Intern in the Engineering Services Section - Metrology Laboratory - 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:

• Conduct comprehensive literature review of point cloud processing methodologies including filtering, classification, segmentation, and feature extraction
• Investigate performance of point cloud post-processing methods on space-grade materials through experimental testing
• Acquire reference measurements using Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) and compare with laser scanning technologies data
• Apply theoretical knowledge and practical experience to reverse engineer the Robotics Laboratory satellite mock-up

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: Point cloud processing, 3D scanning, Data processing, 3D modeling, Laboratory work

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: internship.

Working arrangements: on-site.

Hiring unit: Engineering Services Section, Metrology Laboratory, Test Centre, Technology, Engineering and Quality Directorate.

Position details

Reference

1452881633

Last Verified

9 November 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Intern in the Engineering Services Section - Metrology Laboratory at ESA based in Noordwijk (Traineeship). The vacancy reference is 1452881633.

Job Requisition ID:21032

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

ESA operates a Test Centre at ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, a unique place in Europe which is geared to perform environmental tests on large spacecraft and aerospace structures. The Test Centre includes the complete portfolio of test facilities to simulate the environmental conditions which are experienced by a spacecraft during its launch and early operation phase. This includes hydraulic and electrodynamic vibration test systems, shock test facilities, mass properties measurement facilities, electro-magnetic compatibility test facilities. Besides Europe’s largest space simulation chamber LSS and Europe’s largest reverberant acoustic noise test chamber, the Test Centre is equipped with a 6 degree of freedom hydraulic vibration test stand, a 320kN horizontal and a 640kN vertical electrodynamic shaker system and a large EMC test chamber. The set of facilities is complemented by a medium sized thermal vacuum chamber (Phenix), a small vacuum chamber with high solar flux simulation (VTC 1.5), a 80kN vibrations system and shock test benches for subsystem and equipment testing. For more information please refer to: ESTEC Test Centre

Part of the Test Centre is the Engineering Services Section. The group encompasses multidisciplinary engineering domains, ranging from mechanical, electrical and electronic design up to metrology. Calibrations of electrical equipment and manufacturing are also areas covered by the Engineering Services Section, whose mission is to support the Test Centre and its customers, the ESTEC laboratories as well as the ESA programmes.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic of the internship: Investigation of Point Cloud Post-Processing Methodologies for Space-Grade Materials with Application to Satellite Mock-Up Reverse Engineering

As part of the measurements done by the metrology team, point clouds are generated and need to be processed, depending on the final application. The point clouds are generated from different sources, ranging from photogrammetry cameras to laser tracker or Coordinate Measurement Machines (CMM). The density of the point clouds varies clearly based on their source. Whereas in some cases, “simple” plane fittings are required, in other applications, more is required to be extracted from the collected point clouds.

The topic of the internship is the processing of the point clouds. It will consist of a theoretical part and a practical part.

Theoretical Part Conduct a comprehensive literature review of existing methodologies for point cloud processing, including filtering, classification, segmentation, feature extraction, and other relevant post-processing techniques.

Practical Part Investigate the performance of point cloud post-processing methods on a range of space-grade materials through experimental testing. Reference measurements will be acquired using a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) and compared with data obtained from laser scanning technologies, such as a CMM scanner probe, laser tracker scanner probe and/or laser radar. Test materials may include mesh, multi-layer insulation (MLI), carbon fibre composites, aluminium, and steel.

Finally, apply the acquired theoretical knowledge and practical experience to reverse engineering the Robotics Laboratory satellite mock-up, producing the most accurate and complete digital representation possible.

Keywords: Point clouds Data processing 3D scanning 3D models Laboratory hands-on Metrology

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 the use of metrological tools, as well as hands-on experience in a laboratory, are assets.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 9 November 2026, today.

The application deadline is 30 November 2026, 20 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 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.