Youth Works Hub lists 81 ESA internships in the Netherlands, all closing on the same 2026 deadline: 30 November 2026. Every role is based in Noordwijk (one can also be done in Porz-Wahn), and most are 3 to 6 month placements for university students, many preferably at Master's level.
According to Youth Works Hub's review of the 81 listings, the roles cover Earth observation missions, satellite navigation, AI and data science, lunar and Mars exploration and spacecraft engineering, plus teams in communication, contracts, legal services and audit. If you are still deciding which route suits you, see how an internship differs from a fellowship or traineeship, and read how we verify opportunities before you apply.
Each internship has its own focus:
🇳🇱 Netherlands: The FLEX Mission role supports a new mission that studies plant photosynthesis from space.
🇳🇱 Netherlands: The Advanced Concepts Team role offers four research topics, from spacecraft trajectory optimisation to orbital control around black holes.
🇳🇱 Netherlands: The RISE In-Orbit Servicing role helps prepare a mission that will capture an active satellite in geostationary orbit.
🇳🇱 Netherlands: The Gaia DR4 role creates an updated logarithmic map of the Gaia universe from the latest data release.
🇳🇱 Netherlands: The Lunar Landing Site Assessment role assesses candidate landing sites for future robotic missions to the Moon.
🇳🇱 Netherlands: The GNC Systems Architecture role adapts descent and landing simulators for the Enceladus L4 mission.
🇳🇱 Netherlands: The ExPeRT role contributes to a Payload Definition Document for a future Mars lander mission.
🇳🇱 Netherlands: The Inspiration and Education Outreach role helps inspire children and school students about space and STEM.
Every internship in this batch is an ESA placement in Noordwijk, Netherlands, and most run for 3 to 6 months. The summaries below are drawn from each listing; the full conditions of each role are on its listing page. 📅 Deadlines: 30 Nov (81) 🌍 Countries: 🇳🇱 Netherlands (81)
What's in this batch:
81 Internships · 1 Country
💼 Internships & Traineeships
1. 🇳🇱 AI-enabled Scientific Knowledge Management and Discovery Intern 🧬 ESA Human and Robotic Exploration Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🤖
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, ideally Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The AI-enabled Scientific Knowledge Management and Discovery internship asks you to build a digital tool that helps researchers find and reuse knowledge from a space life sciences handbook. You will work between a science team and a software and AI team.
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2. 🇳🇱 FLEX Mission Intern 🌱 ESA Climate Action, Sustainability and Science Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The FLEX Mission internship supports a new mission that studies plant photosynthesis from space. You will gain hands-on experience in satellite data processing and validation, data analysis and project coordination in an international team.
3. 🇳🇱 Evaluation Office Intern 📊 ESA Audit and Evaluation Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🔍
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably in a Master's course · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Evaluation Office internship supports evaluations, organisational reviews and analytical studies in ESA's Audit and Evaluation Department, combining research methods with data analytics and Power BI.
4. 🇳🇱 ROSE-L Mission Intern 🛰️ ESA Climate Action, Sustainability and Science Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 📡
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The ROSE-L Mission internship helps support a radar satellite mission that will observe our planet for the Copernicus programme. You will join a diverse scientific team working on Earth observation.
5. 🇳🇱 Visual Communication, Presentation Design and Event Coordination Intern 🎨 ESA TEC and ESTEC Communication Team Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 📊
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably in their final or second-to-last Master's year · ⏳ 6 months
The Visual Communication, Presentation Design and Event Coordination internship is a six-month placement at ESTEC with ESA's TEC and ESTEC Communication Team. You will work on graphic design, infographics, PowerPoint presentations and communication support for events and outreach.
6. 🇳🇱 Harmony Mission Intern 🌊 ESA Climate Action, Sustainability and Science Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Harmony Mission internship is for university students interested in the Harmony Earth observation mission. The role sits in an Earth science section that supports Earth observation missions from concept studies through to routine operations.
