The European Space Agency (ESA) is recruiting an intern for the Aerothermodynamics and Flight Vehicles Section of its Mechanical 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: the internship is about modelling and analysing the plasma plumes of electric propulsion thrusters and how they interact with the vacuum facilities of ESA's Electric Propulsion Laboratory.
ESA Aerothermodynamics and Flight Vehicles Internship: Key Facts
🆔 Job Requisition ID: 21041
🎓 Type of appointment: Intern
💼 Directorate: Technology, Engineering and Quality
🏙️ Workplace: Noordwijk, NL
📍 Location: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
🌐 Publication method: external only
🏷️ Vacancy title as published: Intern in the Mechanical Department - Aerothermodynamics and Flight Vehicles Section
⏳ Closing date: 30 November 2026, 23:59 CET/CEST
Your Team: The Aerothermodynamics and Flight Vehicles Engineering Section
The Aerothermodynamics and Flight Vehicles Engineering Section is part of ESA's Propulsion, Aerothermodynamics and Flight Vehicles Engineering Division in the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.
The Section provides expertise and functional support to ESA projects and carries out technology research and development on:
🌬️ Fluid mechanics
🔥 Aero(thermos)dynamics
🧪 Fluidic engineering
🛫 Flight physics
The Section is also the focal point for the architecture design, analysis and technical assessment of flight vehicles, including suborbital, (re-)entry, space transportation and exploration vehicles.
Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website.
The Internship Topic: Rarefied Plasma Plumes
Understanding and predicting the behaviour of highly rarefied plumes, such as those created by electric propulsion thrusters, is important for assessing their interaction with spacecraft surfaces and instruments, as well as for distinguishing vacuum facility effects on thrusters' performance. The modelling of such plumes presents a challenging fluid mechanics problem, combining rarefied gas dynamics, plasma physics, surface interactions and the influence of the surrounding environment.
This internship offers an opportunity to apply and improve the Section's numerical modelling tools to simulate and analyse plasma plumes and their interaction with ESA's Electric Propulsion Laboratory (EPL) vacuum facilities. Experimental measurements from tests in the EPL will be used as a reference dataset to investigate these phenomena and to improve the understanding of plume behaviour in both flight-like and ground-test conditions.
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What You Will Do During the Internship
During this internship, you will:
📊 Analyse experimental measurements of a rarefied thruster plume obtained in a vacuum test facility
🛠️ Develop and/or improve numerical models to reconstruct and simulate plume expansion and flow-field characteristics
🧱 Investigate the influence of vacuum-facility boundaries (background pressure, chamber size, pumping speed and walls interactions) and test conditions on the measured plume behaviour
⚖️ Compare numerical predictions with experimental data and assess the validity and limitations of different modelling approaches
🧭 Explore simplified system-level models to understand how operating conditions influence plume characteristics and flow behaviour
What You Will Gain
This internship will provide hands-on experience in:
💨 Rarefied flow modelling
🖥️ Computational fluid mechanics
📈 Experimental data analysis
✅ Model validation
You will also develop your understanding of how advanced numerical methods can be applied to complex spacecraft engineering problems.
Working With the Electric Propulsion Section
Close collaboration with ESA's Electric Propulsion Section is foreseen during the execution of the internship, in support of the analysis and comparison with experimental test results.
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.
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 Additional 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.
The vacancy names two further assets:
💻 Experience with scientific programming in Fortran or C++
🎲 Knowledge and background in numerical modelling using Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) or Particle-in-Cell (PIC)
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.
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 Aerothermodynamics and Flight Vehicles internship take place?
The internship is based at ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands, within the Mechanical Department. The directorate is Technology, Engineering and Quality.
What is the internship about?
It is about understanding and predicting the behaviour of highly rarefied plumes, such as those created by electric propulsion thrusters. You would apply and improve the Section's numerical modelling tools to simulate plasma plumes and their interaction with the vacuum facilities of ESA's Electric Propulsion Laboratory.
What does the Aerothermodynamics and Flight Vehicles Engineering Section do?
The Section provides expertise and functional support to ESA projects and carries out technology research and development on fluid mechanics, aero(thermos)dynamics, fluidic engineering and flight physics. It is also the focal point for the architecture design, analysis and technical assessment of flight vehicles, including suborbital, (re-)entry, space transportation and exploration vehicles.
What will I work on during the internship?
You will analyse experimental measurements of a rarefied thruster plume from a vacuum test facility and develop or improve numerical models of plume expansion and flow-field characteristics. You will also investigate vacuum-facility effects such as background pressure, chamber size, pumping speed and wall interactions, compare predictions with experimental data, and explore simplified system-level models.
What experience will I gain?
The vacancy promises hands-on experience in rarefied flow modelling, computational fluid mechanics, experimental data analysis and model validation. It also builds your understanding of how advanced numerical methods apply to complex spacecraft engineering problems.
Who will I work with?
Close collaboration with ESA's Electric Propulsion Section is foreseen, in support of the analysis and comparison with experimental test results.
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 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.
Do I need programming or modelling experience?
The vacancy lists experience with scientific programming in Fortran or C++ as an asset. Knowledge and background in numerical modelling using Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) or Particle-in-Cell (PIC) is also 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.
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 21041): https://jobs.esa.int/job/Noordwijk-Intern-in-the-Mechanical-Department-Aerothermodynamics-and-Flight-Vehicles-Section/1452883733/
📰 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
