The European Space Agency (ESA) is recruiting an intern for the SME Section of its Industrial Policy and Auditing 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 run statistical analyses on the economic and financial characteristics of European space SMEs and start-ups, using ESA's own programmatic, financial and economic data.
ESA SME Section Internship: Key Facts
🆔 Job Requisition ID: 21097
🎓 Type of appointment: Intern
🏛️ Directorate: Controlling, Finance and Operational Procurement
🏙️ Workplace: Noordwijk, NL
📍 Location: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
🌐 Publication method: external only
🏷️ Vacancy title as published: Intern in the Industrial Policy and Auditing Department - SME Section
⏳ Closing date: 30 November 2026, 23:59 CET/CEST
Your Team: The Industrial Policy and Auditing Department
The Industrial Policy and Auditing Department is responsible for elaborating and implementing the Agency's industrial policy, for defining and implementing the geographical return and industrial audit policies, for fostering the relations between industry and the Agency and for supporting the successful accession of new Member and Cooperating States.
Why SMEs and Start-Ups Matter to ESA
SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) and start-ups play an ever-increasing role in the activities of ESA and the industrial landscape of its Member States. Today they represent more than 30% of the companies contracted by the Agency and are important contributors of innovation for ESA Programmes.
What the SME Section Does
The SME Section of the Department implements the ESA SME Industrial Policy with the objective to facilitate both the introduction and the sustainable involvement of SMEs in the activities of the Agency and to support their introduction into the industrial space supply chain.
To this end the SME Office performs a variety of activities also including analyses concerning the involvement of SMEs in the Agency's activities and their economic and financial characteristics as well as the evolution of the SME landscape.
How ESA Defines an SME
The vacancy defines SMEs as companies having a staff headcount below 250 and an annual turnover of up to €50 million or a balance sheet total of up to €43 million, in line with Recommendation of the European Commission 2003/361/EC of 6 May 2003.
Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website.
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The Internship Focus: Characterising the European Space SME Community
In the context of elaborating and implementing the Agency's industrial policy it is important for ESA to maintain an in-depth understanding of the space industry and its characteristics. The focus of this activity is to contribute to the characterisation of the European space SME community.
This concerns in particular statistical analyses of the economic and financial characteristics of European space SMEs and their involvement in the activities of ESA.
The Data You Will Work With
You will access a variety of available data sources of the Agency comprising programmatic, financial and economic data (current and historic) concerning the European space industry working with ESA.
Access to the data and publication will be subject to a non-disclosure agreement.
What Your Analyses Will Contribute To
Your analyses will contribute to the extension and consolidation of the existing collection of data and models of relevant economic and financial characteristics of the space SME and start-up community.
What You Will Do During the Internship
As an intern, you will have the following tasks:
📈 Perform in-depth studies and statistical analysis of the space SME and start-up community.
💻 Code related algorithms for the analyses.
🤖 Apply machine learning and AI-based data exploitation as required.
🗄️ Use a range of data sources of industrial policy relevance.
Shaping the Scope Around Your Interests
The precise scope and content of the specific analyses to be performed during the period of the internship can be agreed with you in line with your research interests.
Support During the Internship
You will be supported in your activities by the members of the SME Section and other services of the Department.
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.
Skills and Knowledge Required
📚 Knowledge of economics, statistics and econometrics.
🗂️ The activity requires the handling of large datasets.
📑 Proficiency with MS Excel is required.
🐍 Experience with data analysis software such as Python, Power BI and machine learning tools would be an asset.
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.
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.
Applicants from Canada as a Cooperating State can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).
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.
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 SME Section internship take place?
The internship is based at ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands, within the Industrial Policy and Auditing Department and the Controlling, Finance and Operational Procurement Directorate.
What is the internship about?
It contributes to the characterisation of the European space SME community, in particular through statistical analyses of the economic and financial characteristics of European space SMEs and their involvement in the activities of ESA.
What will I work on during the internship?
You would access ESA's programmatic, financial and economic data on the European space industry and carry out in-depth studies and statistical analysis, including coding of related algorithms and machine learning and AI-based data exploitation as required. Your analyses would extend and consolidate ESA's collection of data and models on the space SME and start-up community.
Can I shape the scope of my analyses?
Yes. The precise scope and content of the specific analyses can be agreed with you in line with your research interests.
Who would support me?
You would be supported by the members of the SME Section and other services of the Department.
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 required?
Knowledge of economics, statistics and econometrics is expected, the activity requires the handling of large datasets, and proficiency with MS Excel is required. Experience with data analysis software such as Python, Power BI and machine learning tools would be 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.
Will I have to sign a non-disclosure agreement?
Access to the data and publication will be subject to a non-disclosure agreement.
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 21097): https://jobs.esa.int/job/Noordwijk-Intern-in-the-Industrial-Policy-and-Auditing-Department-SME-Section/1452888233/
📰 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