7. 🇳🇱 Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation Data Intern 🚀 ESA Commercialisation Acceleration Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 📊
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation Data internship involves analysing start-up data and building dashboards for a business incubation office. It suits students who want to engage with decision-makers in industry and aspiring entrepreneurs.
8. 🇳🇱 Innovation Services Intern 💡 ESA Commercialisation Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🤖
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Innovation Services internship builds digital tools that monitor innovation with AI and data science, including a technology transfer dashboard. It is a good fit for students who want to learn about AI and agentic systems, RAG and semantic search.
9. 🇳🇱 Internal Communication Products and Channels Office Intern 🎬 ESA Communication Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🎙️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Internal Communication Products and Channels Office internship involves creating short videos for an internal staff platform and supporting podcast, image and video production. You will also help organise events and town halls.
10. 🇳🇱 Earth Observation Contracts Service Intern 📑 ESA Contracts Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Earth Observation Contracts Service internship follows the full procurement cycle, from preparing tender packages to evaluating proposals and placing contracts. You will get to know public procurement rules.
11. 🇳🇱 Data and Apps Factory Intern 🗄️ ESA Digital, Data and Information Technology Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🤖
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Data and Apps Factory internship places you in a data platform team building tools that make written documents readable by intelligent systems. You will also explore applied artificial intelligence.
12. 🇳🇱 Microwave Instruments Section Intern 🛰️ ESA Future Missions and Architecture Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🌊
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Microwave Instruments Section internship supports performance analysis for Sentinel-6 Next Generation, the follow-on to the Copernicus radar altimetry reference mission for sea level.
13. 🇳🇱 CO2M Mission Intern 🛰️ ESA Earth Observation Projects Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🌡️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students with good MATLAB or Python skills · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The CO2M Mission internship works on the on-ground calibration and characterisation data of satellites built to monitor human-made CO2 emissions from space, with a choice between two instrument topics.
14. 🇳🇱 Corporate Directorates Intern 📊 ESA Industrial Policy and Auditing Department BUC and PMSO Office Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 💻
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Corporate Directorates internship involves automating processes in SharePoint, building React web apps and creating Power BI dashboards that help a team work more efficiently.
15. 🇳🇱 CHIME Enhanced Spatial Detection Capabilities Intern 🛰️ ESA Earth Observation Projects Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🔬
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The CHIME Enhanced Spatial Detection Capabilities internship joins the system engineering and mission performance teams on a tested software prototype that delivers sharper hyperspectral satellite data.
16. 🇳🇱 Cyber Internal Audit Intern 🔐 ESA Security Office Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛡️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Cyber Internal Audit internship in ESA's Security Office covers cybersecurity assurance, AI cybersecurity frameworks and audit standards.
17. 🇳🇱 Human Research Project Management Intern 🚀 ESA Human Exploration Science Office Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🩺
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk or Porz-Wahn · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level, with a background in computer science or software engineering · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Human Research Project Management internship helps design and build web software that lets scientists view, edit and validate human research project information, with a focus on interaction with medical boards.
18. 🇳🇱 Technology and Commercialisation Contracts Division Intern ⚖️ ESA Controlling, Finance and Operational Procurement Directorate Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Technology and Commercialisation Contracts Division internship prepares contracts for space technology application projects and shows how public procurement works at an international level. It is for students who want to combine legal skills with space technology.
19. 🇳🇱 Advanced Concepts Team Intern 🚀 ESA Technology, Engineering and Quality Directorate Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🔬
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Advanced Concepts Team internship lets you choose one of four research topics, from spacecraft trajectory optimisation to orbital control around black holes, in an interdisciplinary team of scientists.
20. 🇳🇱 Digital Transformation Intern 🛰️ ESA Galileo and EGNOS Programme Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🧭
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Digital Transformation internship adapts Jira and Confluence to improve task management, collaboration and communication across the projects of a satellite navigation ground infrastructure. You will learn Agile and Kanban methods.
