0The European Space Agency (ESA) is offering an internship in the Payload Section of its Secure Connectivity Department at ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, where you work on next-generation satellite communication payloads for the EU IRIS² constellation. Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full vacancy and set out every topic, requirement and eligibility rule below.
Key Details of the Vacancy
The vacancy lists these formal details:
🆔 Job Requisition ID: 20993
🎓 Type of appointment: Intern
🏛️ Directorate: Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity
📍 Workplace: Noordwijk, NL
🗺️ Location: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
📣 Publication method: External Only
📅 Closing date: 30 November 2026, 23:59 CET/CEST
Where You Will Work: ESTEC in Noordwijk
The internship is located at ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands. The role belongs to ESA's Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity Directorate and sits in the Secure Connectivity Department, in the Payload Section.
The ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity
The ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity, called "Secure Connectivity" in the vacancy, is intended to support the effective development and validation of the EU Secure Connectivity governmental infrastructure and the services provided through it. It also supports the validation and demonstration of services based on the commercial infrastructure developed by the contractor(s) delivering that governmental infrastructure.
IRIS²: The EU Secure Satellite Constellation
The Secure Connectivity programme has been established by the EU and ESA. Its objective is to deploy an EU-owned satellite constellation for secure communications, called IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite).
Your Team: The Secure Connectivity Payload Section
Within the Space Segment Office, the Secure Connectivity Payload Section is responsible for all engineering tasks related to the design, development and deployment of the payloads of the secure connectivity space segment.
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Choose Your Internship Topic
The vacancy lets you choose among three topics. You contribute to one of them, depending on your background and interests:
1️⃣ Topic 1: Efficient Techniques for Area-Beam Beamforming
2️⃣ Topic 2: Multibeam Nulling Techniques for Resilient Satellite Communications
3️⃣ Topic 3: Modelling of Telecom On-board Processing & Active Antenna
Topic 1: Efficient Techniques for Area-Beam Beamforming
The objective of this topic is to investigate and evaluate advanced beamforming techniques for area-beam satellite communications systems. The study focuses on methods that improve coverage flexibility, spectral efficiency and power utilization while minimizing implementation complexity and resource consumption.
What Topic 1 Is Expected to Deliver
The project is expected to provide a comparative assessment of efficient area-beam beamforming techniques. It also identifies the trade-offs between:
⚖️ Performance
🔀 Flexibility
🧩 Implementation complexity
🔌 Compatibility with the available technology in the currently developed secure communication satellites
Topic 2: Multibeam Nulling Techniques for Resilient Satellite Communications
The objective of this topic is to investigate advanced multibeam nulling techniques for mitigating interference and jamming in satellite communication systems. The project is expected to assess the applicability of digital beamforming and adaptive antenna processing methods to resilient satellite payloads.
What Topic 2 Involves
Through modelling and benchmarking, the project implements and evaluates the trade-offs between:
🛡️ Interference suppression performance
📶 System capacity
🗺️ Coverage preservation
🧩 Implementation complexity
Topic 3: Modelling of Telecom On-board Processing & Active Antenna
The objective of this topic is to model a telecommunications payload architecture comprising an active antenna and an on-board processor at block level. The model supports performance analysis, for example of power consumption, heat dissipation and process efficiency.
Tasks Envisaged for Topic 3
The vacancy lists these envisaged tasks:
🔎 Survey of active antenna and on-board processor architectures
🧱 Identification of major blocks and interfaces
📐 Definition of a modelling architecture
🧮 Modelling of blocks
✅ Implementation of use cases for model validation, including relevant waveforms
🔧 Correlation with hardware may also be included
What You Gain from This Internship
This internship offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of next-generation satellite communication payloads supporting the European Union Secure Connectivity programme (IRIS²). You gain hands-on experience in:
🛰️ Payload engineering
📊 System performance analysis
🔐 Advanced satellite communication technologies that enable secure and resilient connectivity services across Europe
Internship Duration and Start Date
According to ESA's announcement of its 2027 student internships, an internship lasts between 3 and 6 months and starts from February 2027. The exact start date is agreed with the ESA tutor.
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. You must also be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship.
Languages and Additional Requirements
The vacancy sets these requirements and assets:
🗣️ 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
📡 Knowledge and background in Satellite Communications and/or Radio Frequency subsystems are assets
🎤 During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored
Behavioural Competencies
The vacancy lists six ESA core behavioural competencies:
🎯 Result Orientation
⚙️ Operational Efficiency
🤝 Fostering Cooperation
💬 Relationship Management
📈 Continuous Improvement
🔮 Forward Thinking
For more information, the vacancy refers candidates to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.
Selection Process and Export Control
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.
Eligible Nationalities
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.
How Many Vacancies You Can Apply For
One candidate can apply for a maximum of 2 vacancies, according to ESA's announcement of its 2027 student internships.
Learn More About ESA
Candidates interested in the role are encouraged to visit the ESA website and to find out more about the Secure Connectivity activities and how they fit within the wider context and future of ESA through the ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity, IRIS².
Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. ESA welcomes applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. 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, and you can contact ESA by email using the address in the Links section below.
Allowance and Disclaimer
The vacancy does not state a stipend or allowance. 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. You can find more opportunities like this in the internships and traineeships section of Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the ESA Secure Connectivity Payload Section internship based?
The internship is based at ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands, in ESA's Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity Directorate. The vacancy lists Noordwijk, NL as the workplace.
What is the deadline to apply?
The closing date is 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST. Applications are submitted through the ESA careers website.
Which topics can I choose from?
You can choose among three topics: Efficient Techniques for Area-Beam Beamforming, Multibeam Nulling Techniques for Resilient Satellite Communications, and Modelling of Telecom On-board Processing & Active Antenna. You contribute to one of them, depending on your background and interests.
What is IRIS²?
IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) is the EU-owned satellite constellation for secure communications that the EU and ESA established the Secure Connectivity programme to deploy.
What does the Payload Section do?
Within the Space Segment Office, the Secure Connectivity Payload Section is responsible for all engineering tasks related to the design, development and deployment of the payloads of the secure connectivity space segment.
What education level is required?
You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of 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.
Which nationalities are eligible?
Applications are only considered from nationals of ESA's 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.
How long does the internship last and when does it start?
According to ESA's 2027 student internships announcement, an internship lasts between 3 and 6 months and starts from February 2027. The exact start date is agreed with the ESA tutor.
Which languages do I need?
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.
Do I need a background in satellite communications?
Knowledge and background in Satellite Communications and/or Radio Frequency subsystems are assets, not strict requirements.
How many ESA internship vacancies can I apply for?
One candidate can apply for a maximum of 2 vacancies, according to ESA's announcement of its 2027 student internships.
What happens during the selection process?
Your motivation for applying to the role will be explored during the interview. ESA may also ask applicants to undergo selection tests, and applicants must be eligible to access information, technology and hardware subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.
Does the vacancy state a stipend?
No. The vacancy does not state a stipend or allowance.
Deadline
⏳ 30 November 2026
Links
🔗 Full vacancy and application (Apply now): https://jobs.esa.int/job/Noordwijk-Intern-in-the-Secure-Connectivity-Department-Payload-Section/1452921733/
📘 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 student internships contact (diversity and accessibility questions): ESA.Student.Internships@esa.int
