Intern in the Ariane 6 Department - Ariane Mission and System Engineering Division - European Space Agency (Paris)

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:

• Act as key point of contact for OPERA users, ensuring effective support and coordination within the STS Directorate
• Manage reference models, including their creation and updates
• Update the means database
• Provide methodological support to ESA users developing new models
• Prepare and run operational performance calculations to support use-case evaluations
• Code and test new models, from process analysis and model design to the creation of sequences, operations and test scenarios

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: University student, preferably in final or second-to-last year of Master's level course, with proof of enrollment for the entire duration of the internship
• Languages: English, French
• Key skills: Experience with calculation tools

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: Internship.

Working arrangements: ESA Headquarters, Paris, France.

Hiring unit: Ariane 6 Department, Ariane Mission and System Engineering Division, Space Transportation Directorate.

Position details

Reference

1452792833

Last Verified

4 November 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Intern in the Ariane 6 Department - Ariane Mission and System Engineering Division at ESA based in Paris (Traineeship). The vacancy reference is 1452792833.

Job Requisition ID:20973

Date Posted:1 November 2026

Closing Date:30 November 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication Method:External Only

Directorate:Space Transportation

Location ESA Headquarters, Paris, France

Our team and mission

The Ariane 6 team supports the ramp-up of the Ariane 6 launch system. This includes improving the performance of the launcher, the launch complex and the Guiana Space Centre launch range, with the aim of ensuring affordable and continuous access to space for European institutional missions.

The team provides engineering support in the following areas:

- complementary developments to enhance Ariane 6 launch system capabilities for specific missions, including science, exploration, Earth observation and navigation; - adaptations to improve quality, cost, availability and performance; - monitoring of Ariane 6 exploitation, including production and launch campaign activities; - maintenance of the Ariane 6 launch system in operational condition, including anomaly correction and obsolescence management.

Working closely with the launcher system prime contractor (ArianeGroup) and the launch base design authority (CNES), the team assesses industrial capability, operational performance and Guiana Space Centre resources. This includes monitoring prime contractor factories and the supply chain, launch campaign operations, launch complex maintenance, operational tools, payload preparation facilities and readiness to support Ariane 6 launches. Performance is assessed by tracking the on-time delivery of flight hardware and Ariane 6 launches and by comparing expected performance, such as production rate and launch cadence, with actual delivery, including flight hardware delivery dates and key launch campaign milestones.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

​​You will support the A6 Launch System operational performance modelisation team in the following tasks:

​

- ​acting as key point of contact for OPERA users, ensuring effective support and coordination within the STS Directorate; - ​managing reference models, including their creation and updates; - ​updating the means database; - ​providing methodological support to ESA users developing new models; - ​preparing and running operational performance calculations to support use-case evaluations; - ​coding and testing new models, from process analysis and model design to the creation of sequences, operations and test scenarios.

Behavioural competencies

Education

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.

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.

You should demonstrate a genuine interest in space transportation systems, together with the motivation to contribute to the analysis of production flows and launch campaign activities.

Experience with calculation tools would be an advantage.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 3 November 2026, 4 days ago.

The application deadline is 30 November 2026, 21 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 4 November 2026 (3 days ago).

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 Paris see our Paris 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.