21. 🇳🇱 Space Debris Mitigation Intern ♻️ ESA Quality Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🌌
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Space Debris Mitigation internship focuses on building Python tools that track how space missions follow a zero debris approach, plus a dashboard on their space debris risk.
22. 🇳🇱 Genesis Project Team Intern 📡 ESA RNC Projects Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Genesis Project Team internship works on a small satellite mission that combines four geodetic techniques. You will run GNSS simulations with hardware in the loop and assess performance across the mission's instruments.
23. 🇳🇱 LEO-PNT Payload, Signal and Frequencies Team Intern 📡 ESA RNC Projects Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level university students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The LEO-PNT Payload, Signal and Frequencies Team internship focuses on signal engineering and radio-frequency compatibility of satellite navigation systems in low Earth orbit. You will analyse navigation signals and build MATLAB or Python simulation tools to study interference.
24. 🇳🇱 Development of PVT Algorithms for Lunar Users Intern 🌙 ESA Systems Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level university students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Development of PVT Algorithms for Lunar Users internship develops and validates lunar navigation algorithms that estimate a user's position, velocity and time from a single satellite orbiting the Moon, using MATLAB or Python.
25. 🇳🇱 End-to-End Systems Communications Section Intern 📡 ESA Technology, Engineering and Quality Directorate Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level university students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The End-to-End Systems Communications Section internship focuses on assessing and simulating space communication links, upgrading simulators in Python and supporting a software defined radio prototype. Interns also join early design studies of future space missions.
26. 🇳🇱 Navigation Systems Definition Intern 🛰️ ESA Systems Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🧭
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level university students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Navigation Systems Definition internship helps shape navigation for the future Solar System Internet, with work on simulators, analysis tools and a possible demonstrator mission in cislunar space.
27. 🇳🇱 Systems Department Space Systems Section Intern 🤖 ESA Technology, Engineering and Quality Directorate Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level university students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Systems Department Space Systems Section internship explores how artificial intelligence can support the modelling of mission concepts and spacecraft design.
28. 🇳🇱 FDIR System Engineering Intern 🛰️ ESA Systems Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛡️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The FDIR System Engineering internship digs into real spacecraft anomaly reports and mission data, turning the findings into lessons learned for future space missions.
29. 🇳🇱 Resilient Navigation Systems Intern 🛰️ ESA Galileo and EGNOS Programme Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🧭
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Resilient Navigation Systems internship explores how future navigation and timing systems could rely less on ground stations and more on satellites, then sketches a roadmap towards a more resilient setup.
30. 🇳🇱 AI and Data Science Section Intern 🤖 ESA Systems Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The AI and Data Science Section internship lets you choose one of six topics, from agentic AI and knowledge graphs to quantum image classification and rover autonomy, and build a prototype.
31. 🇳🇱 Inspiration and Education Outreach Intern 🚀 ESA Education Office Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🎓
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Inspiration and Education Outreach internship helps inspire children and school students about space and STEM by supporting events, writing articles and social media posts and scripting videos.
32. 🇳🇱 Event-Aware On-Board Processing for CHIME Intern 🛰️ ESA Earth Observation Projects Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🤖
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Event-Aware On-Board Processing for CHIME internship works with system and satellite engineering teams on on-board AI processing for an Earth observation mission and evaluates its end-to-end performance.
33. 🇳🇱 RISE In-Orbit Servicing Intern 🛰️ ESA Space Safety Mission Implementation Division Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🔧
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level university students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The RISE In-Orbit Servicing internship helps prepare a mission that will autonomously rendezvous with and capture an active satellite in geostationary orbit. You will learn how a complex space mission is developed from end to end.
34. 🇳🇱 Space Environments and Effects Intern 🌙 ESA Electrical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands ☀️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level university students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Space Environments and Effects internship supports numerical modelling of the near surface lunar environment, including plasma, transported dust and regolith behaviour, for surface missions currently under study.
