ESA Graduate Trainee in Remote Sensing Earth Observation Mission Concept Development - European Space Agency (Noordwijk)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Space Agency on the official vacancy notice. Our own analysis — salary realism, comparable openings, career trajectory, language profile — follows further down the page.

Key responsibilities

According to the vacancy notice, the role centres on the following duties:

• Support the Keystone mission's scientific definition and performance evaluation
• Conduct theoretical assessment and testing of mission performance
• Simulate signals observed by the spacecraft
• Generate instrument data streams and process them into scientific products
• Compare data with outputs from other simulators or experimental airborne campaigns
• Produce and analyse output for the Report for Mission Selection
• Support mission science and promotion activities
• Engage with the scientific community and mission team

Are you eligible?

Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:

• Education: Recently completed or in the final year of a master's degree in physics, geophysics or geoscience
• Experience: Relevant experience gained during internships, project work and/or extracurricular or other activities; previous experience of working in international teams can be considered an asset
• Key skills: Good interpersonal and communication skills, Ability to work independently and as part of a team, Ability to work in a multicultural environment, Python experience (asset)

Selection process

The notice describes the following selection steps:

• Application review
• Later stages of selection process exploring motivation, overall professional perspective and career goals

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: Graduate trainee position (duration not specified).

Working arrangements: On-site at ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands.

Hiring unit: Earth Observation Programmes.

Position details

Reference

1445111833

Last Verified

18 October 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for ESA Graduate Trainee in Remote Sensing Earth Observation Mission Concept Development at ESA based in Noordwijk (Other). The vacancy reference is 1445111833.

Job Requisition ID:20946

Date Posted:7 October 2026

Closing Date:4 November 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication Method:External Only

Directorate:Earth Observation Programmes

Location

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Our team and mission

As part of the 12th cycle of ESA’s Earth Explorer programme (EE12), the candidate mission ”Keystone” will undergo a Phase A study. Keystone would provide the first direct observations of atomic oxygen in the mesosphere-thermosphere system, using a unique combination of limb-sounding techniques to cover altitudes from 50 to 250km. These observations, together with measurements of composition, temperature and winds, would enable scientists to study the processes that drive variability and energy balance in this region of the atmosphere, including the effects of solar cycles and space weather. Three EE12 candidate missions are currently under consideration; following completion of their respective Phase A studies, one will be selected for implementation. A brief description of the EE12 mission candidates is available here:

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

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

You will join the Keystone mission team, supporting the mission’s scientific definition and performance evaluation to help maximise its scientific output and contribute to the feasibility assessment and final mission selection process, scheduled for summer 2028. You will work on the theoretical assessment and testing of the mission’s performance, including simulating the signals observed by the spacecraft, generating instrument data streams and processing them into scientific products for distribution to users. You may also compare these data with similar outputs from other simulators or experimental airborne campaigns. You will produce and analyse output that contributes to the preparation of the Report for Mission Selection.

You may also support other mission science and promotion activities, including engagement with the scientific community and the mission team, the preparation of workshops and meetings, and mission communication, visualisation and public outreach. You will gain insight into the competitive process through which ESA Earth observation research mission concepts are defined and matured before selection for mission implementation. You will also learn about the technical and scientific approaches used to assess mission performance and feasibility.

Technical competencies

Knowledge of relevant technical and functional domains

Relevant experience gained during internships, project work and/or extracurricular or other activities

General knowledge of the space sector and relevant activities

Knowledge of ESA and its programmes and projects

Behavioural competencies

Education

You should have recently completed or be in the final year of a master’s degree in physics, geophysics or geoscience.

Additional requirements

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.

You should also have:

Demonstrated experience in using Python is an asset.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 18 October 2026, today.

The application deadline is 4 November 2026, 15 days from today. Late applications are not accepted, so submit through the official EU Careers portal well in advance.

Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 18 October 2026.

Where to learn more

For headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at ESA see the ESA institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Noordwijk see our Noordwijk location page.

New to EU careers? Our beginner's guide walks through entry routes, EPSO competitions, and what to prepare. For application logistics see application tips and EPSO competitions.