The European Space Agency (ESA) is offering an internship in its Mission Operations Department at ESOC in Darmstadt, Germany, focused on automating the Mission Planning System of the Solar Orbiter spacecraft. Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST, and the internship is open to university students, preferably in the final or second-to-last year of a Master's course, who are nationals of an ESA Member State, Associate or Cooperating State. At Youth Works Hub we went through the full vacancy and set out every duty, requirement and condition below.
The Vacancy at a Glance
The internship sits in ESA's Operations Directorate and is based at ESOC in Darmstadt. These are the formal details of the vacancy:
🆔 Job Requisition ID: 21124
🎓 Type of appointment: Intern
🏛️ Directorate: Operations
📍 Workplace: Darmstadt, DE
🏢 Location: ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany
📣 Publication method: External Only
⏳ Closing date: 30 November 2026, 23:59 CET/CEST
Where You Will Be Based: ESOC, Darmstadt
The internship is located at ESOC, ESA's operations centre in Darmstadt, Germany. The vacancy lists Darmstadt, DE as the workplace and places the role in the Mission Operations Department.
Your Team: The Inner Solar System Mission Operations Unit
You will be part of the Inner Solar System Mission Operations Unit. The unit is responsible for the flight operations of three ESA missions, and it also carries out preparation activities for a fourth.
🪐 BepiColombo: flight operations handled by the unit
☀️ Solar Orbiter: flight operations handled by the unit
🛰️ Cluster: flight operations handled by the unit
🌌 ENVISION: preparation activities for the mission to Venus are also performed in the unit
The Solar Orbiter Flight Control Team
The Solar Orbiter Flight Control Team is composed of 6 Spacecraft Operations Engineers. They are in charge of the flight operations of the Solar Orbiter spacecraft, and as an intern you would be part of this team.
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How Weekly Operations Planning Works
Operations planning for Solar Orbiter is performed with the Mission Planning System on a weekly basis. Each week the work consists of validating and uplinking a consolidated set of payload and platform operations requests to the spacecraft. This weekly cycle is the process that your internship project would help to automate.
What the Internship Aims to Achieve
The internship aims to further develop the automation of the Mission Planning System and to support its integration into operations. The work moves from extending an existing automation system to seeing new automation solutions used in real operations.
What You Will Do During the Internship
Over the course of the internship, you will take on the following activities:
👥 Flight Control Team: be part of the Solar Orbiter Flight Control Team
🔧 Automation system: extend the capabilities of the existing automation system
🧩 Tool integration: integrate existing tools into the automation framework
🤝 New features: collaborate with the Mission Planning Development Team to implement and validate new features
🧪 Validation: perform validation and testing activities
📡 Operational use: support the deployment of automation solutions into operational use
Internship Length and Start Date
According to ESA's announcement of its Student Internships 2027, internships last from three to six months and start from February 2027 onwards. The exact start date is agreed with the ESA tutor. Browse more roles like this in the Internship & Traineeship category on Youth Works Hub.
Who Can Apply: Education Requirements
You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of university course at Master's level. You must also be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship.
Required and Desirable Skills
The vacancy separates the skills it requires from the ones it values as an extra.
🐍 Required: proficiency in Python and Linux/Bash scripting
🔎 Desirable: experience with query-based languages
Language Requirements
The working languages of the Agency are English and French, and a good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.
Behavioural Competencies ESA Looks For
The vacancy lists six behavioural competencies. For more information, you can refer to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.
🎯 Result Orientation
⚙️ Operational Efficiency
🤲 Fostering Cooperation
💬 Relationship Management
📈 Continuous Improvement
🔭 Forward Thinking
The Selection Process
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored. ESA also states that a candidate can apply for a maximum of 2 internship vacancies. If you are comparing routes for internships abroad for students, our guide explains how paid internships differ from Erasmus+ traineeships.
Nationality Requirements
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, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Applicants from Canada as a Cooperating State can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).
Equal Opportunities and Accessibility
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. It welcomes applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Whenever possible, ESA seeks to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace, and its Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process.
Important Information
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Solar Orbiter Mission Planning System Automation intern do?
The intern extends the existing automation system, integrates existing tools into the automation framework and helps implement and validate new features with the Mission Planning Development Team. The intern also performs validation and testing and supports the deployment of automation solutions into operational use.
Where is the internship located?
The internship is based at ESOC in Darmstadt, Germany, within ESA's Operations Directorate. The vacancy lists Darmstadt, DE as the workplace.
Who can apply for this ESA internship?
You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a Master's course. You must also be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship.
Which nationalities are accepted?
Nationals of the ESA Member States listed in the vacancy, from Austria to the United Kingdom, can apply. Applicants from Canada as a Cooperating State and from Bulgaria, Croatia and Malta as European Cooperating States can apply as well.
Which skills are required?
Proficiency in Python and Linux/Bash scripting is required. Experience with query-based languages is desirable.
Which languages do I need?
A good knowledge of English or French is required, since these are the working languages of the Agency. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.
How long does the internship last?
ESA's announcement of its Student Internships 2027 states that internships last from three to six months. They start from February 2027 onwards, with the start date agreed with the ESA tutor.
How many ESA internships can I apply for?
A candidate can apply for a maximum of 2 internship vacancies. Choosing roles that match your studies and skills is therefore important.
What will the interview focus on?
During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored. The Agency may also request applicants to undergo selection tests.
What is the deadline?
Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST. Apply through the ESA careers website using the link below.
Deadline
⏳ 30 November 2026
Links
🔗 Apply now (ESA careers website): https://jobs.esa.int/job/Darmstadt-Intern-in-the-Mission-Operations-Department-Solar-Orbiter-Mission-Planning-System-Automation/1452802833/
📢 ESA Student Internships 2027 announcement: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/ESA_Student_Internships_2027_are_now_open
🌐 ESA website: https://www.esa.int
📧 Contact for support during recruitment (Human Resources): ESA.Student.Internships@esa.int