35. 🇳🇱 AOCS and Pointing Architecture Section Intern 🛰️ ESA Electrical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🎯
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level university students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The AOCS and Pointing Architecture Section internship develops an attitude control and pointing performance assessment tool for the early definition of future Earth Observation and Science missions, and includes writing a user manual and giving hands-on training.
36. 🇳🇱 Data Handling Systems Section Intern 🧠 ESA Electrical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level university students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Data Handling Systems Section internship explores how neuromorphic, event-based computing can bring efficient AI to on-board data handling systems in space.
37. 🇳🇱 Flight Software Section Intern 🐧 ESA Electrical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🚀
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level university students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Flight Software Section internship creates and validates a mixed criticality multicore processor setupthat runs both Linux and a real-time operating system on on-board computers.
38. 🇳🇱 Zero Debris Approach and End-of-Life Management Intern 🛰️ ESA Systems Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🌌
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level university students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Zero Debris Approach and End-of-Life Management internship helps shape the Zero Debris approachand the end-of-life management of space missions, from engineering studies to technology roadmaps.
39. 🇳🇱 Accelerate and Innovation Technology Team Intern 📊 ESA Technology Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🤖
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Accelerate and Innovation Technology Team internship supports the preparation of the next technology strategy, from analysing programme data to harmonising digital tools. You will build skills in data visualisation and smart reporting.
40. 🇳🇱 Power Systems Architecture Section Intern ⚡ ESA Electrical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🔋
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Power Systems Architecture Section internship offers a choice between two AI topics: advanced digital control and failure prediction of DC/DC converters, or AI assisted converter design.
41. 🇳🇱 Metrology Laboratory Intern 📐 ESA Engineering Services Section Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Metrology Laboratory internship investigates point cloud post-processing methods for space-grade materials and uses them to reverse engineer a satellite mock-up.
42. 🇳🇱 Data Infrastructure Intern 🗄️ ESA Exploration Science Office Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🪐
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Data Infrastructure internship helps design and build a common data infrastructure that brings exploration science projects, teams, facilities and results into one reliable view.
43. 🇳🇱 Astrophysics Section of the Prodex Office Intern 🔭 ESA Future Missions Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Astrophysics Section of the Prodex Office internship contributes to preparatory work for nuANCESTOR, a Swiss-led mission that uses a space-based laser frequency comb to calibrate ground-based spectrographs.
44. 🇳🇱 SME Section Intern 📊 ESA Industrial Policy and Auditing Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The SME Section internship runs statistical analyses on the economic and financial characteristics of European space SMEs and start-ups.
45. 🇳🇱 Navigation Systems Implementation and Validation Section Intern 🧭 ESA Technology, Engineering and Quality Directorate Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level, who know Python and have some familiarity with satellite systems · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Navigation Systems Implementation and Validation Section internship studies how computing can be spread across satellites and builds a hardware test node for a navigation lab.
46. 🇳🇱 Logarithmic Map of the Gaia DR4 Universe Intern 🌌 ESA Science Engagement and Oversight Office Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🔭
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students with a broad interest in astronomy, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Logarithmic Map of the Gaia DR4 Universe internship creates an updated logarithmic map of the Gaia universe from the latest data release. Some Python experience is an asset.
47. 🇳🇱 Mechanisms Section Intern ⚙️ ESA Mechanical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Mechanisms Section internship supports the design, analysis, simulation and testing of space mechanisms, including hands-on lab work. A mechanical or mechatronics engineering background is an asset.
48. 🇳🇱 Data Management and AI Readiness Intern 🗂️ ESA Software and Artificial Intelligence Team Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🤖
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Data Management and AI Readiness internship prepares real space mission data for future AI and machine learning use, teaching data wrangling, metadata design and governance.
49. 🇳🇱 Human Spaceflight Safety Intern 🚀 ESA Quality Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛡️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Human Spaceflight Safety internship joins the safety review work behind crewed spaceflight, from certifying hardware for the International Space Station to defining new safety requirements and guidelines.
