The European Space Agency (ESA) is recruiting an Intern in the Operations Strategy and Coordination Office to support Innovation and Knowledge Management at ESOC in Darmstadt, Germany. Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST, and the internship is open to university students from ESA's participating states. At Youth Works Hub we went through the full vacancy and set out every requirement and selection detail below.
The Internship at a Glance
This is a student internship in ESA's Operations Directorate, based at the European Space Operations Centre. These are the formal details of the vacancy:
🆔 Job Requisition ID: 21150
🎓 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 in Darmstadt
You will be based at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC), the main mission control centre for the European Space Agency, in Darmstadt, Germany. ESOC's primary function is to operate unmanned spacecraft on behalf of ESA, as well as launch and early orbit phases. ESOC is the sole service provider for this work, and its resources are dedicated to mission operations.
The Office You Would Join
The Operations Strategy and Coordination Office works under the direct authority of the Director of Operations. It is responsible for preparing and formulating strategies in collaboration with the Director and the Management Team, and it provides the Directorate's overarching coordination function.
What the Office Does Day to Day
The office works directly with the Director of Operations. The vacancy lists the following responsibilities when it comes to preparing and formulating strategies with the Director and the Operations Directorate (D/OPS) Management Team:
🧭 formulating, communicating and evolving the Directorate's overall strategy, and leading the Directorate's strategy evolution
💡 establishing and leading the Directorate Innovation Governance, for example through D/OPS-wide innovation cups
🔬 coordinating the strategic planning and implementation of the Directorate's Research and Technology (R&T) activities, in close cooperation with the relevant other ESA actors
🤝 fostering the development and supporting the establishment of the Directorate's strategic partnerships, and coordinating cooperation and exchange with academia, other space agencies and industry
📊 developing the Directorate's Business Intelligence by monitoring and analysing the external and internal environment and overlooking the socio-economic impact of the Directorate's business
Mission Operations Infrastructure Governance
The office also manages the Directorate's governance process for the Mission Operations Infrastructure, which is the overall system infrastructure required to operate space missions. This covers strategic planning and budget management for investment and for Core Technical Expertise.
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The Challenges Behind Your Role
The vacancy names two challenges the office faces. The first is supporting an innovation culture in a high reliability environment. The second is capturing and disseminating the vast amounts of knowledge collected as part of this work.
What You Will Do: Innovation and Knowledge Management at ESOC
You will support Innovation and Knowledge Management at ESOC. The vacancy states that the aims of your work will be defined depending on your skills as a candidate.
Who Can Apply: Education Requirement
You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a Master's-level course. You must also be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship.
Length and Start of the Internship
ESA's announcement for the 2027 student internships states that internships last 3 to 6 months and start from February 2027 onwards. The exact start date is agreed with the ESA tutor. For this role, the vacancy says a commitment of six months is preferred, depending on your availability.
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.
🍁 Cooperating State: applicants from Canada can apply as well
🤲 European Cooperating States (ECS): applicants from Bulgaria, Croatia and Malta can apply as well
How Many Internships You Can Apply For
According to ESA's announcement for the 2027 student internships, a candidate can apply for a maximum of two internship vacancies.
Working Languages
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.
Extra Skills That Count as an Asset
The vacancy lists two assets on top of the basic requirements:
🧪 a STEM background
📚 Knowledge Management experience
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
The Interview and Selection 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.
Working Conditions 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.
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.
Applying Through the Official ESA Careers Page
Applications go through ESA's own careers website, where the full vacancy text is published. If you want to know how we check that every listing has a working, official application route, our guide on how we verify every opportunity explains our process.
Browse more internships and traineeships on Youth Works Hub →
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the ESA internship based?
The internship is based at ESOC, the European Space Operations Centre, in Darmstadt, Germany. The vacancy lists Darmstadt, DE as the workplace within ESA's Operations Directorate.
What will the intern do?
The intern supports Innovation and Knowledge Management at ESOC within the Operations Strategy and Coordination Office. The aims of the work will be defined depending on the candidate's skills.
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-level 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 can apply?
Applications are only considered from nationals of 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, Bulgaria, Croatia and Malta can apply as well.
How long does the internship last?
ESA's announcement for the 2027 student internships states that internships last 3 to 6 months. For this role, a commitment of six months is preferred, depending on your availability.
When does the internship start?
Internships start from February 2027 onwards, and the exact start date is agreed with the ESA tutor.
How many ESA internships can I apply for?
A candidate can apply for a maximum of two internship vacancies.
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.
Do I need a STEM degree or Knowledge Management experience?
No, but both are listed as assets. A STEM background and Knowledge Management experience can strengthen your application.
What happens in the interview?
During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored. The Agency may also request applicants to undergo selection tests during the recruitment process.
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/Darmstadt-Intern-in-the-Operations-Strategy-and-Coordination-Office-Innovation-and-Knowledge-Management/1452810933/
🌐 European Space Agency: http://www.esa.int
🛰️ ESA Student Internships 2027: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/ESA_Student_Internships_2027_are_now_open
📨 ESA Human Resources (student internships and disability support): ESA.Student.Internships@esa.int
