Internship - Optimal Satellite Control Algorithms Engineer - M / F

Let's build a future of trust together

Thales is a global high-tech leader specializing in three sectors: Defense & Security, Aerospace & Space, and Cyber & Digital. It develops products and solutions that contribute to a safer, more environmentally friendly, and more inclusive world. The Group invests nearly 4 billion euros per year in Research & Development, particularly in key innovation areas such as AI, cybersecurity, quantum, cloud technologies, and 6G. Thales has nearly 81,000 employees in 68 countries.

Our commitments, your benefits

• Our technological expertise
• Our focus on employee work-life balance
• An inclusive and benevolent environment
• Recognized societal and environmental commitment (Thales Solidarity, CAC 40 ESG index, etc.)

Your daily life

Located 20 minutes from the Paris-Saclay technology hub, the site is one of the largest centers of excellence for surface radars. We contribute to developing, designing, integrating, and testing air surveillance radars dedicated to detecting and identifying targets.

Taking maneuvers into account is an essential step in satellite surveillance. The objective of the internship is to propose a new way of generating orbital maneuver trajectories using innovative, robust, and efficient optimal control techniques such as Pontryagin's Maximum Principle (PMP).

The internship will involve developing and evaluating these algorithms along two axes: physical representativeness (by varying force modeling) and operational representativeness (by varying optimality criteria). Performance will be compared with real measurements of satellites in orbit performing maneuvers.

To do this, you will be responsible for:

1. Familiarizing yourself with the bibliographic state of the art (optimal control, space mechanics, typical maneuvers, reference frames, etc.)

2. Formulating optimal control problems and solving them using PMP and continuation techniques

3. Defining metrics to characterize solution performance

4. Producing a synthesis of the study

Your profile

You are preparing for a bac+5 engineering school degree.

You have an interest in the space domain.

You specialize in applied mathematics: automation, control, optimization.

You are proficient in Matlab programming.

You are comfortable with manipulating differential equations from physics.

You know how to search for information in English scientific literature.

You are curious, proactive & able to step back from your work.

You are a good communicator and know how to work in a team & autonomously.

Then this position is for you!

All our internships are regulated and subject to remuneration, the amount of which is determined by your level of study.

Thales, a Handi-Engaged company, recognizes all talents. Diversity is our best asset. Apply and join us!