The European Space Agency (ESA) is offering an internship in its Science Engagement and Oversight Office at ESAC in Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain, working on the CESAR educational programme, with a choice between an education topic and a telescope operations topic. 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 Science Directorate and is based at the European Space Astronomy Centre. These are the formal details of the vacancy:
🆔 Job Requisition ID: 20954
🎓 Type of appointment: Intern
🏛️ Directorate: Science
📍 Workplace: Villanueva de la Cañada, ES
🏢 Location: ESAC, Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain
📣 Publication method: External Only
⏳ Closing date: 30 November 2026, 23:59 CET/CEST
Our Team and Mission
Under the direct authority of D/SCI, the Head of the Science Engagement and Oversight Office is responsible for overseeing the scientific content of the Programme, interfacing with the scientific community and providing scientific expertise to studies, projects and missions, also in other Directorates as needed.
Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website, which is listed in the Links section below.
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What CESAR Is: Cooperation through Education in Science and Astronomy Research
CESAR (Cooperation through Education in Science and Astronomy Research) is a joint educational programme developed by the European Space Agency (ESA), the Spanish National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) and the public company ISDEFE. It is based at ESA's European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) in Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain.
What CESAR Offers Schools
Its main goal is to provide students and teachers from European schools with hands-on educational materials and resources about Astrophysics and Space Sciences, to be carried out in the classroom, as well as easy access to ESA's data archive and to optical and radio telescopes.
Choose Between Two Internship Topics
The vacancy lets you choose among the following topics:
1️⃣ Topic 1: support in the pedagogical development of CESAR's educational activities, with a special focus on the educational campaign for the upcoming solar eclipses
2️⃣ Topic 2: support for the operation and educational implementation of CESAR's telescopes
Topic 1: How CESAR Keeps Its Educational Activities Engaging
The CESAR team carries out continuous work on transforming its activities and educational materials, adapting them to new formats and pedagogical strategies that are more engaging for students. Some examples include the development of new activities such as online labs, VR applications, and e-learning platforms.
Topic 1: Working With ESA Education
In this context, the team follows the principles and guidelines already established by its colleagues at ESA Education, with whom the CESAR team is in regular contact. These updates are also carried out with the aim of making the materials progressively more accessible, inclusive, and diverse.
Topic 1: The Solar Eclipse Campaign
In addition to continuing its usual educational activities, in 2026 the CESAR project launched a specific educational campaign in preparation for the total and annular solar eclipses that were going to be visible from Europe over the next three years. After a successful first phase related to the total solar eclipse of August 2026, the team is now continuing the development of this campaign in preparation for the total solar eclipse of August 2027 and the annular solar eclipse of January 2028.
Topic 1: Goals of the Internship
The goal of this internship would be:
🤝 to collaborate in the development and revision of CESAR's educational resources, with a particular focus on inclusion
☀️ to take part specifically in the design and implementation of CESAR's educational campaign related to the solar eclipses visible from Europe in 2027 and 2028
🎬 to design and develop new multimedia material for the educational activities of the CESAR project, as well as its publication and impact monitoring on the project's website and social media channels
Topic 1: Required Skills
For Topic 1, the vacancy lists these as required:
🌌 good understanding of astronomical concepts
🪐 interest in Planetary Science, Space Science and Communications
🗣️ fluency in English and Spanish (reading and writing)
🏫 pedagogical skills and experience working with primary- and secondary-school students
♿ familiarity with inclusive and diverse environments
💡 creativity and ability to work both independently and in international teams
💬 good communication skills
📱 general multimedia and social media knowledge
Topic 1: Desired Skills
For Topic 1, the vacancy lists these as desired:
📚 experience designing educational materials for inclusive and diverse audiences
🥽 experience in the design of AR/VR tools and/or mechanical experiments
🎨 knowledge of graphic design and basic HTML
🖼️ good level of editing pictures and videos
🧭 experience and/or knowledge in UX Design
Topic 2: Operating and Using CESAR's Telescopes in Education
Topic 2 is about support for the operation and educational implementation of CESAR's telescopes. These telescopes serve as resources for the CESAR project's educational activities.
Topic 2: The Three CESAR Observatories
The CESAR Project comprises three observatories:
🌞 a solar observatory with three telescopes, currently operational
🔭 a 0.5 m optical telescope at the Cebreros Observatory, fully refurbished and operational since summer 2026
🌠 two smaller optical telescopes
Topic 2: Main Objectives of the Internship
The main objectives of this internship are:
🧑🏫 support for the educational implementation of the 0.5 m optical telescope at the Cebreros Observatory, by creating observational cases and developing the system that will allow educational institutions to request and carry out their own observations
🛠️ support for the operation of the solar and Cebreros telescopes, as well as the development of software to manage the acquired data
🗄️ support in the design of a CESAR data archive, with data curation and search tools
Topic 2: Required Skills
For Topic 2, the vacancy lists these as required:
🔬 good understanding of astronomical concepts
☄️ interest in Planetary Science, Space Science and Communications
🔎 familiarity with the use of telescopes
🐍 programming skills in astronomical software, such as Python and ASCOM
🖥️ familiarity with computer hardware and ability to add new components when required
🎒 pedagogical skills applicable to school observations
🌐 capable of working in international teams
🇬🇧 fluency in English (required) and Spanish (desired) (reading and writing)
⏱️ creative, capable of meeting milestones within schedules
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.
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 CESAR internship about?
CESAR is a joint educational programme of ESA, INTA and ISDEFE based at ESAC near Madrid. The internship offers two topics: Topic 1 supports the pedagogical development of CESAR's educational activities, including the solar eclipse campaign, and Topic 2 supports the operation and educational implementation of CESAR's telescopes.
Where is the internship based?
The internship is based at ESAC, the European Space Astronomy Centre, in Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain. The workplace is listed as Villanueva de la Cañada, ES, within ESA's Science Directorate.
Which topic should I choose?
The vacancy lets you choose between the two topics. Topic 1 asks for pedagogical skills, experience with primary- and secondary-school students, multimedia and social media knowledge, and fluency in English and Spanish. Topic 2 asks for familiarity with telescopes, programming skills in astronomical software such as Python and ASCOM, and familiarity with computer hardware.
Do I need to speak Spanish?
For Topic 1, fluency in English and Spanish (reading and writing) is required. For Topic 2, fluency in English is required and Spanish is desired. The working languages of the Agency are English and French, and a good knowledge of one of them is required.
What will I do in the solar eclipse campaign?
Under Topic 1 you would take part in the design and implementation of CESAR's educational campaign for the solar eclipses visible from Europe in 2027 and 2028: the total solar eclipse of August 2027 and the annular solar eclipse of January 2028.
Which telescopes are involved in Topic 2?
CESAR comprises a solar observatory with three telescopes, a 0.5 m optical telescope at the Cebreros Observatory that has been fully refurbished and operational since summer 2026, and two smaller optical telescopes.
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.
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/Villanueva-de-la-Ca%C3%B1ada-Intern-in-the-Science-Engagement-and-Oversight-Office-CESAR-Telescope-Operations-and-Education/1452873733/
🌐 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
