Like all international organisations, the European Space Agency (ESA) offers nationals of Member and Associated States various employment opportunities within its structures.
These employment opportunities can take the form of renewable contract recruitment or fixed-term contracts for undergraduates and new graduates and can be found on the website under Careers at ESA (ESA – Join us).
Opportunities for professionals
Applications are open for all Member and Associate States. The type of contract is four years, extendable to an indefinite period.
Vacancies can be found on the dedicated application section (ESA – Career opportunities).
In order to apply, you need to register and create a candidate profile by filling in the application form and attaching your CV, qualifications and motivation letter.
Through the profile you can track the status of your application.
In the appropriate section, you can view the salary and benefit conditions offered (ESA – What we offer).
Opportunities for university students and new graduates
ESA offers four different programmes for university students and new graduates:
- Internshipsfor university students;
- Young Graduate Trainee Programme for students in their final year of a Master’s degree or new graduates;
- National Trainee Programmes in cooperation with various national governments for final-year undergraduates or new graduates;
- PhD and post-doctoral research PhD and post-doctoral research co-fund for researchers and PhDs in the space sector;
- Research Fellowship Programme for new PhD graduates with the possibility of continuing research for a further two years in disciplines related to space science, space applications or space technology.
Opportunities for undergraduates, teachers and children
If you do not qualify for one of the proposed internship programmes, ESA organises – through the ESA Academy – workshops, training courses and summer schools.
Through the ESA Education programme, it is possible for teachers from all ESA Member States to participate in training courses for teaching STEM subjects in primary and secondary schools.
The ESA Kids website for young children offers free lessons, games, videos and educational material on the main space-related topics.