The European Space Agency (ESA) is recruiting an intern for event-aware on-board processing for CHIME in its Earth Observation Projects Department at ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands. Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full vacancy: you would work with the system and satellite engineering teams on on-board artificial-intelligence processing and the evaluation of end-to-end mission performance.
Vacancy Details at a Glance
🆔 Job Requisition ID: 21179
🎓 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
Our Team and Mission: Copernicus Sentinel Expansion
Within the Earth Observations Projects Department, the Copernicus Sentinel Expansion missions are currently under development. One of those missions is CHIME, the Copernicus Hyperspectral Imaging Mission for the Environment.
What CHIME Will Observe
CHIME plans to carry a unique visible to shortwave infrared spectrometer to provide routine hyperspectral observations. These observations support new and enhanced services for sustainable agricultural and biodiversity management, as well as soil property characterisation.
Your Place in the CHIME Project
You would join the Copernicus Hyperspectral Imaging Mission for the Environment project and work with the system and satellite engineering teams on on-board artificial-intelligence processing and the evaluation of end-to-end mission performance.
Reading List From the Vacancy
The vacancy lists these resources for further details on the CHIME mission:
📡 ESA: Copernicus Sentinel Expansion missions
🎨 ESA: Going hyperspectral for CHIME
📖 CHIME: an overview of its mission, system and planning status (SPIE Proceedings Volume 12729, 1272909, 2023)
🧮 CHIME's end to end simulator (CHEES): simulating, testing and generating hyperspectral products
✍️ Adrien IGARSS paper
🌱 Examples for typical CHIME Level 2 products: Prototyping Vegetation Traits Models in the Context of the Hyperspectral Chime Mission Preparation (IEEE Conference Publication, IEEE Xplore)
🌾 Retrieval of carbon content and biomass from hyperspectral imagery over cultivated areas (ScienceDirect)
Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website.
Internship Topic: From Detection to Operations
The topic of the internship is Event-Aware On-Board Processing for CHIME: From Detection to Operations. The vacancy asks you to help turn two public research prototypes into an integrated mission-level on-board processing concept.
Starting Point: Two Public Research Prototypes
Previous work produced public results on marine-anomaly screening and night-time fire detection. You would integrate these methods into a configurable decision layer that identifies scientifically valuable pixels and controls how data are preserved, compressed and prioritised for downlink.
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Core Activities of the Internship
Your core activities would include:
🛠️ Defining configurable processing modes for land, ocean and night-time observations.
🧩 Integrating the existing compact detection methods into the mission end-to-end simulator.
🗜️ Connecting detection masks with selective compression and data-prioritisation policies.
📊 Quantifying detection performance, false alarms, scientific-data preservation and potential downlink savings.
🌦️ Assessing robustness across different geographic regions, seasons, illumination conditions and representative instrument effects.
🛡️ Defining operating limits, verification criteria, traceability information and fallback behaviour.
📦 Delivering reproducible software, trained models, documented datasets and a technical report suitable for public presentation or publication.
Optional Extension: A Staged Validation Concept
Depending on the progress, you may develop a staged validation concept using reference and candidate processing configurations, including possible use of the two-satellite constellation.
What You Will Learn
By the end of the internship, you will be able to:
🧠 Translate machine-learning prototypes into a mission-level processing and operations concept.
⚖️ Evaluate detection performance together with data-volume, product-quality and operational constraints.
🧪 Design reproducible end-to-end simulation and validation campaigns.
🔄 Understand how on-board processing interacts with satellite operations, data compression and ground processing.
🚦 Define operational limits, verification evidence and safe fallback behaviour for configurable processing methods.
🗣️ Communicate results through clear technical documentation, well-structured software and quantitative evidence.
Who You Will Work With and What You Can Use
You will work with mission engineers, data-processing specialists and Earth-observation scientists. You will have access to mission simulation tools, curated datasets and the results of previous internships.
The Expected Outcome: A Prototype and Validation Package
The principal outcome will be a reproducible prototype and validation package demonstrating how event-aware processing could increase mission value while maintaining scientific traceability and controlled operational complexity.