50. 🇳🇱 RAMS Section Intern 🛡️ ESA Quality Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 📊
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level with knowledge of risk assessment · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The RAMS Section internship helps lay the groundwork for a new methodology for Probabilistic Risk Assessment of space missions by reviewing the standards and tools of other space agencies.
51. 🇳🇱 Propulsion Engineering Section Intern 🚀 ESA Mechanical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands ⚙️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Propulsion Engineering Section internship supports the implementation of an innovative propulsion initiative while working directly with the Head of Section and the Head of Division.
52. 🇳🇱 Robotics Section Intern 🤖 ESA Mechanical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 University students, preferably Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Robotics Section internship joins mechanical, electrical, control and software engineers working on space robotics, from planetary rovers to orbital servicing.
53. 🇳🇱 Thermal Analysis and Verification Section Intern 🌡️ ESA Mechanical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level university students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Thermal Analysis and Verification Section internship covers laboratory testing, new analysis methods and thermal analyses of instruments and satellites with ESATAN-TMS.
54. 🇳🇱 Structures Section Intern 🏗️ ESA Mechanical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level students with a mechanical or aeronautical engineering background · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Structures Section internship helps develop and analyse advanced structural solutions for spacecraft, with project domains from structural optimisation and fracture control to vibro-acoustics and hypervelocity impacts.
55. 🇳🇱 Thermal Control Section Intern 🌡️ ESA Mechanical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🧊
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level university students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Thermal Control Section internship covers thermal design and analysis with ESATAN-TMS, cryogenics, heat transport and thermal protection.
56. 🇳🇱 Lunar Landing Site Assessment for Future Robotic Exploration Missions Intern 🌙 ESA Lunar Science Office Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level university students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Lunar Landing Site Assessment for Future Robotic Exploration Missions internship assesses candidate landing sites for future robotic missions to the Moon, using lunar remote sensing data and terrain information.
57. 🇳🇱 Aerothermodynamics and Flight Vehicles Section Intern 🚀 ESA Mechanical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🔬
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level university students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Aerothermodynamics and Flight Vehicles Section internship models and analyses the plasma plumes of electric propulsion thrusters and how they interact with vacuum test facilities.
58. 🇳🇱 Optics Section Intern 🔭 ESA Mechanical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🔬
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level university students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Optics Section internship lets you pick one of three topics, from machine learning in optical design to a simulator for the Vigil HI instrument.
59. 🇳🇱 Opto-Electronics Section Intern 🔭 ESA Mechanical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 📡
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level university students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Opto-Electronics Section internship supports laboratory work on lasers, detectors, lidars and free-space optical communications.
60. 🇳🇱 EnVision Thermo-Elastic Modelling Intern 🛰️ ESA Projects Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🌡️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level university students · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The EnVision Thermo-Elastic Modelling internship improves the thermo-elastic modelling of spacecraft and payload coupling for a Venus orbiter mission.
61. 🇳🇱 Artificial Intelligence Intern 🤖 ESA Galileo and EGNOS Programme Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Artificial Intelligence internship sits in a team working on Europe's global satellite navigation infrastructure and applies AI to improve software validation, engineering efficiency and decision-making. You will develop AI applications for software quality assessment and evaluate emerging AI tools.
62. 🇳🇱 Hybrid and Resilient PNT Systems Evolution Intern 🛰️ ESA Galileo and EGNOS Programme Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 📡
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Hybrid and Resilient PNT Systems Evolution internship sits in a team shaping the next generation of EU satellite navigation systems, focusing on multi-layer positioning and timing concepts that combine GNSS with satellite communications, 5G and other sensor technologies.
63. 🇳🇱 AI for Galileo System Engineering and MBSE Intern 🛰️ ESA Galileo and EGNOS Programme Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🤖
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The AI for Galileo System Engineering and MBSE internship applies AI and machine learning to the MBSE model, querying, expanding and connecting it to requirements, simulations and test results.
64. 🇳🇱 Materials, Environments and Contamination Control Section Intern 🧪 ESA Mechanical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🔬
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands
The Materials, Environments and Contamination Control Section internship develops new test methodologies for the thermal properties of adhesives and potting materials used in space hardware qualification.
