Junior Professional in Space Transportation Strategy, Market Analysis and Engineering
European Space Agency (ESA)
Full-time Closes 27 Jul 2026
Paris, FR
This post is part of ESA’s Junior Professional Programme. We are looking for enthusiastic candidates with up to 3 years of relevant professional experience after their Master's degree to join ESA for a four-year assignment. During this time, you will be actively working and learning on the job and will benefit from valuable mobility and developmental opportunities that will prepare you for a successful career at ESA. Subject to performance, it is therefore the intention to offer you an indefinite contract which will start at the end of the four years.
Recruitment will take place at the A1 grade on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale. At the end of the fourth year and if you are offered an indefinite contract at the end of your Junior Professional assignment, you will be upgraded to the A2 grade.
Location
ESA Headquarters, Paris, France or other site, as required.
Developmental assignments form an integral part of the Junior Professional Programme and may entail a temporary relocation to another ESA establishment or other location.
Junior Professional in Space Transportation Strategy, Market Analysis and Engineering in the Space Transportation Strategy and Coordination Office.
The Space Transportation Strategy and Coordination Office is responsible for elaborating the European Space Transportation strategy and for the Directorate’s Institutional Relations, including with Member States, the EU and its entities, launch service providers/operators and international partners.
As a Junior Professional, your tasks and responsibilities will contribute to strengthening the Directorate’s analytical and data management capabilities in support of space transportation strategy and launch service activities. Your work will focus on developing robust data tools and delivering structured analyses to support decision-making and will include:
You will create, implement and maintain a unified set of databases and associated analytical tools.
These will cover:
This work will feed into regular internal reporting and strategic assessments.
Upon request, you will contribute to specific assessments and analyses supporting other teams within the Directorate in the above areas as well as additional tasks aligned with the Directorate’s priorities. This will provide you with exposure to a broad range of activities.
In addition to your daily work, you will take part in an extensive learning and development programme. From day one, you will learn on the job and benefit from tailored development opportunities, including participation in technical and key skills training courses.
Furthermore, there is a mobility component to the Junior Professional Programme that can be either an internal rotation to another team within ESA, an external secondment outside of ESA or a combination of both. Internal rotations aim to boost your professional experience and knowledge of the European Space Agency, whereas external secondments aim to boost your professional experience and knowledge of the European space sector.
In this context, the following mobilty options can be considered:
This programme represents a significant investment by ESA in your personal and professional development and is designed to provide you with the required knowledge and skills for a career at ESA. You can expect to be given many opportunities to develop your professional experience and competencies, to learn from ESA experts and to contribute to ESA activities.
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
For more information, please refer to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.
A master's degree in engineering or other relevant technical discipline, involving interdisciplinary research is required for this post with up to three years of professional experience.
In addition, knowledge of the following technical domains is required: main launch system and payload technical features according to their class of mission, satellite applications, and regulations and policies related to space transportation.
You should have good interpersonal and communication skills and be able to work in a multicultural environment, both independently and as part of a small team. Good analytical and writing skills are essential, as is a good level of proficiency in English.
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 are only 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, the United Kingdom and Canada, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.
According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the 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.
