Intern in the Systems Department - Strategic Materials and Chemicals Regulatory Risk Analysis - 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:

• Support activities aimed at improving the resilience of the supply of materials for the European space sector
• Investigate strategic raw materials, chemicals and advanced materials used in space applications
• Map supply chains and key European and non-European dependencies
• Assess factors that could affect future availability of materials, including regulatory developments, industrial changes and geopolitical risks
• Identify emerging vulnerabilities and possible measures to reduce supply risks and strengthen European capabilities
• Work closely with specialists in sustainable engineering, standardisation and chemicals regulation
• Translate findings into improvements to internal materials and regulatory databases and tools
• Develop a risk measurement approach to combine technology maturity, regulatory, geopolitical and potentially other relevant aspects

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: Knowledge of European environmental and chemical regulations, Software development, Material/chemical engineering

Contract and working arrangements

Working arrangements: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands.

Hiring unit: Sustainability Engineering & Standards Section (TEC-SFS), Future Engineering Division (TEC-SF), Technology, Engineering….

Position details

Reference

1452887033

Last Verified

2 November 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Intern in the Systems Department - Strategic Materials and Chemicals Regulatory Risk Analysis at ESA based in Noordwijk (Traineeship). The vacancy reference is 1452887033.

Job Requisition ID:21056

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 Sustainability Engineering & Standards Section (TEC-SFS), part of ESA's Future Engineering Division (TEC-SF), supports the development and implementation of sustainable engineering approaches across ESA programmes and projects. The section works at the intersection of system engineering, sustainability and innovation, helping to ensure that future space systems are designed, developed and operated in a more sustainable, efficient and responsible manner.

The team supports ESA projects from the earliest mission definition phases through technology development and implementation, helping projects integrate sustainability objectives into system design, engineering trades, verification approaches and operational concepts.

The Section also encompasses activities related to the EU/UK REACH regulation for environmental safety. The Section supports all ESA programmes in regulatory compliance, mapping the use of materials and chemicals, advocating for their continued use where necessary, and mitigating emerging risks of premature obsolescence.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic of the internship: Strategic Materials and Chemicals Regulatory Risk Analysis

During this internship, you will support activities aimed at improving the resilience of the supply of materials for the European space sector. You will investigate strategic raw materials, chemicals and advanced materials used in space applications and map their supply chains and key European and non-European dependencies.

You will assess factors that could affect their future availability, including regulatory developments, industrial changes and geopolitical risks. You will contribute to identifying emerging vulnerabilities and possible measures to reduce supply risks and strengthen European capabilities.

Through this work, you will learn how materials and space-specific manufacturing processes are used across the sector; how the complexity of industrial supply chains is assessed; and how regulatory, industrial and geopolitical developments can affect the availability of critical technologies.

You will work closely with specialists in sustainable engineering, standardisation and chemicals regulation, and help translate your findings into improvements to internal materials and regulatory databases and tools.

One of the objectives will be to develop a risk measurement approach to combine technology maturity, regulatory, geopolitical and potentially other relevant aspects.

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 European environmental and chemical regulations, software development, or material/chemical engineering is an asset.

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.