65. 🇳🇱 Life Support and Physical Sciences Instrumentation Section Intern 🌙 ESA Mechanical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🔬
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands
The Life Support and Physical Sciences Instrumentation Section internship sits in a team developing life support technologies for human spaceflight and In Situ Resource Utilisation, with a focus on sintering lunar soil simulant and extracting oxygen through molten salt electrolysis.
66. 🇳🇱 Legal Services Intern ⚖️ ESA New Initiatives and Commercialisation Division Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🚀
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands
The Legal Services internship is based in the legal division supporting the commercialisation of space activities, covering contractual frameworks for new services and business models, procurement of innovation and industrial policy advice.
67. 🇳🇱 Audit Baseline Services Unit Intern 🧾 ESA Industrial Audit Services Office Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🤖
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands
The Audit Baseline Services Unit internship explores where artificial intelligence can improve the cost audit processes conducted on the industries working with a major space agency, from identifying AI tools to a proof-of-concept plan.
68. 🇳🇱 System Architect Office Intern 🏗️ ESA Future Missions and Architecture Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands
The System Architect Office internship develops EO scenarios, applies and extends simulation tools and analyses how European satellite systems work together across a horizon extending to 2060.
69. 🇳🇱 Knowledge-Centric Mission Engineering Intern 🧠 ESA Future Missions and Architecture Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands
The Knowledge-Centric Mission Engineering internship investigates how engineering knowledge for future Earth observation missions can be managed as structured, interconnected information, with the goal of building a prototype engineering knowledge portal.
70. 🇳🇱 EO Constellation Analysis Tool Intern 🛰️ ESA Future Missions and Architecture Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🌍
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands
The EO Constellation Analysis Tool internship involves building a mission-analysis tool that models how an Earth Observation constellation is deployed, how its performance degrades over time and how it is replenished.
71. 🇳🇱 NovaMoon Project Intern 🌙 ESA Future Missions Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 📡
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands
The NovaMoon Project internship works on three payload areas of the NovaMoon mission: navigation signal monitoring, time transfer and the generation of differential corrections, for future lunar and Martian exploration.
72. 🇳🇱 Antenna and Sub-millimetre Waves Section Intern 📡 ESA Electrical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level university students with an interest in RF engineering and antenna systems · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Antenna and Sub-millimetre Waves Section internship at ESTEC investigates either calibration of active phased array antennas or the design of reconfigurable active arrays with nulling for LEO constellation ground stations.
73. 🇳🇱 Energy Storage Section Intern ⚡ ESA Electrical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🔋
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Energy Storage Section internship at ESTEC runs battery simulations across mission scenarios including launch, failure and end-of-life conditions, and helps refine Li-ion battery models through experimental testing.
74. 🇳🇱 Equipment and Technology Section Intern 📡 ESA Electrical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🤖
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Equipment and Technology Section internship at ESTEC offers a choice between applying AI to investigate compact atomic clock anomalies using real measurement data, or training an AI model to improve THz receiver design.
75. 🇳🇱 GNC Systems Architecture Section Intern 🧭 ESA Electrical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🪐
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level students with an interest in guidance, navigation and control · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The GNC Systems Architecture Section internship at ESTEC adapts existing descent and landing simulators for the Enceladus L4 mission, designing a landing trajectory and tailoring navigation algorithms.
76. 🇳🇱 Microelectronics Section Intern 🔲 ESA Electrical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🤖
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Microelectronics Section internship at ESTEC applies AI to the design of space-grade FPGAs and ASICs, with outcomes deployed on the section's own FPGA farm.
77. 🇳🇱 Wave Interaction and Propagation Section Intern 🛰️ ESA Electrical Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🔭
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Wave Interaction and Propagation Section internship at ESTEC supports the FORUM far-infrared Earth observation mission, using the section's end-to-end simulator to assess Level 1 product performance and run sensitivity studies.
