Junior Professional in Industrial EO System Engineering - European Space Agency (Frascati)

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 ESA's activities in fostering commercial industrial innovation in Earth Observation with focus on the InCubed programme
• Monitor market trends, commercial missions, NewSpace business models, investment dynamics and EO value chain developments
• Support portfolio-level analyses, socioeconomic and market impact assessments
• Support Technical Officers in preparation, evaluation and follow-up of InCubed activities
• Monitor technical progress, commercial relevance, risks, milestones and deliverables of InCubed projects
• Assess system performance, commercial progress, customer traction and market positioning
• Support consolidation of lessons learned across the portfolio
• Contribute to industrial and commercial strategy for European ventures in the EO domain

Are you eligible?

Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:

• Education: Master's degree in engineering, physics, data science or business
• Experience: Up to three years of professional experience after Master's degree
• Key skills: Understanding of NewSpace technologies, approach and markets (engineering and commercial view), Project management with ability to identify and manage opportunities and risks, Basic knowledge of ESA procurement processes, Commercial and financial understanding, Knowledge of EO applications or EO space systems and technologies, including sensors, onboard data handling, data acquisition and distribution and data processing
• Eligibility: Subject to performance, intention to offer indefinite contract at end of four years

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: Four years, with intention to offer indefinite contract at the end.

Working arrangements: ESRIN, Frascati, Italy or other site as required; developmental assignments may entail temporary relocation to another ESA establishment or other location.

Hiring unit: Φ-Lab Invest Office, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.

Position details

Reference

1409724033

Last Verified

23 July 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Junior Professional in Industrial EO System Engineering at ESA based in Frascati (Other). The vacancy reference is 1409724033.

Job Requisition ID:20704

Date Posted:30 June 2026

Closing Date:28 July 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication:Internal & External

Directorate:Earth Observation Programmes

This post is part of ESA’s Junior Professional Programme. We are looking for enthusiastic candidates with up to 3 years of relevant professional experience after their Master's degree to join ESA for a four-year assignment. During this time, you will be actively working and learning on the job and will benefit from valuable mobility and developmental opportunities that will prepare you for a successful career at ESA. Subject to performance, it is therefore the intention to offer you an indefinite contract which will start at the end of the four years.

Recruitment will take place at the A1 grade on the Coordinated Organisations’ [salary scale](https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/careers/Table_Staff_Salaries.pdf). At the end of the fourth year and if you are offered an indefinite contract at the end of your Junior Professional assignment, you will be upgraded to the A2 grade.

Location

ESRIN, Frascati, Italy or other site, as required.

Developmental assignments form an integral part of the Junior Professional Programme and may entail a temporary relocation to another ESA establishment or other location.

## Description

You will work in the Invest Office of the ɸ-Lab within the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes (EOP). The Invest Office focuses on commercial aspects of Earth observation (EO) and is in charge of promoting investment in industrial innovation in the EO domain, developing partnerships with new actors entering the EO sector.

Φ-Lab manages the ESA Investing in Industrial Innovation (InCubed) programme. While institutional and private European space actors have created a flourishing EO sector in Earth science, meteorology, environmental and security monitoring, the EO market is undergoing rapid transition, with new implementation approaches, such as constellations of micro-satellites and vertical integration of spaceborne with non-spaceborne data, new industrial players, such as IT companies, and new funding models, for example public-private partnerships and venture capital. It is crucial for Europe to adapt to this rapidly evolving market and seize the opportunities it provides.

## Duties

As a Junior Professional, you will be assigned to the Φ-Lab Invest Office and will support ESA’s activities aimed at fostering commercial industrial innovation in EO, with a particular focus on the InCubed programme. During the assignment, you will progressively develop skills and expertise, from market and portfolio intelligence activities to the preparation, evaluation and follow-up of commercially oriented EO development projects, combining system engineering, business development and programme management perspectives.

* Year 1 – Market intelligence and capability-building

During your first year as a Junior Professional, you will focus on building a structured understanding of the commercial EO market, the European EO ecosystem and the InCubed portfolio. This will include monitoring market trends, commercial missions, NewSpace business models, investment dynamics, customer needs and developments across the EO value chain.

You will also support portfolio-level analyses, socioeconomic and market impact assessments and selected reviews of InCubed activities at the proposal and implementation stages. In parallel, you will develop the core competencies required for future project follow-up, particularly in system engineering, business plan assessment, commercial viability analysis and risk identification.

