Intern in the Projects Department - EnVision Project:Venus Atmospheric Variability and Gravity Waves - 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:

• Exploit accelerometer measurements from Venus Express aerobraking campaign to constrain atmospheric variability and gravity-wave activity representation in EnVision aerobraking simulations
• Reconstruct atmospheric-density profiles from VEX measurements
• Generate Venus Climate Database simulations for conditions representative of VEX passes
• Compare simulations with observed density levels, variability and spectral content
• Develop parametric representation of measured density perturbations
• Derive distributions for amplitudes, wavelengths and phases of atmospheric perturbations
• Assess ability of Venus Climate Database and parametric model to reproduce flight observations and aerodynamic effects
• Apply modelling approach to representative EnVision trajectories to generate reference atmospheric-density disturbance scenarios

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: Python programming, Ability to work autonomously

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: Internship.

Working arrangements: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands.

Hiring unit: EnVision Project, Mission and Performance team.

Position details

Reference

1452872833

Last Verified

3 November 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Intern in the Projects Department - EnVision Project:Venus Atmospheric Variability and Gravity Waves at ESA based in Noordwijk (Traineeship). The vacancy reference is 1452872833.

Job Requisition ID:20951

Date Posted:1 November 2026

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

Publication Method:External Only

Location ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Our team and mission

EnVision was selected by ESA’s Science Programme Committee as the fifth Medium-class mission in the Agency’s Cosmic Vision plan, with a launch in the early 2030s from ESA’s Spaceport in Kourou. EnVision will be the first mission to investigate Venus from its inner core to its upper atmosphere, characterising the interaction between its different envelopes: its atmosphere, surface/subsurface and interior. It aims to provide a holistic view of Venus, studying the planet’s history, activity, and climate.

EnVision’s science payload consists of VeraSAR, a dual polarisation S-band radar also operating as microwave radiometer and altimeter, which will map the surface of Venus; three optical spectrometers (VenSpec-M, VenSpec-U and VenSpec-H) designed to observe the surface and atmosphere of Venus; and the Subsurface Radar Sounder (VeSper), a High Frequency (HF) sounding radar to probe the top kilometres of subsurface. These are complemented by a Radio Science investigation exploiting the spacecraft Telemetry Tracking and Command (TT&C) system to map the planet’s gravity field and constrain its internal structure, and to measure the composition and structure of Venus’ atmosphere.

The EnVision project team is responsible for implementing the EnVision mission, composed of all its elements (Spacecraft, Instruments, Ground Segment).

The role of the Mission and Performance team within the EnVision project is to ensure that the mission will fulfil its mission requirements by rigorous requirements apportioning, defining and controlling interfaces between elements, and verifying the requirements by establishing end-to-end performance budgets, supported as needed by mission performance simulations. The team is directly interfacing with all stakeholders of the mission (industry, the mission operations centre at ESOC in Germany, the Science Operations centre at ESAC in Spain, the launcher provider, the science team and the instrument teams).

The mission and performance team develops and maintains mission-level tools and budgets (e.g. Delta V budget, aerobraking scenarios), including mission performance simulators for both the aerobraking and scientific parts of the mission, perform relevant mission-level analyses and lead mission-level trade-offs.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic of the internship: Representation of Venus atmospheric variability and gravity-wave activity

The internship will exploit accelerometer measurements acquired during the Venus Express aerobraking campaign to constrain the representation of atmospheric variability and gravity-wave activity used in EnVision aerobraking simulations. Following the reconstruction of atmospheric-density profiles from the VEX measurements, Venus Climate Database simulations will be generated for conditions representative of the corresponding VEX passes. The simulations will be compared with the observed density levels, variability and spectral content.

You will develop a parametric representation of the measured density perturbations—for example, based on a superposition of wave trains—and derive distributions for the associated amplitudes, wavelengths and phases. The ability of both the Venus Climate Database and the parametric model to reproduce the flight observations and their resulting aerodynamic effects will be assessed.

The resulting modelling approach will then be applied to representative EnVision trajectories to generate reference atmospheric-density disturbance scenarios. These scenarios will support, in particular, Attitude and Orbit Control System simulations and thermo-mechanical fatigue analyses of spacecraft appendages, including the solar arrays. Time permitting, you will also contribute to relevant EnVision aerobraking Monte Carlo analyses.

Throughout the internship, you will collaborate closely with the mission analysis, system engineering, payload and science teams, as well as environment experts of the technical directorate. The internship offers a unique opportunity to gain end-to-end insight into planetary mission design and to make a meaningful contribution to the preparation of a major European planetary exploration mission.

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 Python is an asset, as well as the ability to work autonomously.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 3 November 2026, today.

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 3 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.