Education Requirement
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.
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.
Skills and Experience the Vacancy Asks For
During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored. You should also have:
🧬 Background in machine learning, computer vision, signal processing or remote sensing.
🐍 Practical experience with Python and a deep-learning framework.
🔬 Familiarity with hyperspectral data, transfer learning, model compression or uncertainty estimation is an asset.
Behavioural Competencies
ESA assesses candidates against its Core Behavioural Competencies. The vacancy lists these six:
🎯 Result Orientation
⚙️ Operational Efficiency
🤝 Fostering Cooperation
📞 Relationship Management
♻️ Continuous Improvement
🔭 Forward Thinking
For more information, the vacancy refers to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.
Nationality Requirement
Please note that 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.
Internship Length, Start and Application Limit
According to ESA's announcement for the 2027 student internships, an internship lasts 3 to 6 months and starts from February 2027 onwards. The exact start date is agreed with the ESA tutor.
A candidate can apply for up to two ESA internship opportunities.
Selection Tests
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests.
Export Control and Sanctions
Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.
Equal Opportunities at ESA
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.
Support for People 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. The contact email for this is listed at the end of this post.
Important Information and Disclaimer
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. The vacancy does not state an allowance for this internship.
Find more opportunities like this in our internship and traineeship listings on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the ESA event-aware on-board processing internship based?
The internship is based at ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands, within ESA's Earth Observation Projects Department in the Earth Observation Programmes directorate. You would join the CHIME project.
What is CHIME?
CHIME is the Copernicus Hyperspectral Imaging Mission for the Environment, one of the Copernicus Sentinel Expansion missions under development. It plans to carry a visible to shortwave infrared spectrometer that provides routine hyperspectral observations for agricultural and biodiversity management and soil property characterisation.
What is the topic of this internship?
The topic is Event-Aware On-Board Processing for CHIME: From Detection to Operations. You would turn two public research prototypes, marine-anomaly screening and night-time fire detection, into an integrated mission-level on-board processing concept with a configurable decision layer.
What will I do during the internship?
Your core activities include defining processing modes for land, ocean and night-time observations, integrating compact detection methods into the mission end-to-end simulator, connecting detection masks with selective compression and data prioritisation, and quantifying detection performance, false alarms and potential downlink savings. You would also define operating limits, verification criteria and fallback behaviour.
What is the expected outcome?
The principal outcome is a reproducible prototype and validation package demonstrating how event-aware processing could increase mission value while maintaining scientific traceability and controlled operational complexity. You would also deliver reproducible software, trained models, documented datasets and a technical report.
Who is eligible to apply?
You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year at Master's level, and you must be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship. You must also be a national of one of the States listed in the vacancy.
What background do I need?
You should have a background in machine learning, computer vision, signal processing or remote sensing, plus practical experience with Python and a deep-learning framework. Familiarity with hyperspectral data, transfer learning, model compression or uncertainty estimation is an asset.
How long is the internship and when does it start?
According to ESA's 2027 student internships announcement, internships last 3 to 6 months and begin from February 2027 onwards. The exact start date is agreed with the ESA tutor.
Which languages do I need?
The working languages of ESA 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 many ESA internships can I apply for?
A candidate can apply for up to two ESA internship opportunities, according to ESA's announcement for the 2027 student internships.
What happens after I apply?
The Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.
Does the vacancy mention a stipend?
The vacancy does not state an allowance for this internship. ESA notes that the information on its careers website regarding internship conditions is correct at the time of publication but is not intended to be exhaustive.
What is the application deadline?
Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST.
Deadline
⏳ 30 November 2026
Links
🔗 Apply now (ESA vacancy 21179): https://jobs.esa.int/job/Noordwijk-Intern-in-the-Earth-Observation-Projects-Department-Event-Aware-On-Board-Processing-for-CHIME/1452878233/
📰 ESA Student Internships 2027: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/ESA_Student_Internships_2027_are_now_open
🌌 ESA website: http://www.esa.int
📧 Contact for disability support: ESA.Student.Internships@esa.int
