ESA Graduate Trainee in Space Environments and Effects
European Space Agency (ESA)
Intern Internship Close on 28 Feb 2026
Noordwijk, NL
Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
The Space Environments and Effects Section supports the development of ESA missions and programmes by investigating the space environments within which they will operate, assessing likely effects and defining mitigation methods. Environments addressed include high-energy radiation from radiation belts; solar-particle events and cosmic rays; plasmas encountered in planetary magnetospheres; the solar wind and artificially generated charges and fields on spacecraft; micro-meteoroids and non-trackable debris; planetary and lunar dust; as well as planetary atmospheres. The Section also initiates and manages a wide range of related modelling, software and hardware R&D activities.
You are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int
A significant number of ESA missions across various programmes fly on-board radiation instruments to monitor the local space radiation environment and its possible effects on the spacecraft and their payload. Such devices are also used to provide long-term radiation flux data to improve the existing environmental models used in future mission design, and to characterise and map possible novel environment features.
The goal of this EGT position is to analyse data from such radiation monitors in Earth orbit particularly regarding the Earth’s radiation belts. The analysis will include modelling the response of such instruments to the ambient energetic electron and proton fluxes; processing and analyses of new in-orbit data; study of any enhancements or changes in the radiation belts due to solar events, the drift of the geomagnetic field, or other phenomena; and cross-comparison of measurements with other sources of data and with instruments in other locations in the Solar System. Such analyses are intended to support the development of new European radiation belt models.
As part of this work in the TEC-EPS section, substantial collaboration with other parts of the Agency and with external European partners in the domain is foreseen.
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook
You should have recently completed or be in the final year of your master’s degree in Space Physics and/or IT domains.
Experience in space radiation environment data analyses, relevant programming languages, and radiation instrument modelling with Monte Carlo techniques will be an asset.
You should have good interpersonal and communication skills and should be able to work in a multicultural environment, both independently and as part of a team. Previous experience of working in international teams can be considered an asset. Your motivation, overall professional perspective and career goals will also be explored during the later stages of the selection process.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.
At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at contact.human.resources@esa.int.
Important Information and Disclaimer
Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.
The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.
Nationality and Languages
Please note that applications can only be considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).
According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will be given to external candidates from under-represented Member States*.
The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.
*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.
