Student Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or similar (f/m/x)

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For our institute of Software Technology in Braunschweig we are looking for a Student Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or similar (f/m/x), Secure and reliable excution of untrusted code in space

Das erwartet Sie:

ScOSA (Scalable On-board computing for Space Avionics) is an architecture for on-board computers which aims to provide reliability and high-performance processing for spacecraft. This is achieved by using a distributed computer consisting of multiple, heterogeneous processors networked together. Commercial-off-the-shelf processors that provide high performance are complemented with space-grade, radiation-hardened processors to provide reliability. A custom-built middleware allows the processors to monitor each other for faults and provides an abstraction layer, which allows applications to use the computing resources of all nodes simultaneously with minimal concern for the underlying complexities of the distributed system.

With such a computational power available in a space system it is possible to consider the opportunistic use of the platform to run third-party experiments in space by research institutions, companies, universities, or schools. However, these users may not be able to provide experiment software with the quality and reliability expected for critical space missions. Therefore, the ScOSA platform shall provide a way to execute untrusted code in a secure and reliable way by using mixed criticality techniques.

A common technique to enable mixed-criticality is to use the sandboxing or containerization tools available in modern operating systems such as GNU/Linux. Thus, it is possible to confine the execution of processes so they don't interfere with other critical parts of the system. Additionally, it is necessary to provide users with a convenient platform to develop space applications in an agile way, so the time required to upload a space application is reduced while maintaining limited risks.

The thesis includes the following tasks:

• design a framework to evaluate reliability and security aspects of the execution of untrusted code in space
• research and evaluate sandboxing or containerization techniques suitable to run third-party ScOSA applications
• research and evaluate software platforms to develop, upload, and execute ScOSA applications in space
• integrate the selected tools to the ScOSA software execution platform
• evaluate the reliability and security aspects of the proposed solution by using example ScOSA applications
• writing a Master thesis

Das erwarten wir von Ihnen:

• master's student in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering or similar
• interest in embedded software and research
• experience with C++ and GNU/Linux
• experience in low-level embedded development is an advantage
• experience with sandboxing or cybersecurity is an advantage
• you are able to communicate in English (supervision will be in English)

Unser Angebot:

Das DLR steht für Vielfalt, Wertschätzung und Gleichstellung aller Menschen. Wir fördern eigenverantwortliches Arbeiten und die individuelle Weiterentwicklung unserer Mitarbeitenden im persönlichen und beruflichen Umfeld. Dafür stehen Ihnen unsere zahlreichen Fort- und Weiterbildungsmöglichkeiten zur Verfügung. Chancengerechtigkeit ist uns ein besonderes Anliegen, wir möchten daher insbesondere den Anteil von Frauen in der Wissenschaft und Führung erhöhen. Bewerbungen schwerbehinderter Menschen bevorzugen wir bei fachlicher Eignung.

Weitere Angaben:

• Eintrittsdatum: sofort
• Dauer: six months
• Vergütung: none
• Kennziffer: 94907