78. 🇳🇱 ExPeRT Mars Exploration Studies Team Intern 🪐 ESA Human and Robotic Exploration Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🚀
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The ExPeRT Mars Exploration Studies Team internship at ESTEC helps define payload resource allocations, interfaces and operational concepts for future Mars missions, and contributes to the first issue of a Payload Definition Document for a future Mars lander mission.
79. 🇳🇱 Assessment of Societal Benefits of Exploration Science Intern 🚀 ESA Exploration Science Office Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🔭
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Background in life sciences, health sciences, economics or science communication · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Assessment of Societal Benefits of Exploration Science internship at ESTEC evaluates the societal benefits of human space exploration, from developing an impact framework to compiling case studies on healthcare, technology transfer and educational outcomes.
80. 🇳🇱 Strategic Communication Support Intern 📣 ESA Exploration Strategy Office Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🚀
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level, background in communication sciences, science communication or journalism · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Strategic Communication Support internship at ESTEC focuses on raising awareness of ESA's exploration programme by creating content, developing campaign concepts and preparing materials for the next Ministerial Council meeting.
81. 🇳🇱 Market Intelligence and Data Infrastructure Intern 📊 ESA Future Missions Department Internship in Noordwijk, Netherlands 🛰️
📅 Deadline: 30 November 2026
📍 Noordwijk, Netherlands · 👥 Master's level · ⏳ 3 to 6 months
The Market Intelligence and Data Infrastructure internship at ESTEC contributes to building Market and Business Intelligence capabilities for the satellite communications domain, with data integration solutions and interactive visual analytics tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the ESA internships in Noordwijk?
The ESA internships in Noordwijk are mainly for university students, and many of the roles prefer applicants at Master's level. Some roles name a specific background: computer science or software engineering for the Human Research Project Management internship, communication sciences, science communication or journalism for the Strategic Communication Support internship, and life sciences, health sciences, economics or science communication for the Assessment of Societal Benefits of Exploration Science internship. Several technical roles mention MATLAB or Python skills. Each ESA listing names its eligible countries: 55 of the roles are open to applicants from 27 countries and 26 roles are open to applicants from 31 countries, so check the country list on the listing page. A clear CV matters for any internship application, and our guide to the Europass CV explains one widely used format.
When is the deadline for the ESA internships in the Netherlands?
All 81 ESA internships in the Netherlands close on 30 November 2026. Every role in Noordwijk shares the same deadline, so there is no earlier closing date within the batch. Most of the internships last 3 to 6 months, while the Visual Communication, Presentation Design and Event Coordination internship is a six-month placement. Several roles offer a choice of topics, such as the AI and Data Science Section internship with six topics, the Advanced Concepts Team internship with four and the Optics Section internship with three, so leaving time to compare the roles before 30 November helps. For a step-by-step overview of the process, read our guide on how to apply.
What fields do the ESA internships in Noordwijk cover?
The ESA internships in Noordwijk cover science and engineering roles as well as support functions.Technical roles include Earth observation missions such as FLEX, ROSE-L, Harmony, CHIME, CO2M and FORUM, satellite navigation work in the Galileo and EGNOS Programme Department, lunar and Mars exploration, robotics, optics, thermal and structural engineering, and AI and data science. Other roles cover communication, education outreach, contracts and procurement, legal services, audit and evaluation, and analysis of European space SMEs and markets. Several roles involve tools such as Python, MATLAB, Power BI or ESATAN-TMS. For advice on presenting your skills in an application, see our application tips.
The batch brings together ESA teams working on Earth observation and satellite navigation, teams preparing lunar, Martian and deep space missions, engineering sections from propulsion and robotics to optics and thermal control, and offices handling communication, contracts, legal services and audit. An internship at a space agency can be a strong step in your career development, whichever of these areas you choose.
Youth Works Hub gathers these ESA internships in one place so you can compare the roles side by side. Pick the internship that matches your studies and apply through its listing page.
