Intern in the Director General's Cabinet - Senior Security Coordinator's Office - 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:

• Identify national policies of European states and their allies regarding civil security/safety/protection
• Monitor existing national space capabilities and their link to security applications
• Identify capability gaps and potential cooperation opportunities (Pooling and Sharing)
• Support investigation of ESA's contribution to creating European commercial space champions
• Investigate how US Space Force Commercial Space Strategy could be translated into European context

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
• Languages: English, French
• Key skills: Knowledge of Space Systems, Knowledge of European Defence current Architecture
• Eligibility: Must be enrolled at university for the entire duration of the internship

Contract and working arrangements

Working arrangements: ESA Headquarters, Paris, France.

Hiring unit: Director General's Cabinet, Senior Security Coordinator's Office.

Position details

Reference

1452917433

Last Verified

11 November 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Intern in the Director General's Cabinet - Senior Security Coordinator's Office at ESA based in Paris (Traineeship). The vacancy reference is 1452917433.

Job Requisition ID:20934

Date Posted:1 November 2026

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

Publication Method:External Only

Directorate:Director General's Services

Location ESA Headquarters, Paris, France

Our team and mission

Compact, proactive and dedicated team embedded in the ESA Director General’s Cabinet. The Head of the Office is the main advisor to ESA Director General (DG) on matters linked to the use of space assets in support of resilience, crisis management but also defence matters (resolution 11 of outcome of Council at Ministerial level in 2025).

The Office interacts with all relevant ESA Directorates on those topics in particular in reaching out to the European Resilience in Space programme outreach to MoDs of ESA Member States as well as Associated States.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

You can choose between the following topics:

1) Topic 1: ESA Member States National security policy and capabilities’ review in support of DG-OS daily work as well as the EU security, defence and space evolution.

Security from Space aims at defining space contributions to mitigate security challenges on Earth (the impact of Climate Change on land, sea and air and how this affects local populations including but not limited to human migration, human trafficking, illegal activities, border control, conflict areas, etc.). Space supports security crisis response.

You will support the Office to:

- identify national policies of European states and their allies, the EU, as well as competitors regarding civil security/safety/protection; - monitor existing national space capabilities and their link to security applications and if and how they can network together in support of the European Resilience from Space (ERS) programme.This entails the identification of capability gaps. And potential cooperation (Pooling and Sharing).

2) Topic 2: Space systems and Dual-Use: the case for ESA and commercial companies. The commercial sector both in the US and in Europe is successfully developing solutions that were previously only pursued by government. This has led the US Space Force to work on fully integrating commercial solutions into the national security space architecture to maintain the US’s competitive advantage in the sector.

You will support the Office in investigating key questions, such as:

- How could ESA contribute to creating European commercial space champions in support of European space security and defense for Europe to leverage the use of commercial space solutions in a new “hybrid” architecture? - How could the US Space Force Commercial Space Strategy be translated into the European context?

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.

Knowledge and background in Space Systems and European Defence current Architecture is an asset.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 11 November 2026, 1 day ago.

The application deadline is 30 November 2026, 16 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 11 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 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.