The European Space Agency (ESA) is looking for an intern to support the ROSE-L mission, a Copernicus L-band radar satellite mission, within its Climate Action, Sustainability and Science Department at ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST. At Youth Works Hub we went through the full vacancy and set out every detail.
The Vacancy at a Glance
The internship sits in ESA's Earth Observation Programmes Directorate and is based at ESTEC. These are the formal details of the vacancy:
🆔 Job Requisition ID: 21177
🎓 Type of appointment: Intern
🏛️ Directorate: Earth Observation Programmes
📍 Workplace: Noordwijk, NL
🏢 Location: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
📣 Publication method: External Only
⏳ Closing date: 30 November 2026, 23:59 CET/CEST
The Team Behind the Internship
The Earth Science Division, of the Climate Action, Sustainability and Science Department, Earth Observation Programmes Directorate, is based at the European Space Research and Technology Centre. The Earth and Mission Science Division provides the creative vision for innovation and new discoveries in Earth system science, using Earth Observation (EO) in close cooperation with the scientific community.
What the Earth and Mission Science Division Does
The vacancy describes the division's work in three parts:
🌉 it bridges science and technology by translating ideas and concepts into technical reality and scientific success, defining, consolidating and managing scientific mission requirements throughout all phases of a mission, and measuring the maturity of the resulting mission concept
🔬 it manages scientific research-based studies, providing the scientific foundation for mission concepts and approval, and supports the successful development of space and ground segment, in-orbit satellite commissioning and in-orbit scientific achievements
🛩️ it undertakes airborne, marine and terrestrial campaigns contributing to the development of new technologies, mission feasibility assessments, calibration/validation and application development
Your Place in the Campaigns Section
You will work within the Campaigns Section of the Earth and Mission Science Division, whose role is to provide support throughout the preparation and development of new future Earth Observation missions, and to validate the data being delivered by those satellites already in orbit. Your activities will contribute to and benefit from a diverse and international team of scientists working across a variety of Earth Science disciplines in support of Earth Explorer, Copernicus Sentinels, Earth Watch and other EO missions.
Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website, which is listed in the Links section below.
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What ROSE-L Is: Radar Observing System over Europe in L-band
ROSE-L (Radar Observing System over Europe in L-band) is a Copernicus Expansion SAR mission that will provide L-band radar imaging of Europe, the global landmass, ice, and oceans.
Why L-band Matters
The uniqueness of ROSE-L is linked to the L-band wavelength, which penetrates deeper into natural materials like vegetation, dry snow, and ice compared to C-band, and enhances robustness for interferometric applications in scenarios with abrupt and large surface and ice motion.
How ROSE-L Works Together With Sentinel-1
By coordinating data collection with Sentinel-1 operating at C-band, ROSE-L will maximise the benefits for users, providing complementary information, more frequent radar images, and improved coverage across Europe and globally.
Real L-band Datasets to Work With
The expanding availability of L-band satellite observations from missions such as the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar mission (NISAR), the JAXA ALOS-2 mission and the CONAE SAOCOM mission, together with dedicated airborne campaigns such as AGRIROSE-L and AfriSAR-2, provides a unique opportunity to support and shape future ROSE-L science activities through the analysis of real datasets.
What ESA Is Looking For
The European Space Agency is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic intern to support the assessment of the sensitivity and added value of L-band radar observations for selected applications.
What You Will Do During the Internship
During your internship you will:
📥 identify, collect and process datasets from existing L-band SAR satellite missions and/or airborne campaigns such as AgriROSEL using established tools
🌱 transform the SAR image data into information such as soil moisture, land cover, forest biomass and other geophysical products for selected application areas, and assess the quality of the information through comparison with independent measurements, e.g. field measurements
📡 investigate the unique capabilities of L-band observations and their complementarity with other radar missions, with particular emphasis on the Sentinel-1 mission
📝 document the datasets, methods, assumptions and analysis results in a clear, traceable and reproducible manner
Learning Objectives
By the end of the internship, you will have developed practical experience in:
🧪 understanding how future Earth Observation missions are scientifically prepared, assessed and validated within ESA
🛰️ processing and analysing spaceborne and airborne radar imagery
🧭 understanding how radar measurements contribute to higher-level geophysical products
📊 communicating technical results through documented and reproducible analyses
Further Reading on the Mission
The vacancy points to the Copernicus L-band SAR Mission Requirements Document for more information on the ROSE-L mission. It is referenced on the ESA vacancy page, which is listed in the Links section below.
