ESA Graduate Trainee in High Performance Computing for Software Defined Satellites
European Space Agency (ESA)
Intern Internship Close on 28 Feb 2026
Noordwijk, NL
Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
The Avionics and EEE Division plays a pivotal role in ensuring the reliability and advancement of spacecraft avionics and component technologies. Its mission spans design assurance, qualification, and testing of EEE components, as well as radiation hardness assurance for space systems in its domain of responsibility. The division operates specialised laboratories and provides expertise to ESA projects, industry, and research partners. It actively disseminates knowledge through internal and external training, conference participation, and tutoring of PhD students, ESA Graduate Trainees (EGTs), and National Trainees, fostering innovation and professional growth.
Components
The Section is responsible for ensuring that all EEEE Components (passive & active) flown on ESA missions are suitable for their application and the environment for which they are intended, lead the development of EEEE Components and their qualification. European Space Component Coordination (ESCC) executives and actively supporting European Cooperation for Space Standardisation (ECSS) standardisation activities. The section conducts Research and Development (R&D) activities in their domain of responsibility.
Radiation & Component Reliability
The Section is responsible for assessing all aspects of EEEE Component Radiation Effects to ensure EEEE Components flown on ESA Missions are suitable for the Radiation Environment and their assigned application for the duration of the mission. It is also responsible for all EEEE Component laboratory Test and Analysis activities. The section conducts R&D activities in their domain of responsibility and manage the EEEE Component Laboratory Facility. Actively supporting ESCC/ECSS standardisation activities.
The section is responsible for development and verification of all Microelectronic devices flown on ESA missions such as AI Accelerators, FPGAs, ASICs, Microprocessors, microelectronic processes, Instruction Set Architecture (ISA), radiation-aware design, prototyping and test for space-grade microelectronics. The section conducts R&D activities in their domain of responsibility and manage the Microelectronics Laboratory Facility. Actively supporting ECSS standardisation activities.
Avionic Architecture
Responsible for supporting all ESA missions in the area of Avionics Sub-System development, their verification and validation, and their qualification within the framework of the agency's strategic objectives.
Data Handling
Responsible for on on-board data handling sub-systems (Platform and Payload). Responsible for developing and qualifying equipment for data acquisition, processing, and distribution (buses, interfaces, mass-memory, data-processing chains, remote interface units, etc.). on-Board data processing is an important focus of the section including development of turnkey AI HW solutions for ESA Missions. The section conducts R&D activities in their domain of responsibility and manage the Data Handling Laboratory Facility. Actively supporting ECSS/CCSDS standardisation activities.
Flight Software
This section designs and maintains flight software for spacecraft control and payload management. It addresses real-time operating systems, fault detection and recovery, and software validation frameworks. The team also explores advanced concepts such as AI-assisted on-board processing, ensuring adaptability and resilience in increasingly complex missions. The section conducts R&D activities in their domain of responsibility and manage the Flight Software Laboratory Facility. Actively supporting ECSS/CCSDS standardisation activities
You are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int
You will contribute to ESA’s introduction of Software Defined Spacecrafts for telecommunication, planetary science and Earth observation autonomous spacecraft platforms and rovers based around High Performance Computing units to reduce at avionics level the electrical and electronics recurrent manufacturing cost.
Akin to the developments in the automotive world the introduction of advance high performance compute units to support autonomous operation enables the optimisation of the spacecraft electronic data processing and control into a handful of units and accompanying decrease in manufacturing costs.
Key drivers include:
These advances are specifically important to the future telecommunication, planetary science and Earth observation
missions.
From software perspective, it is expected that such architecture requires software framework supporting time and space
partitioning to integration multiple functions on the same computer. This also allows hosting apps with multiple criticality
and integrate software apps provided by multiple suppliers. An essential part of the software framework is supporting the
notion of a software app. Rather than relying on a traditional patch&dump functionality which is typically implemented at
the level of a software image representing the complete software running on a processor, the framework shall support
transparent update of such software apps in flight. Certainly, this shall be accompanied by well-defined development and
V&V procedures on ground and spacecraft operation procedures (and corresponding flight software execution rules and
constraints) in flight.
Your work will focus on identifying, analysing and benchmarking suitable High Performance Computing (HPC) hardware, including processors, accelerators, memories and interfaces for their use in avionic platforms for spacecrafts and/or rovers.The hardware should support the traditional suite of avionic sensors and transducers as well as those for AI enabled autonomous operation as needed for debris evasion, docking, landing and surface exploration. For the selected application from future telecommunication, planetary science and Earth observation missions the appropriate software framework will be selected, implemented and evaluated. The evaluation of the selected HPC configuration could be conducted in a simulation/emulation environment or, procured hardware, depending availability, in the laboratory with mission scenarios including AI, real time and high-reliability signal processing and control tasks.
You will aid in laying the foundation for future high-performance computing missions by creating scalable solutions that meet the demands of telecommunication, planetary science and Earth observation missions. These missions utilise advanced sensors and real time data processing for control of spacecraft and rovers, making your contribution essential to improving efficiency and mission success. By working on cutting-edge technologies today, you will play a key role in shaping ESA’s capability to handle complex computational challenges in space, bridging the gap between current commercial solutions and future space-qualified hardware.
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 just completed, or be in the final year of your master’ s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer
Science or Microelectronics.
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.
