data Applications Division within the Science, Applications and Climate Department of the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes. In the execution of the tasks, you will work in close cooperation with other staff of the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.
You will be part of a dynamic science team leading research and scientific activities, in partnership with European and international industry and academia, aiming at developing the next generation of EO methods, techniques and products, advancing Earth system science, pioneering Open science practices, exploring novel collaborative research tools and transferring this experience into novel EO mission ideas.
As part of the R&D Section, you will be involved in projects and activities in the Inland Water Hydrology domain, specifically in the use of CryoSat-2, Sentinel-3A and -3B Radar Altimetry along with other sensors in synergy, as well as auxiliary and in situ data. The main focus is to estimate river level and derive river discharge. Tasks: Process CryoSat and Sentinel-3 data to derive river stage and discharge

• Get up-to-date with the state of the art in deriving river level (stage) and flow (discharge) from space (Radar Altimetry, Gravity, Imaging Sensors both optical and microwave).
• Analyse the limitations of the existing pilot demonstration processors. Propose evolutions towards a reliable and sustainable processing system.
• Develop (or adapt from existing precursors) a river level estimator starting from the Level 1A data from CryoSat in SAR and SARin mode and Sentinel-3A and -3B, using the GPOD service SARvatore (http://wiki.services.eoportal.org/tiki-index.php?page=GPOD+SENTINEL-3+SARvatore+Software+Prototype+User+Manual). Process CryoSat and Sentinel-3 data over a selected area.
• Develop (or adapt from existing precursors) a river discharge estimator over a selected area (via rating curves or other techniques involving other sensors or auxiliary data).
• Validate the methods using in situ data. Use data from the Global Runoff Data Center (www.bafg.de/GRDC).
• Study how to enhance the estimation of river discharge, using data from an imaging instrument. Prototype the method and apply on a selected area.
• Participate in an experiment to apply Fully-Focused SAR processing on a small river.
• Investigate methods of Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning and Big Data for small rivers.
• Write a report. Publish in ESA workshops and at EGU. Eventually submit a manuscript to Advances in Space Research for peer-review publication.

• Master’s degree in Earth Science, Remote Sensing, Computer Science, Engineering
• German citizenship is absolutely necessary
• Applicants should have just completed (conclusion not older than two years) or be in their final year of a university course at Master’s level in a technical or scientific discipline
• candidates must be fluent in English or French, the official languages of the Agency

We look forward to your e-mail application in English, citing GTP-2019-EOP-SDR to GTP@dlr.de.
Closing date for this position is 6th September 2018. The interviews are tentatively scheduled for week 45/2018. Please visit the German Trainee Programme page for details of our application procedures. Your application should consist of a motivation letter and your CV only (CV exclusively in Europass format). Unfortunately we cannot consider further documents. Disabled applicants with equivalent qualifications will be given preferential treatment. If you have any initial questions, please feel free to contact Ms. Larissa Seidlez: larissa.seidlez@dlr.de