* Year 2 – Support to Technical Officers and first project follow-up

From the second year onwards, you will increasingly support ESA Technical Officers in the preparation, evaluation and follow-up of InCubed activities and will begin to take on the role of Technical Officer for selected activities.

You will contribute to monitoring technical progress, commercial relevance, risks, milestones and deliverables, as well as the contractual implementation of selected InCubed projects. The objective will be to gain practical experience in how commercially oriented EO developments are managed within ESA, ensuring that activities remain aligned with InCubed’s technical and commercial criteria.

The first placement should preferably take place in another ESA site, directorate or department with the objective of strengthening your understanding of system-level aspects of EO missions and developments. This may include exposure to mission architecture, space and ground segment interfaces, system engineering processes, technology development or programme implementation.

## .

* Year 3 – Increased Technical Officer responsibility and industrial exposure

During the third year, you will take on increased responsibility as Technical Officer for selected InCubed activities, building on the experience gained during project follow-up and your first placement. You will contribute more actively to project reviews from both technical and industrial/business perspectives, including the assessment of system performance, commercial progress, customer traction, market positioning and follow-on opportunities.

You will also support the consolidation of lessons learned across the portfolio and contribute to recommendations for improving the evaluation, monitoring and implementation of InCubed activities.

The second placement should preferably take place in the space industry, either with an established industrial player or in a NewSpace company, with involvement in a real and challenging development project. The objective will be to gain exposure to industrial constraints, delivery pressures, customer needs, product development cycles and the practical challenges of bringing EO-related systems or services to market.

* Year 4 – Consolidation, industrial strategy and final placement

During the fourth year, you will continue acting as Technical Officer for selected activities and will contribute to the broader industrial and commercial strategy for European ventures in the EO domain.

The third placement should further consolidate your strategic perspective. It may take place in another European agency, a relevant EO-related company, or an organisation closely linked to Φ-Lab priorities, such as an AI-focused company, a venture capital or investment organisation, or another relevant actor in the European innovation ecosystem. The objective will be to broaden your understanding of how EO innovation connects with institutional demand, private investment, emerging technologies and market adoption.

By the end of the programme, you will be expected to have developed the ability to support commercially oriented EO developments from early assessment to project follow-up, outcome review and impact analysis, with a solid understanding of both system engineering and business development aspects. You should also be able to contribute to the strategic positioning of InCubed and Φ-Lab activities in support of European industrial competitiveness in EO.

## Development Programme

In addition to your daily work, you will take part in an extensive learning and development programme. From day one, you will learn on the job and benefit from tailored development opportunities, including participation in technical and key skills training courses.

Furthermore, there is a mobility component to the Junior Professional Programme that can take the form of either an internal rotation to another team within ESA, an external secondment outside ESA, or a combination of both. Internal rotations aim to boost your professional experience and knowledge of the European Space Agency, whereas external secondments aim to enhance your professional experience and knowledge of the European space sector.

Potential host entities may include other ESA directorates, such as the Directorate of Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness or the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality, European institutions, investors or organisations within the European space or non-space industry.

This programme represents a significant investment by ESA in your personal and professional development and is designed to provide you with the required knowledge and skills for a career at ESA. You can expect to be given many opportunities to develop your professional experience and competencies, to learn from ESA experts and to contribute to ESA activities.

## Technical competencies

Understanding of NewSpace technologies, approach and markets (engineering and commercial view)

Experience in project management, with a strong ability to identify and manage opportunities and risks

Basic knowledge of ESA procurement processes

Good commercial and financial understanding

Knowledge of and relevant background in either EO applications or EO space systems and technologies, including sensors, onboard data handling, data acquisition and distribution and data processing

## Behavioural competencies

## Education and professional experience

A master’s degree in engineering, physics, data science or business is required for this post with up to three years of professional experience.

## Additional requirements

You should be willing to fill any competency gaps through ESA’s development programme.

Experience in business development and/or analysis, preferably within the commercial space sector, is desirable.

Familiarity with AI applications in EO data is considered an asset.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 3 July 2026, 23 days ago.

The deadline is today, 28 July 2026. Applications submitted after the cut-off time set in the vacancy notice will not be considered.

Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 23 July 2026 (3 days ago).

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 Frascati see our Frascati 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.