Intern in the Earth Observation Projects Department - CO2M mission - 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:

• Familiarise yourself with the concept of CO2I instrument (optical design and detection chain architecture) or MAP & CLIM instruments
• Get familiar with optical ground support equipment used for instrument characterisation
• Process large quantities of data from characterisation and calibration campaigns
• Develop and refine existing simulators of instrument acquisitions and processing
• Extract key performance parameters (Calibration Key Data) from processing chains
• Work with engineers responsible for instruments, optical engineers, detection chain engineers and performance engineers

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 (good kn…), French (good kn…)
• Key skills: Good knowledge of MATLAB or Python software
• Eligibility: Must be enrolled at university for the entire duration of the internship

Contract and working arrangements

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

Hiring unit: Earth Observation Programmes Directorate.

Position details

Reference

1452878833

Last Verified

2 November 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Intern in the Earth Observation Projects Department - CO2M mission at ESA based in Noordwijk (Traineeship). The vacancy reference is 1452878833.

Job Requisition ID:21181

Date Posted:1 November 2026

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

Publication Method:External Only

Directorate:Earth Observation Programmes

Location ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Our team and mission

The CO2M mission aims at monitoring the anthropogenic CO2 emissions from Space. It is a key element providing the European Commission with the means to monitor worldwide at a high spatial resolution the evolution of the main greenhouse gases. The spacecraft is made of three optical instruments: A CO2&NO2 Imaging Spectrometer (CO2I), a Cloud Imager (CLIM) and a Multi Angle Polarimeter (MAP). CO2I is the main instrument measuring the spectral signature of CO2 in the NIR and SWIR domains. MAP aims at measuring the aerosols concentrations to improve the retrieval of the CO2 while CLIM aims at flagging the acquisitions performed in the presence of clouds. Flight models of the three instruments are now available and their on-ground characterisation and calibration have started. Such an on-ground campaign is a key step in the build-up of the database used for the data processing of the in-flight measurements to come.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

You can choose among the following topics:

1) Topic 1: CO2I instrument

In the first instance you will have to familiarise yourself with the concept of the CO2I instrument, in particular its optical design and its detection chain architecture. You will then have to get familiar with optical ground support equipment used to perform the characterisation of the instrument and the processing chain developed to extract the key performance parameters from them (so called Calibration Key Data). A large quantity of data has already been recorded during the CO2I, first characterisation and calibration campaigns and their processing has started. You will be involved in the processing of such a large set of data, and in further developing existing simulators of the instrument acquisitions and processing to refine the understanding of the mission performances. You will work with the engineers responsible for the instruments, together with the optical engineer, the detection chain engineer and the performance engineers.

2) Topic 2: MAP & CLIM instruments

In the first instance you will have to familiarise yourself with the concept of the MAP & CLIM instruments, in particular their optical design and their detection chain architecture. You will then have to get familiar with optical ground support equipment used to perform the characterisation of the instrument and the processing chain developed to extract the key performance parameters from them (so called Calibration Key Data). A large quantity of data has already been recorded during the MAP & CLIM first characterisation and calibration campaigns and their processing has started. You will be involved in the processing of such a large set of data, and in further developing existing simulators of the instrument acquisitions and processing to refine the understanding of the mission performances. You will work with the engineers responsible for the instruments, together with the optical engineer, the detection chain engineer and the performance engineers.

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.

A good knowledge of MATLAB (or Python) software is required.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 2 November 2026, 1 day ago.

The application deadline is 30 November 2026, 26 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 2 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 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.