Intern in the Mission Operations Department, GAIA and OPS-SAT Mission Operations Unit

Support OPS-SAT experimenters with mission applications deployment.

This opening expired 7 months ago. Do not try to apply for this job.

ESA - European Space Agency

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Application deadline 7 months ago: Sunday 30 Nov 2025 at 23:59 UTC

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Overview

Support OPS-SAT experimenters with mission applications deployment.

You have:

  • Proven experience in some sort of software development (e.g. Linux, Python) is essential.
  • Good knowledge of English or French is required; knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.
  • Must be a university student, preferably studying at master’s level, and enrolled at the University for the entire duration of the internship.

Contract

This is a Internship contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about Internship contracts.

Location ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany

Our team and mission

OPS-SAT Space Lab is an international award winning project which for the first time allows European and Canadian external experimenters to develop, load and execute their own software and firmware in space for no charge. The first mission, OPS-SAT-1, (2019 – 2024) has now finished and several follow-on missions are in development and one is presently in flight (https://opssat.esa.int/). The Lab has evolved from a single mission to a multi-mission infrastructure. Many experimenters have used the Lab, ranging from other space agencies such as NASA, JAXA, CNES and DLR, to big primes such as Airbus down to university departments and start-ups.

Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Internship topic: Mission Applications Deployment live Monitoring Tool

ESA must support the OPS-SAT experimenter community, helping them get familiar with the different OPS-SAT mission on-board environments and how to control the many sensors, actuators and payloads. You will provide this support directly interacting with the experimenters and arranging tests of their experiments through the various parts of the lifecycle and finally supervising the tests on the real spacecraft. In addition, you will support the development cycle of spacecraft in preparation.

Through these activities, you will be exposed to many of the important domains making up mission control and many of the institutions and companies that make up the experiment community.

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation Operational Efficiency Fostering Cooperation Relationship Management Continuous Improvement Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education

You must be a university student, preferably studying 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.

Additional requirements

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.

Proven experience in some sort of software development (e.g. Linux, Python) is essential. Any experience in programming FPGAs, optical communication or cubesat projects would be 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 [email protected].

Important Information and Disclaimer During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests.

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, 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. Applicants from Canada as a Cooperating State can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).

Potential interview questions

Can you describe your experience with software development, particularly in Linux or Python? This question assesses your technical skills relevant to the internship. Discuss specific projects or experiences where you utilized these skills.
What motivates you to apply for this internship with the Mission Operations Department? The interviewer wants to understand your interest in the role. Pro members can see the explanation.
How would you approach monitoring and supporting experimenters during mission tests? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe a time when you had to work collaboratively with a team on a technical project. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What do you know about the OPS-SAT project and its significance? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you provide an example of how you overcame a technical challenge during a project? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you prioritize tasks when managing multiple responsibilities? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What do you think are the key skills required for working in mission control? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 8 months ago - Updated 7 months ago - Source: jobs.esa.int