ESA Graduate Trainee in Public International Law
European Space Agency (ESA)
Intern Internship Close on 28 Feb 2026
Noordwijk, NL
Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
ESA’s Legal Services Department provides a broad range of legal services and advice to support the implementation of ESA’s activities and programmes. Our expertise spans a variety of legal disciplines including, but not limited to, public international law, European law, the national law of ESA’s Member States, the law of international civil servants, litigation and arbitration, intellectual property law and export control regulations. As an ESA Graduate Trainee, you will support a team of highly motivated and skilled lawyers in an inspirational, interdisciplinary and multicultural environment.
You are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int
The fulfilment of ESA’s purpose relies primarily on various forms of international cooperation, between Member States as much as with international organisations and institutions and with governments, organisations and institutions of non-member States. Current developments in the space sector and, more generally, on the geopolitical level bring many challenges about and shed new light on the importance of international law, the effectiveness of mechanisms of international cooperation, regional and global cooperation, safety and security, but also the entry of new non-State actors as drivers of the new space age. The success of ESA as a mechanism and an actor of international cooperation builds on an elaborated legal framework, requires the conception, negotiation and implementation of legal instruments (such as, for example, international cooperative agreements, new partnership models or modern procurement methods) and regularly brings new legal questions about.
As an ESA Graduate Trainee, you will report to the Head of the New Initiatives and Commercialisation Division and support the Division, as well as the Legal Services Department at large, in the field of Public International Law, Commercialisation Initiatives, Space Operations, ESA institutional matters. You will discover the legal architectures of the Agency’s institutional relationships with different actors, get acquainted with ESA’s programmes and activities, conduct background research in contemporary legal areas relevant to the mission of the Department, including in UN matters, commercialisation and space sector regulation, contribute to the development of legal instruments of cooperation and can network with colleagues across the Agency.
You will provide:
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 law, with a focus on public international law.
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
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.