Duration and Start Date
According to ESA's announcement of its 2027 student internships, an ESA internship lasts 3 to 6 months and starts from February 2027 onwards, with the exact start date agreed with the ESA tutor.
Who Can Apply: 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.
Skills and Experience You Should Have
Beyond education, the vacancy lists the following:
🌍 solid understanding of at least one Earth observation application relevant to ROSE-L
🐍 demonstrable programming skills in Python
🗺️ experience in processing and analysing satellite imagery
What Counts as an Asset
Knowledge of Synthetic Aperture Radar principles, microwave remote sensing, or geospatial data analysis would be considered an asset.
Language 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.
Which Nationalities Can Apply
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, the 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).
Behavioural Competencies
Six behavioural competencies are listed. For more information, the vacancy refers candidates to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.
🎯 Result Orientation
⚡ Operational Efficiency
🙋 Fostering Cooperation
🧩 Relationship Management
🔄 Continuous Improvement
🔭 Forward Thinking
Selection: Motivation Interview and Tests
During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored. During the recruitment process, the Agency may also request applicants to undergo selection tests.
How Many Vacancies You Can Apply For
ESA's 2027 student internship announcement states that a candidate can apply for a maximum of two vacancies.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness at ESA
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. Applications are welcome from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.
Support for Applicants With Disabilities
At the Agency diversity is valued, and people with disabilities are welcome. Whenever possible, ESA seeks to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process, and its contact address is listed in the Links section below.
A Note on the Published Conditions
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.
Applying Through the Official ESA Careers Page
Applications go through ESA's own careers website, and the full vacancy text is published there. You can find more opportunities like this one in the internships section of Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ROSE-L mission intern role about?
The intern supports the assessment of the sensitivity and added value of L-band radar observations for selected applications. The work involves processing L-band SAR data from existing missions and airborne campaigns, turning it into products such as soil moisture, land cover and forest biomass, and documenting the results.
Where is the ROSE-L internship based?
The internship is based at ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, within the Campaigns Section of the Earth and Mission Science Division, part of ESA's Climate Action, Sustainability and Science Department in the Earth Observation Programmes Directorate. The workplace is listed as Noordwijk, NL.
Do I need to know Python?
Yes. The vacancy lists demonstrable programming skills in Python among the things you should have, together with experience in processing and analysing satellite imagery and a solid understanding of at least one Earth observation application relevant to ROSE-L.
Is knowledge of radar required?
Knowledge of Synthetic Aperture Radar principles, microwave remote sensing, or geospatial data analysis is not listed as a requirement. The vacancy says it would be considered an asset.
Who can apply in terms of education?
You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a Master's level course. You must be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the whole duration of the internship.
Which nationalities can apply?
Applications are only considered from nationals of ESA's listed states: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Applicants from Canada (Cooperating State) and from Bulgaria, Croatia and Malta (European Cooperating States) can apply as well.
Which languages do I need?
The working languages of the Agency are English and French, and a good knowledge of one of them is required. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.
How long does the internship last?
According to ESA's 2027 student internship announcement, ESA internships last 3 to 6 months and start from February 2027 onwards, with the start date agreed with the ESA tutor.
How many internship vacancies can I apply for?
A candidate can apply for a maximum of two vacancies, according to ESA's 2027 student internship announcement.
Does the vacancy mention an allowance?
The vacancy page does not state any allowance or stipend. It also does not mention Erasmus+.
What happens after I apply?
The Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests during the recruitment process. During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.
What is the application deadline?
The closing date is 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST.
Deadline
⏳ 30 November 2026 (23:59 CET/CEST)
Links
🔗 Job description and application: https://jobs.esa.int/job/Noordwijk-Intern-in-the-Climate-Action%2C-Sustainability-and-Science-Department-ROSE-L-Mission/1452877833/
🌐 European Space Agency: http://www.esa.int
📋 ESA Student Internships 2027 announcement: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/ESA_Student_Internships_2027_are_now_open
📨 ESA Human Resources (disability support and recruitment assistance): ESA.Student.Internships@esa.int
