Master Thesis (m/f/d)

at  OHB System AG

OHB System AG – We.Create.Space
OHB System AG is one of the leading space companies in Europe. The company is part of the listed high-tech group OHB SE, which has more than 3,200 employees working on pivotal European space programs. With two strong locations in Bremen and Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich and more than 40 years of experience, OHB System AG specialises in high-tech solutions for space. These include low-orbiting and geostationary satellites for Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications, science and space exploration as well as systems for human space flight and aerial reconnaissance. We owe our success to our employees’ passion for innovation, as well as their commitment and initiative.
For temporary employment of 9 months OHB System AG in Oberpfaffenhofen is looking for a
Master Thesis (m/f/d)
A new wavefront sensing technique, based on an axicon lens, can be applied for WFE detection and for in flight wavefront correction of future large space telescopes (if used within an active optics correction chain together with a deformable mirror). The here proposed idea is to develop a novel data retrieval method for such a device and to proof the feasibility of a wavefront sensor using an axicon lens. An axicon lens transforms an optical beam into a ring shape pattern. This ring is deformed in presence of aberrations of the wavefront, providing the opportunity for a novel wavefront sensor, which can be simple, very small, and robust. Compared to the classical methods of wavefront sensing, a simple and low-cost hardware solution with only one optical element and a 2D detector is found. Implemented within a space telescope it provides an in-flight monitoring and correction of optical aberrations and by that, allowing low mass and low volume telescope designs with reduced costs, by still providing a high optical performance. The current challenge for such an axicon lens-based wavefront sensor is to find a re-trieval method to infer the distortion of the wavefront from the digital data acquired by the detector.

Your Tasks

• Develop (explore and code) a retrieval method and algorithm to derive wavefront aberrations
• Build a laboratory bread board of such an axicon wavefront sensor as well as the related optical ground support equipment (Laser source, beam expander and adaptive mirror to introduce defined wavefront aberrations)
• Test the wavefront detection sensor, the code and its performance with the bread board.

Project customer is ESA, which will require/allow to present intermediate status and final results of the Master thesis to ESA technical experts.

Your Qualificatons

• You are a registered student (e.g. photonics, physics, engineering physics, micro-engineering or in a comparable field of study)
• You have solid programming skills (Python, Mathlab or similar)
• You can provide very good Math knowledge (algorithm selection/development)
• You bring first experience in Image acquisition and processing and in optical metrology (e.g. wavefront measurement)
• You enjoy working in a team and have a high degree of initiative
• You have a very good Englisch language knowledge (spoken and written)

Optional:

• You have already gained some experience in Basic optics simulation know-how (e.g. Zemax or CODE V)
• You can show that you have Laser operation experience
• You have done experimental work in a ISO8 Optics lab

We offer
Mobility: Subsidized Deutschland ticket, Job bike & parking lots
Company parties & events: Christmas party, Satellite launch events, NextGen Speakers Night
Structured on-boarding process (incl. Assignment of a buddy in the first months)
Family: Kindergarten subsidy/ Kindergarten places, Childcare in the vacation period & paid child sickness days
Active health promotion: Health management, E-GYM Wellpass & In-company sports groups
Mobile Work: Hybrid work & mobile work abroad
Innovation: Company suggestion system & free research and development
Additional benefits: 13. monthly salary, accident insurance & company pension plan
Work Life Balance: Flexible working hours, sabbatical, 30 days vacation & special leave days
space projects
Development: Extensive range of training courses, individual professional development, German language courses & annual employee dialogue
Catering: High standard company restaurant & generous meals subsidy
A complete overview of our benefits and more details can be found here on our website.
Become part of our international team and take your professional and personal development to a new level. Don’t fulfil all the requirements? No problem - we are happy to receive applications with partial matches! We are looking forward to your application in German or English via our online tool.
OHB System AG
Human Resources
Questions regarding this posting? Leon Hartmann is available under career@ohb.de

• Develop (explore and code) a retrieval method and algorithm to derive wavefront aberrations
• Build a laboratory bread board of such an axicon wavefront sensor as well as the related optical ground support equipment (Laser source, beam expander and adaptive mirror to introduce defined wavefront aberrations)
• Test the wavefront detection sensor, the code and its performance with the bread board