Project Scientist - European Space Agency (Villanueva De La Cañada)

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:

• Optimise scientific return from mission throughout all phases while adhering to technical, financial, programmatic and safety constraints
• Coordinate definition of mission's science requirements with Science Team and monitor implementation
• Act as interface for scientific matters between internal teams and external scientific teams, partners and community
• Report on progress of mission's science efforts and achievements to ESA management and Advisory Structure
• Promote mission to wider scientific community via conferences and electronic media
• Support Directorate and Agency communication, outreach and education activities
• Actively pursue personal scientific research and participate in Science Faculty
• Occasionally advise ESA management on areas of scientific expertise and support future Science Programme activities

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: PhD in astronomy, physics, astrophysics or a related field
• Experience: Relevant professional experience acquired during PhD studies; active researcher in relevant field of space science; knowledge and experience in scientific space missions and payloads; experience in coordinating scientific community and managing multiple interfaces at international level; experience in promoting science to wider scientific community and general public
• Key skills: Knowledge of latest developments in research and facilities in relevant field, Coordinating scientific community, Managing multiple interfaces at international level, Promoting science to wider scientific community and general public

Contract and working arrangements

Working arrangements: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands or ESAC, Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain (with preference for ESTEC).

Hiring unit: Office of Science Engagement and Oversight, Directorate of Science.

Position details

Reference

1414232033

Last Verified

24 July 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Project Scientist at ESA based in Villanueva De La Cañada (Other). The vacancy reference is 1414232033.

Job Requisition ID:20689

Date Posted:13 July 2026

Closing Date:3 August 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication:Internal & External

Workplace: Noordwijk, NL Villanueva de la Cañada, ES

Location

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands or ESAC, Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain (with preference for ESTEC).

## Description

The European Space Agency maintains a world-leading Science Programme with missions in heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics and fundamental physics. Its mission is to “empower Europe to lead space science”.

The Office of Science Engagement and Oversight oversees the scientific content of the Science programme and provides scientific expertise to Science missions across all phases, from studies to operations and beyond. The Office also manages engagement, communication and education efforts for the Directorate of Science, with the aim of ensuring that external stakeholders are informed, engaged and inspired.

This position is for a Project Scientist with an initial assignment to ARRAKIHS, the next F-class mission in the ESA Science Programme. ARRAKIHS will capture the faint light from the haloes of stars and gas that surround galaxies to answer questions about cosmic history. Like other fast-class missions, it is based on adapting existing technology for novel science, and Member States — particularly Spain in the case of ARRAKIHS — play a leading role in developing the mission.

## Duties

In this role, you will ensure that the scientific return from the mission is maintained as a target, keeping within specified technical, financial, programmatic and safety constraints. In addition, you will interface and engage with the wider ESA scientific community and the public to maintain the prominence and visibility of the mission and its science.

Occasionally, you may be asked to advise ESA management on the areas of your scientific expertise and to support the future activities of the Science Programme, for example by conducting studies/assessments of future missions or participating in reviews.

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

* optimising the scientific return from a mission throughout all phases (study, development, operations and archiving), while adhering to technical, financial, programmatic and safety constraints; * coordinating the definition of the mission’s science requirements with the corresponding Science Team, and monitoring their implementation during all phases of the mission; * acting as the interface for all scientific matters between internal study, development and operations teams on one hand, and external scientific teams, partners and the community on the other; * reporting on the progress of the mission’s science efforts and achievements to ESA management and, as requested, to the Advisory Structure; * promoting the mission to the wider scientific community via conferences and electronic media, as well as supporting broader Directorate and Agency communication, outreach and education activities when needed.

Project Scientists are expected to actively pursue personal scientific research and participate in the Science Faculty.

## Technical competencies

Active researcher in a relevant field of space science

Knowledge of the latest developments in research and facilities in the relevant field

Knowledge and experience in scientific space missions and payloads

Experience in coordinating the scientific community and managing multiple interfaces at international level

Experience in promoting science to the wider scientific community and general public

## Behavioural competencies

## Education and professional experience

A PhD in astronomy, physics, astrophysics or a related field is required for this post along with relevant professional experience acquired during the PhD studies.

## Additional requirements

Desirable assets include a good understanding of the European and worldwide space science context and experience in any of the following:

* large-scale astronomical surveys; * management of scientific teams; * coordinating the scientific community.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 13 July 2026, 13 days ago.

The application deadline is 3 August 2026, 6 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 24 July 2026 (2 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 Villanueva De La Cañada see our Villanueva De La Cañada 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.