Intern in the Contracts Department - European Space Agency (Frascati)

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:

• Provide analysis of procurement or contractual texts, including ESA General Contractual Clauses and Conditions
• Conduct legal analysis of ESA specific regimes (Intellectual Property Rights, disclosure, Personal Data Protection, liability, export control) and their implementation in ESA General Clauses and Conditions
• Focus on differences between General Procurement contracts, Express Procurement contract and Manpower and Service contracts in the frame of the Contracting Regulations
• Obtain hands-on procurement experience in the space sector through involvement in practical procurement cases under supervision of Contracts Officers

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; must be able to prove enrollment at university for entire duration of internship
• Languages: English, French
• Key skills: Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, Ability to interact with multiple international actors, Ability to work collaboratively in a team to achieve organisational goals, Discretion and integrity

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: Split into two equal periods in two separate contracts divisions.

Working arrangements: ESRIN, Frascati, Italy (with half duration in Space Transportation Contracts Division in ESRIN and half duration in Operations & Ground Segment Contracts Division in ESRIN).

Hiring unit: Contracts Department, Controlling, Finance and Operational Procurement Directorate.

Position details

Reference

1452986633

Last Verified

9 November 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Intern in the Contracts Department at ESA based in Frascati (Traineeship). The vacancy reference is 1452986633.

Job Requisition ID:21099

Date Posted:1 November 2026

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

Publication Method:External Only

Directorate:Controlling, Finance and Operational Procurement

Location ESRIN, Frascati, Italy

Our team and mission

Your internship will be split into two equal periods in two separate contracts divisions of ESA's Contracts Department:

- half the duration of your internship within the Space Transportation Contracts Division (CFO-CL);

- half the duration of your internship within the Operations & Ground Segment Contracts Division (CFO-CO).

This experience in two different contracts divisions of ESA's Contracts Department will allow you to maximise your experience of ESA's procurement process and contract management in a large variety of space (launchers, Earth Observation) and non-space (IT, facility management, communication) domains.

The Space Transportation Contracts Division is composed of 11 professionals of various backgrounds and nationalities, located both in Paris (France) and in Rome (Italy).

Our mission is to provide support to the Space Transportation Directorate with regard to the procurement process related to launchers in the European Space Agency. In particular, we are involved in procurement strategy definition, preparation of internal decision documents related to procurement, preparation and release of Invitation to Tender/Request for Quotation/Call for Proposals, evaluation of proposals, preparation and negotiation of contracts and contractual amendments

Our work is organised in four (4) teams reporting to the Head of Division according to the main areas of responsibility, as follows:

- in ESA HQ Daumesnil, Paris, France: Ariane 6 Team; Space Transportation Ground Infrastructure Team; Future Space Transportation Developments Team; - in ESRIN, Frascati, Italy: VEGA/Space Rider Team.

For half the duration of your internship, you will be part of the Space Transportation Contracts Division (CFO-CL) with an organisational reporting line to the Team Leader in ESRIN.

The Operations & Ground Segment Contracts Division is composed of 21 professionals, located at ESRIN (the Agency’s Earth Observation Centre) in Frascati, near Rome (Italy), and at ESOC (European Space Operations Centre) in Darmstadt, near Frankfurt (Germany).

The Division is specialised in the placing and monitoring of large service contracts with the European space industry for ground segment activities and operations of a variety of ESA and third-party space missions, as well as for general activities, especially in the IT domain for the whole Agency.

The Division is split into two contract services:

The ESRIN Contracts Service (CFO-COE) focuses on space activities at the Agency’s Earth Observation Centre in Frascati (Italy), which include in particular: developing and maintaining Earth observation ground segments and distributing Earth observation data from satellites.

The ESOC Contracts Service (CIC-COM) supports activities at the Agency’s European Space Operations Centre. Its work covers the Space Safety Programme (S2P), contractual actions for the Mission Operations Department and the Ground Systems Engineering and Innovation Department, and general procurement at ESOC. In particular, it places and manages contracts for flight operations and for the development and maintenance of the Agency’s worldwide network of space antennas, which connect satellites in orbit with ESOC.

During half the duration of your internship, you will be part of the Operations & Ground Segment Contracts Division (CFO-CO) with an organisational reporting line to the head of the CFO-COE Contracts Service in ESRIN.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

You will be requested to provide analysis of several procurement or contractual texts, including on ESA General Contractual Clauses and Conditions; i.e. legal analysis of ESA specific regimes (Intellectual Property Rights, disclosure, Personal Data Protection, liability, export control ...) and their implementation in ESA General Clauses and Conditions; with specific focus on differences between General Procurement contracts, Express Procurement contract and Manpower and Service contracts, in the frame of the Contracting Regulations.

You will obtain hands-on procurement experience in the space sector, while getting used to ESA procurement process through involvement in practical procurement cases, under the supervision of Contracts Officers from the two Divisions.

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.

Additional requirements:

- excellent communication skills, both verbal and written; - ability to interact with multiple international actors and to work collaboratively in a team to achieve organisational goals; - discretion and integrity.

The following would be considered assets:

- knowledge and background in space domain/technology; - a good knowledge of contract, procurement or international business law, intellectual property law; - a background in law, economics.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 9 November 2026, 1 day ago.

The application deadline is 30 November 2026, 19 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 9 November 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 Frascati see our Frascati 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.