Intern in the Electrical Department - Power Systems Architecture Section - 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:

• Work in multidisciplinary engineering environment collaborating with power electronics and spacecraft systems specialists
• Use advanced engineering tools and simulation techniques to assess electrical performance
• Analyse system dynamics and investigate failure modes under different space mission conditions
• Investigate AI enhancement of digitally controlled DC/DC converters for space applications (Topic 1)
• Explore AI-assisted design of DC/DC converters (Topic 2)

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: DC/DC power conversion knowledge, Power converter control knowledge, FPGA programming, Advanced engineering tools and simulation techniques, AI and machine learning techniques
• 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: Power Systems Architecture Section, TEC-EP Division, Technology, Engineering and Quality Directorate.

Position details

Reference

1452881333

Last Verified

6 November 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Intern in the Electrical Department - Power Systems Architecture Section at ESA based in Noordwijk (Traineeship). The vacancy reference is 1452881333.

Job Requisition ID:21030

Date Posted:1 November 2026

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

Publication Method:External Only

Directorate:Technology, Engineering and Quality

Location ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Our team and mission

The Power Systems Architecture Section supports space missions and technology research and development activities by defining and optimising spacecraft power system architectures. The team contributes to the sizing and design of power generation, power conditioning and power distribution systems that safely regulate and deliver electrical power to spacecraft equipment. As an intern, you will work in a multidisciplinary engineering environment, collaborating with specialists in power electronics and spacecraft systems. You will use advanced engineering tools and simulation techniques to assess electrical performance, analyse system dynamics and investigate failure modes under different space mission conditions. This provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative technologies that support future space missions.

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: AI for Advanced Digital Control and Failure Prediction of DC/DC Converters

This topic will be hosted in the Power Systems Architecture section in the TEC-EP Division. The objective is to investigate how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can enhance the performance, robustness, and autonomy of digitally controlled DC/DC converters for space applications. The work may include AI-assisted control strategies, adaptive tuning of control parameters, anomaly detection, health monitoring, and predictive failure analysis based on telemetry and operational data. You will explore techniques such as machine learning, neural networks, and digital twins to improve converter efficiency, stability, reliability, and fault tolerance while supporting future intelligent power management architectures.

2) Topic 2: AI assisted Design of DC/DC converters

This topic will be hosted in the Power Systems Architecture section in the TEC-EP Division. The objective is to explore the application of Artificial Intelligence to support and accelerate the design of DC/DC converters. Areas of investigation may include topology selection, semiconductor sizing and loss estimation, magnetic component design, control system development, and multi-objective optimisation. The work will assess how specialised AI agents, combined with engineering design tools, can automate design tasks, improve design quality, reduce development time, and support engineers throughout the converter design process. The study will focus on creating efficient AI-driven workflows for power electronics engineering.

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 DC/DC power conversion, power converter control and FPGA programming is an asset.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 6 November 2026, 1 day 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 6 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.