Intern in the Quality Department - Space Debris Mitigation
New Closes 30 Nov 2026 CET (UTC+1)
Employers can close earlier.
Noordwijk, NL
Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
The Independent Safety Office is responsible for providing ESA with independent safety authority in the fields of Human Spaceflight Safety, Space Debris Mitigation and Re-entry Safety, Planetary Protection and Curation, and Nuclear Power Sources Safety.
For what concerns the field of Space Debris Mitigation and Re-entry Safety, the main functions of the Independent Safety Office include:
Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int
The amount of space debris is increasing in such a way that, if current behaviours and trends in orbit continue, crucial orbital regions may become unusable. In response to this, ESA introduced its ‘Zero Debris approach’ to significantly limit the production of debris in Earth and Lunar orbits by 2030. As a first step, ESA's Space Debris Mitigation Policy and Requirements were updated in 2023, introducing stricter mitigation measures.
As ESA’s Technical Authority on Space Debris Mitigation, the Independent Safety Office is involved in the review of the space debris mitigation strategies for all missions at ESA. Therefore, we can evaluate the adoption of the requirements and the alignment of ESA projects with the ambitious Zero Debris goals. For each review, we prepare a detailed assessment of the status of compliance and issue recommendations to the projects on how to improve the safety and sustainability of their missions. With the introduction of the ‘Zero Debris Approach’, we have modernised such compliance analysis, with four objectives:
As an intern, you will contribute to the evolution of a suite of digital tools, in Python, to reach such objectives by leveraging the extensive dataset of reviews conducted by our team. Thanks to the database built in the previous step, you will assess the feasibility of automating the monitoring of the space debris environment impact of the ESA fleet and of ESA projects, with the objective of developing an informative dashboard on the space debris risk profile of ESA projects.
As an intern, you will also support the work on the evolution of the requirements considering:
In performing your work, you will have the occasion to acquire:
You will also be exposed to agile approaches for software development and involved in relevant tasks related to the normal work of the office.
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook
You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of university course at Master's level. In addition, you must be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship.
The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.
During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.
Familiarity and proven experience with Python is an asset.
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 ESA.Student.Internships@esa.int.
Important Information and Disclaimer
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests.
Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.
The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding internship 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
Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
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