Intern in the Ariane 6 Department - Ariane Mission and System Engineering Division

European Space Agency - ESA; Paris; On-site; EUR 13,000 - 20,000; Full time

Job summary

ESA Headquarters in Paris invites university students to join the Ariane 6 Department - Ariane Mission and System Engineering Division as an intern. You will support the operational performance modelisation team and work on reference models, data updates, and calculations related to launch campaigns.

Requirements include enrollment for the entire internship and proficiency in English or French. This opportunity provides exposure to space transportation systems and collaboration with senior

Qualifications

• Must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of Master's level studies.
• Must be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship.
• Good knowledge of English or French; knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Act as key point of contact for OPERA users, ensuring effective support within the STS Directorate.
• Manage reference models, including creation and updates.
• Update the means database.
• Provide methodological support to ESA users developing new models.
• Prepare and run operational performance calculations to support use-case evaluations.
• Code and test new models, from process analysis to sequences and test scenarios.

Skills

Result Orientation

Operational Efficiency

Fostering Cooperation

Relationship Management

Continuous Improvement

Forward Thinking

Education

Master's degree student

Job description

Intern in the Ariane 6 Department - Ariane Mission and System Engineering Division

Closing Date: 30 November 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Directorate: Space Transportation

Paris, FR

Location

ESA Headquarters, Paris, France

Our team and mission

The Ariane 6 team supports the ramp-up of the Ariane 6 launch system. This includes improving the performance of the launcher, the launch complex and the Guiana Space Centre launch range, with the aim of ensuring affordable and continuous access to space for European institutional missions.

The team provides engineering support in the following areas:

• complementary developments to enhance Ariane 6 launch system capabilities for specific missions, including science, exploration, Earth observation and navigation;
• adaptations to improve quality, cost, availability and performance;
• monitoring of Ariane 6 exploitation, including production and launch campaign activities;
• maintenance of the Ariane 6 launch system in operational condition, including anomaly correction and obsolescence management.

Working closely with the launcher system prime contractor (ArianeGroup) and the launch base design authority (CNES), the team assesses industrial capability, operational performance and Guiana Space Centre resources. This includes monitoring prime contractor factories and the supply chain, launch campaign operations, launch complex maintenance, operational tools, payload preparation facilities and readiness to support Ariane 6 launches. Performance is assessed by tracking the on-time delivery of flight hardware and Ariane 6 launches and by comparing expected performance, such as production rate and launch cadence, with actual delivery, including flight hardware delivery dates and key launch campaign milestones.

Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity for the internship

You will support the A6 Launch System operational performance modelisation team in the following tasks:

• acting as key point of contact for OPERA users, ensuring effective support and coordination within the STS Directorate;
• managing reference models, including their creation and updates;
• updating the means database;
• providing methodological support to ESA users developing new models;
• preparing and running operational performance calculations to support use-case evaluations;
• coding and testing new models, from process analysis and model design to the creation of sequences, operations and test scenarios.

Behavioural competencies

• Result Orientation
• Operational Efficiency
• Fostering Cooperation
• Relationship Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

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.

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.

You should demonstrate a genuine interest in space transportation systems, together with the motivation to contribute to the analysis of production flows and launch campaign activities.

Experience with calculation tools would be an advantage.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness

ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.

At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek 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. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at [e-mail].

Important Information and Disclaimer

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.

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.

Nationality

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.