Intern in the Mission Operations Department, Solar System & Exploration Missions Division

Develop mission operations tools for interplanetary spacecraft missions.

This opening expired 6 months ago. Do not try to apply for this job.

ESA - European Space Agency

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Application deadline 6 months ago: Sunday 30 Nov 2025 at 23:59 UTC

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Overview

Develop mission operations tools for interplanetary spacecraft missions.

You have:

  • Must be a university student, preferably at master’s level.
  • Good knowledge of English or French required.
  • Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.
  • Knowledge and experience in Python or JavaScript or other programming languages would be an asset.
  • Experience in back-end development, e.g. Django.
  • Experience in front-end development, e.g. Angular.
  • Knowledge of web server architecture.
  • Knowledge of REST APIs.

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

The Operations Definition and Engineering Team is an expert team responsible for providing Ground Segment and Operations support throughout the early phases of missions, including participation in CDF and phase A/B1. The Team also provides expertise to other projects and studies, including research and development of tools and methods for operations, and providing operations to non-traditional missions. The Team currently supports missions like Cluster (disposal phase), SpaceRider, Moonlight and Henon.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic of the internship: Development of mission operations tools

During your internship, you will be assigned to the Solar System & Exploration Missions Division which is responsible for operating the spacecraft of the Agency’s interplanetary fleet. Your assignment will focus primarily on the creation and extension of web-based operations tools which will support the flight control teams and spacecraft controllers in the execution of their daily work. In particular, you will design and develop backend functionalities for the retrieval, processing and generation of operational planning information and spacecraft configuration data as well as frontend features for appropriate visualisation and modification of said data.

This will inolve tasks such as:

  • assessment of relevant existing tools and functionalities within the divison.
  • collection of user requirements.
  • devising a concept and software architecture to support the identified requirements.
  • implementation of the identified solution(s).

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.

Knowledge and experience in the following areas would be an asset:

  • python, Javascript or other programming languages.
  • back-end development, e.g. Django.
  • front-end development, e.g. Angular.
  • web Server Architecture.
  • REST APIs.

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 programming languages such as Python or JavaScript? This question assesses your technical skills relevant to the internship. Discuss specific projects where you used these programming languages.
How do you approach collecting user requirements for software development? This question evaluates your understanding of user-centered design. Pro members can see the explanation.
What strategies do you use to develop front-end and back-end functionalities for web-based tools? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you give an example of a time when you worked on a team project? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Why did you choose to apply for this internship at ESA? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you ensure operational efficiency in your projects? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What makes you suitable for working on mission operations tools? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you handle feedback during software development processes? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 7 months ago - Updated 6 months ago - Source: jobs.esa.int