The European Space Agency (ESA) is looking for an intern in the Commercialisation Department, Innovation Services Section, based at ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands. The internship lasts 3 to 6 months, starts from February 2027 and is open to university students who want to build digital tools for innovation monitoring using AI and data science. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full vacancy: applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST.
Internship at a Glance
🏛️ Organisation: European Space Agency (ESA)
🧭 Team: Innovation Services Section, Commercialisation Department
🆔 Job requisition ID: 20979
🗂️ Directorate: Commercialisation and Industry Partnership
📍 Workplace: Noordwijk, Netherlands
🏢 Location: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
📋 Type of appointment: Intern
⏱️ Duration: 3 to 6 months
📆 Start: from February 2027, with the exact start agreed with your ESA tutor
📰 Publication method: external only
🔚 Closing date: 30 November 2026, 23:59 CET/CEST
Our Team and Mission: Three Objectives of the Innovation Services Section
Within the Commercialisation Department and under the direct authority of the Head of ScaleUp Programme Division, the Innovation Services Section follows three main objectives:
🌱 Nurturing innovation and de-risking projects through dedicated environment, expertise and funding
🤝 Brokering innovative (space) solutions to ESA programmes or European industry
🛰️ Diversifying space as a business (New Space)
Two Business Lines: ESA Phi-Lab NET and the Technology Brokers Network
Among other tasks, the Innovation Services Section is in charge of the following business lines:
🔬 ESA Phi-Lab NET, whose mission is to bring research closer to commercialisation by bridging disruptive research and commercial needs
🌉 ESA Technology Brokers Network, whose mission is bridging the gap between space and terrestrial markets
Candidates who are interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website (listed in the Links section below).
────────────────────────────────────────
🌍 All opportunities in Netherlands →
────────────────────────────────────────
Field of Activity: Digital Tools for Innovation Monitoring
You will support the ESA Innovation Services Section in developing digital tools for supporting the monitoring of innovation activities, and the innovation process itself.
Your Projects: Requirement Assessment, Then Prototyping
Following a requirement and feasibility assessment, you will select one or more projects for the development and prototyping of the following tools:
📊 A dashboard for monitoring technology transfer activities
🧠 A tool for discovering existing knowledge and technologies to solve problems (e.g. lessons learnt from past R&D projects and analogous solutions to similar problems), leveraging existing databases and AI agentic capabilities
🔮 A tool for expert forecasting on technical questions, to efficiently inject collective intelligence into the design process
Learning Objectives of the Internship
The vacancy lists four learning objectives:
💻 Apply your software engineering or data science skills to develop and refine tools supporting ESA's innovation services
🧩 Gain practical experience in translating conceptual frameworks into operational software
📡 Contribute to ESA's efforts to provide technology intelligence and support technical innovation
🤖 Develop skills in AI and agentic systems, RAG, semantic search, knowledge engineering, and the analysis of structured and unstructured data
Six Behavioural Competencies Behind the Role
The vacancy lists six ESA behavioural competencies. For more information, it refers to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.
🏁 Result Orientation
⚙️ Operational Efficiency
🫂 Fostering Cooperation
💬 Relationship Management
🔄 Continuous Improvement
🔭 Forward Thinking
Who Can Apply: Student Status and Study Level
The vacancy asks for a university student, preferably in the final or second-to-last year of a 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.
Languages: English or French
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.
Interview: Your Motivation Will Be Explored
During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.
The Profile ESA Is Looking For
You are a technically capable and curious problem-solver, able to design and prototype digital tools. You should be familiar with AI techniques, software development, data visualisation, Microsoft digital tools and stakeholder-oriented innovation work.
Useful Competencies, Knowledge and Experience
Useful competencies include knowledge, skills and/or experience with:
🧬 AI and data science fundamentals, including GenAI, agents, RAG, Natural Language Processing (NLP), semantic search and embeddings
🐍 Python, APIs, data processing, technical architecture and rapid proof-of-concepts
🗃️ Structured and unstructured data modelling, analysis, abstraction and cross-domain problem-solving
📈 Microsoft Power Platform, dashboards, data visualisation and user-centered interfaces
Nationality Rules for This Internship
ESA considers applications only from nationals of one of these 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.
Duration and Start Date
According to ESA's announcement of its 2027 student internships, an internship lasts 3 to 6 months and starts from February 2027. The exact start date is determined with the ESA tutor.
Limit: Two Applications Per Candidate
ESA's announcement states that a candidate can apply for a maximum of 2 internship vacancies. Choose the offers that fit your studies best.
Selection Tests and Export Control
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Applicants must also be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.
Equal Opportunities and Support for Applicants with Disabilities
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.
ESA values diversity and welcomes people with disabilities. Whenever possible, it 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 you can discuss this by email with the ESA internships team (the address is listed in the Links section below).
Does the Vacancy Mention Pay? Conditions and Disclaimer
The vacancy page does not state an allowance for this internship. ESA also notes that the information on its careers website about internship conditions is correct at the time of publication, is not exhaustive and may not address all questions you have.
Find more opportunities like this in our internship and traineeship listings on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the ESA Innovation Services internship take place?
The internship takes place at ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands. The role belongs to the Innovation Services Section of the Commercialisation Department, in the Commercialisation and Industry Partnership Directorate.
What will an intern in the Innovation Services Section do?
After a requirement and feasibility assessment, you select one or more projects for the development and prototyping of digital tools: a dashboard for monitoring technology transfer activities, a tool for discovering existing knowledge and technologies to solve problems, and a tool for expert forecasting on technical questions.
What are ESA Phi-Lab NET and the ESA Technology Brokers Network?
They are two business lines of the Innovation Services Section. ESA Phi-Lab NET brings research closer to commercialisation by bridging disruptive research and commercial needs, and the ESA Technology Brokers Network bridges the gap between space and terrestrial markets.
What will I learn during the internship?
You apply your software engineering or data science skills to tools supporting ESA's innovation services, gain practical experience in translating conceptual frameworks into operational software, contribute to ESA's technology intelligence efforts, and develop skills in AI and agentic systems, RAG, semantic search, knowledge engineering and the analysis of structured and unstructured data.
How long is the internship and when does it start?
According to ESA's 2027 student internships announcement, the internship lasts 3 to 6 months and starts from February 2027. The exact start date is determined with your ESA tutor.
Who can apply for this 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?
ESA considers applications only from nationals of its 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.
Which languages do I need?
A good knowledge of English or French is required, as these are the working languages of the Agency. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.
Which competencies are useful for this role?
Useful areas include AI and data science fundamentals (GenAI, agents, RAG, NLP, semantic search and embeddings), Python, APIs and rapid proof-of-concepts, structured and unstructured data modelling, and Microsoft Power Platform, dashboards and data visualisation.
Can I apply for more than one ESA internship?
A candidate can apply for a maximum of 2 internship vacancies, according to ESA's announcement.
Is the internship paid?
The vacancy page does not state an allowance. ESA notes that its published information on internship conditions is not exhaustive.
What is the application deadline?
Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST.
Will there be selection tests?
The Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests during the recruitment process, and your motivation for applying will be explored during the interview.
Deadline
⏳ 30 November 2026
Links
🔗 Apply now (official vacancy): https://jobs.esa.int/job/Noordwijk-Intern-in-the-Commercialisation-Department-Innovation-Services-Section/1452919833/
📢 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
📧 ESA internships contact: ESA.Student.Internships@esa.int
