Intern in the Contracts Department

European Space Agency - ESA; Frascati; On-site; EUR 10,000 - 15,000; Full time

Job summary

European Space Agency (ESA) invites applications for an internship in the Contracts Department, split across two divisions (Space Transportation and Operations & Ground Segment). The role offers exposure to procurement processes, contract management, and ESA's governance framework.

Interns will contribute to analysis of contractual texts under supervision, with emphasis on international collaboration and compliance.

Qualifications

• You must be a university student and enrolled for the entire duration of the internship.
• Working languages are English and French; knowledge of another ESA language is an asset.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written; ability to interact with international actors.

Responsibilities

• Analyze procurement or contractual texts, including ESA General Clauses and Conditions; study regime differences across contract types.
• Gain hands-on procurement experience by supporting Contracts Officers in two divisions (CFO-CL and CFO-CO) during the internship.

Skills

Teamwork

Analytical thinking

Legal/contract literacy

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Adaptability

Education

Master’s degree (final or penultimate year)

Job description

Intern in the Contracts Department

Job Requisition ID: 21099

Date Posted: 1 November 2026

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

Publication Method: External Only

Type of Appointment (learn more):

Directorate: Controlling, Finance and Operational Procurement

Workplace

Frascati, IT

Location

ESRIN, Frascati, Italy

Our team and mission

Your internship will be split into two equal periods in two separate contracts divisions of ESA's Contracts Department:

• half the duration of your internship within the Space Transportation Contracts Division (CFO-CL);
• half the duration of your internship within the Operations & Ground Segment Contracts Division (CFO-CO).

This experience in two different contracts divisions of ESA's Contracts Department will allow you to maximise your experience of ESA's procurement process and contract management in a large variety of space (launchers, Earth Observation) and non-space (IT, facility management, communication) domains.

The Space Transportation Contracts Division is composed of 11 professionals of various backgrounds and nationalities, located both in Paris (France) and in Rome (Italy).

Our mission is to provide support to the Space Transportation Directorate with regard to the procurement process related to launchers in the European Space Agency. In particular, we are involved in procurement strategy definition, preparation of internal decision documents related to procurement, preparation and release of Invitation to Tender/Request for Quotation/Call for Proposals, evaluation of proposals, preparation and negotiation of contracts and contractual amendments

Our work is organised in four (4) teams reporting to the Head of Division according to the main areas of responsibility, as follows:

• in ESA HQ Daumesnil, Paris, France: Ariane 6 Team; Space Transportation Ground Infrastructure Team; Future Space Transportation Developments Team;
• in ESRIN, Frascati, Italy: VEGA/Space Rider Team.

For half the duration of your internship, you will be part of the Space Transportation Contracts Division (CFO-CL) with an organisational reporting line to the Team Leader in ESRIN.

The Operations & Ground Segment Contracts Division is composed of 21 professionals, located at ESRIN (the Agency’s Earth Observation Centre) in Frascati, near Rome (Italy), and at ESOC (European Space Operations Centre) in Darmstadt, near Frankfurt (Germany).

The Division is specialised in the placing and monitoring of large service contracts with the European space industry for ground segment activities and operations of a variety of ESA and third-party space missions, as well as for general activities, especially in the IT domain for the whole Agency.

The Division is split into two contract services:

The ESRIN Contracts Service (CFO-COE) focuses on space activities at the Agency’s Earth Observation Centre in Frascati (Italy), which include in particular: developing and maintaining Earth observation ground segments and distributing Earth observation data from satellites.

The ESOC Contracts Service (CIC-COM) supports activities at the Agency’s European Space Operations Centre. Its work covers the Space Safety Programme (S2P), contractual actions for the Mission Operations Department and the Ground Systems Engineering and Innovation Department, and general procurement at ESOC. In particular, it places and manages contracts for flight operations and for the development and maintenance of the Agency’s worldwide network of space antennas, which connect satellites in orbit with ESOC.

During half the duration of your internship, you will be part of the Operations & Ground Segment Contracts Division (CFO-CO) with an organisational reporting line to the head of the CFO-COE Contracts Service in ESRIN.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

You will be requested to provide analysis of several procurement or contractual texts, including on ESA General Contractual Clauses and Conditions; i.e. legal analysis of ESA specific regimes (Intellectual Property Rights, disclosure, Personal Data Protection, liability, export control ...) and their implementation in ESA General Clauses and Conditions; with specific focus on differences between General Procurement contracts, Express Procurement contract and Manpower and Service contracts, in the frame of the Contracting Regulations.

You will obtain hands‑on procurement experience in the space sector, while getting used to ESA procurement process through involvement in practical procurement cases, under the supervision of Contracts Officers from the two Divisions.

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.

Additional requirements

• excellent communication skills, both verbal and written;
• ability to interact with multiple international actors and to work collaboratively in a team to achieve organisational goals;
• discretion and integrity.

The following would be considered assets:

• knowledge and background in space domain/technology;
• a good knowledge of contract, procurement or international business law, intellectual property law;
• a background in law, economics.

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.

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. Applicants from Canada as a Cooperating State can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).