Doctoral Researcher, Electric Solar Wind Sail Mission Design (MSCA)

About the role

Aalto University, School of Electrical Engineering, is recruiting two Doctoral Researchers for the E-Sailors MSCA Doctoral Network, which trains scientists, developers and advocates of electric solar wind sails (E-sails). The work is supervised by Jaan Praks at Aalto and co-hosted by the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI); the start is expected in 2026 with a 6-month trial period.

Position 1 (E-Sailor 8) develops methods for monitoring and ensuring the safety of E-sail tether deployment, combining simulation, laboratory testing and in-orbit validation with data from the Foresail-1p mission. Position 2 (E-Sailor 4) designs and builds an E-sail payload for the ESTCube-LuNa nanospacecraft, including prototype testing, and spends the last 6 months at Spacecraft Anatomy in Estonia.

Key responsibilities

• Carry out independent research on E-sail tether deployment, dynamics and safety, or on the design of nanosatellite E-sail payloads.
• Review literature, analyse requirements and carry out theoretical studies on tether mechanics, deployment systems and payload design.
• Develop numerical models and 3D visualisations of tether and spacecraft dynamics, and adapt simulation and imaging tools.
• Run laboratory experiments and contribute to in-orbit data analysis, then propose improved deployment schemes and safety strategies.
• Document results in technical reports and scientific publications and present them at conferences.
• Collaborate with Aalto, FMI and industry partners and take part in outreach and public engagement.

Required profile

• Master's degree in aerospace engineering, space technology, physics, mechanical engineering, computer science or a closely related field.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.
• Research experience shown through projects, theses, publications or technical reports.
• Not yet holding a doctorate and not having lived in Finland more than 12 months in the three years before recruitment.

Required skills

• Proficiency in orbital mechanics and propagators (GMAT, STK or similar), spacecraft dynamics, cubesats and space plasma physics.
• Programming in Rust, Python, MATLAB, C/C++ or similar for simulation and data analysis.
• Experience with Git, simulation software and numerical methods.
• Ability to work autonomously on complex technical problems and lead multi-month projects.

What we offer

• Doctoral degree from Aalto University; the position is based at Aalto (24 months for E-Sailor 8, 15 months at Aalto and FMI for E-Sailor 4).
• Approx. 3,143 EUR per month at Aalto, adjusted for MSCA allowances; FMI pays 2,900-3,200 EUR and Spacecraft Anatomy about 2,700 EUR.
• Access to the Aalto Space Lab, including a cleanroom, thermal-vacuum testing and engineering software.

Applications close on 20 October 2026 via the Aalto online recruitment system, with a one-page motivation letter and copies of degree certificates and transcripts.