Intern in the Quality Department - Human Spaceflight Safety - 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 recently updated safety requirements and safety certification process for ISS, Lunar Gateway habitation modules, and human spaceflight exploration
• Participate in ESA safety review activities for certification of system and payload hardware developed by European industry
• Review already certified system and payload hardware for lessons learnt compilation
• Participate in definition of new safety requirements, their implementation and verification approach
• Compile safety guidelines for transportation and operations of simple payloads/experiments on-board ISS
• Support preparation of drafts, presentations and tools aimed at improving efficiency of ESA Safety Review Panel

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, with proof of enrollment for entire duration of internship
• Languages: English (good kn…), French (good kn…)
• Key skills: Result Orientation, Operational Efficiency, Fostering Cooperation, Relationship Management, Continuous Improvement, Forward Thinking
• Eligibility: Nationals of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom. Must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware subject to European or US export control and sanctions…

Contract and working arrangements

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

Hiring unit: TEC-QI Independent Safety Office, Technology, Engineering and Quality Directorate.

Position details

Reference

1452882733

Last Verified

6 November 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Intern in the Quality Department - Human Spaceflight Safety at ESA based in Noordwijk (Traineeship). The vacancy reference is 1452882733.

Intern in the Quality Department - Human Spaceflight Safety

Job Requisition ID:21036

Date Posted:1 November 2026

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

Publication Method:External Only

Directorate:Technology, Engineering and Quality

Workplace: Noordwijk, NL

Location ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Our team and mission

The TEC-QI Independent Safety Office is responsible for overseeing the development, implementation, and maintenance of ESA policies, requirements, standards, and for providing functional support to ESA projects in the areas of:

- Human Spaceflight Safety; - Space Debris Mitigation; - Re-entry Safety; - Nuclear Safety for applications in space.

The mission of the TEC-QI is to ensure the highest safety standards for ESA missions by enforcing clear safety processes, reducing risks, and protecting space assets, environment and general public. TEC-QI aims to make sure all ESA activities are carried out with a strong commitment to safety.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Under the supervision of the assigned tutor in the Independent Safety Office, you will:

- familiarise yourself with the recently updated safety requirements and the safety certification process applicable to the International Space Station (ISS), the Lunar Gateway habitation modules and, more generally, human spaceflight exploration, including crewed vehicles; - participate in ESA safety review activities for the certification of system and payload hardware developed by European industry; - review already certified system and payload hardware for lessons learnt compilation; - participate in the definition of new safety requirements, their implementation and verification approach; - compile safety guidelines for transportation and operations of simple payloads/experiments on-board the ISS; - support the preparation of drafts, presentations and tools aimed at improving the efficiency of the ESA Safety Review Panel.

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation Operational Efficiency Fostering Cooperation Relationship Management Continuous Improvement Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

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.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.

At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email [email protected].

Important Information and Disclaimer During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests.

Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.

The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding internship conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.

Nationality

Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

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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.