I am a Space Weather Application Scientist supporting the European Space Agency’s OPS-SW/Space Weather Office in Darmstadt, Germany, where I’ve been working since 2017.
What’s your role?
I am a Space Weather Application Scientist based at the European Space Agency’s European Space Operations Centre (ESA ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany. Specifically, I support ESA’s OPS-SW/Space Weather Office in the Space Weather Services segment. I’ve been in this role since February 2017.
Space weather concerns solar activity and its impacts on Earth, including human infrastructure and spacecraft. As an Application Scientist, I mainly follow the development, testing and validation of applications designed both to improve our space situational awareness and to mitigate any deleterious effects that may be caused by perturbed space weather conditions.
What’s a typical day in your working life like?
I’m the contact point for multiple ESA projects related to space weather studies or the development of applications and services with the aim of reducing the impacts of space weather events. I’m often appointed to activities that focus on preventing impacts on ground infrastructures (such as power grids) and satellite communications, including positioning and navigation.
ESA maintains a pre-operational Space Weather Service portal that gathers a large number of products, organised into specific services, that are provided by an extensive network of experts and application providers. I’m in charge of supporting the correct implementation and maintenance of those products that have strong connection to the domains of upper atmosphere and geomagnetic conditions.
A typical day in my position involves attending meetings with developers and experts, supervising the development of new products or updates, handling unexpected service interruptions and facilitating the resolution of issues so that the products in the portal are provided successfully. I also work on keeping the ESA Space Weather Office requirements and procedures on point. Sometimes I travel to meet contractors at important project milestones, and I also attend conferences or events related to space safety.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy the problem solving aspect of my job, especially in the development phases of a new application. In these phases, it is common for problems to occur that are related to the real-time nature of the applications.
What has been your most memorable career achievement?
Every time I bring a project to a successful conclusion is, for me, a big achievement. But if I had to choose one, it would be when we were able to close a very important project focusing on southern European users of space weather services at the beginning of 2025. The activity involved feasibility studies, product development and instrument installation.
Do you have any tips for people trying to get jobs in your area of expertise?
Both the expertise gained by undertaking a doctoral degree and related transferable skills are definitely needed to perform the testing and validation of Space Weather Service elements. Knowledge of data management, software development and related European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECSS) standards is a plus.
A useful tip for anyone who starts this kind of career path is: always be ready to learn!
How do you wind down?
I spend my free time with my family and our golden retriever. We love exploring the forest and having little adventures. I have a rather sporty family so we enjoy being active. To wind down, I also like gardening and reading about science.