The European Space Agency (ESA) is recruiting an intern for the ExPeRT Mars Exploration Studies Team in its Human and Robotic Exploration Directorate, based 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 support the team that formulates ESA's future Mars missions and help define payload resource allocations, interfaces and operational concepts.
ESA Mars Exploration Studies Internship: Key Facts
🆔 Job Requisition ID: 21129
🎓 Type of appointment: Intern
🏛️ Directorate: Human and Robotic Exploration
🏙️ Workplace: Noordwijk, NL
📍 Location: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
🌐 Publication method: external only
⏳ Closing date: 30 November 2026, 23:59 CET/CEST
Our Team and Mission: Formulating Future Mars Missions
The Mars Exploration Studies Team in ESA's Human and Robotic Exploration Directorate is tasked with formulating future Mars missions. This is done in coordination with relevant stakeholders and specialists within ESA, selected definition teams and with external stakeholders in the Member States and Associates, including industry and the science and instrument development communities.
Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website.
Current Studies Beyond the Rosalind Franklin Rover
The Mars Exploration Studies Team is currently engaged in parallel mission studies and technology developments for ESA's future missions to Mars, beyond the Rosalind Franklin rover mission planned for launch in 2028. The vacancy lists these elements:
📡 Infrastructure around Mars for communications and navigation support.
🧩 Measurements needed to address knowledge gaps for future exploration.
🛰️ Remote sensing from Mars orbit.
🔬 In situ measurements from the martian surface.
The ExPeRT Division: A Small, Dynamic and Multidisciplinary Team
The team is a small, dynamic and multidisciplinary grouping within the ExPeRT (Exploration Preparation, Research and Technology) division.
Part of the team's work is to track the potential and proposed payload equipment, which needs to meet the desired technology readiness, resources, and technical and operational interfaces with the spacecraft.
Your Role: Working with the Payload and Science Teams
You will work in close coordination with:
⚙️ The Mars exploration payload systems engineer.
🔭 The Directorate's scientific support for Mars exploration.
👥 Definition Teams for Mars lander Science and Instrumentation.
────────────────────────────────────────
🌍 All opportunities in the Netherlands →
────────────────────────────────────────
Your Tasks During the Internship
The vacancy describes the following activities:
📋 Support tracking and elaboration of the information provided by the definition teams, as it is used iteratively with mission studies, to help define a set of properly-margined payload resource allocations (mass, power, volume, data, etc.), interfaces and operational concepts.
📝 Support MarsX in generation of a first issue of a Payload Definition Document, which helps formalise the instructions to industry for studying the mission at Phase A level.
🧪 Broaden your knowledge of payload instruments and the technical aspects of their interfaces and operations.
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 and Interview 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.
During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.
Background That Counts as an Asset
Knowledge and background in multiple engineering disciplines (mechanical, electrical, thermal, digital, etc.) 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.
Which Nationalities Can Apply?
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.
Duration, Start Date 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 Eligibility
Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
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 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. The contact email for this is listed at the end of this post.
Important 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. 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 does the ESA Mars Exploration Studies internship take place?
The internship is based at ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands, within the ExPeRT (Exploration Preparation, Research and Technology) division of ESA's Human and Robotic Exploration Directorate.
What does the Mars Exploration Studies Team do?
It is tasked with formulating future Mars missions, in coordination with stakeholders and specialists within ESA, selected definition teams and external stakeholders in the Member States and Associates, including industry and the science and instrument development communities.
Which Mars missions is the team working on?
The team is engaged in parallel mission studies and technology developments for ESA's future missions to Mars, beyond the Rosalind Franklin rover mission planned for launch in 2028. They cover infrastructure around Mars for communications and navigation, measurements for knowledge gaps, remote sensing from Mars orbit and in situ measurements from the martian surface.
What will I do as an intern?
You will support tracking and elaboration of the information provided by the definition teams to help define properly-margined payload resource allocations (mass, power, volume, data, etc.), interfaces and operational concepts. You will also support MarsX in generating a first issue of a Payload Definition Document.
What is the Payload Definition Document?
According to the vacancy, it helps formalise the instructions to industry for studying the mission at Phase A level.
Who will I work with?
You will work in close coordination with the Mars exploration payload systems engineer, the Directorate's scientific support for Mars exploration, and Definition Teams for Mars lander Science and Instrumentation.
What will I learn?
You have an opportunity to broaden your knowledge of payload instruments and the technical aspects of their interfaces and operations.
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.
Which skills are an asset?
Knowledge and background in multiple engineering disciplines (mechanical, electrical, thermal, digital, etc.) is an asset.
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 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.
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.
Do I need to be eligible for export control and sanctions regulations?
Yes. Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.
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 21129): https://jobs.esa.int/job/Noordwijk-Intern-in-the-ExPeRT-Mars-Exploration-Studies-Team/1452997633/
📰 ESA Student Internships 2027: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/ESA_Student_Internships_2027_are_now_open
🌌 ESA website: https://www.esa.int
📧 Contact for disability support: ESA.Student.Internships@esa.int
