Intern in the Electrical Department - AOCS and Pointing Architecture Section

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

Benefits offered by this job

Mentorship program

Hands-on training

Job summary

European Space Agency in Noordwijk, Netherlands, invites applications for an Intern in the Electrical Department, AOCS and Pointing Architecture Section. The role focuses on developing an AOCS and pointing performance tool and a time-domain simulator to support early mission feasibility and architecture trade-offs.

You will model performance, tune controllers, assess architecture trade-offs across sensor/actuator sets, and contribute to tool documentation and training.

Qualifications

• Must be a university student, preferably in final or second-to-last year of a Master’s degree and enrolled for the entire duration of the internship.
• Knowledge of sensors, actuators and dynamics modelling.
• Experience with robust control and performance analysis.
• Proficiency in Matlab/Simulink and Python is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Develop an AOCS and pointing performance assessment tool and its time-domain simulator with a robust tuning pipeline.
• Model and document the main performance drivers focusing on gyroless architectures and Star Tracker accommodation.
• Consolidate controller tuning optimisation with robust control synthesis and analysis for improved performance.
• Consolidate architecture trade-off evaluations across hardware suites for mission scenarios.
• Consolidate micro-vibrations impact assessment with disturbance spectra and dynamics envelope.
• Consolidate verification and validation with built-in tests and documentation.
• Produce tool and simulator documentation including a user manual and hands-on training.

Skills

Sensors and actuators modelling

Dynamics modelling

Robust control

Performance analysis

Education

Master's student, final/second-to-last year

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Python

Job description

Intern in the Electrical Department - AOCS and Pointing Architecture Section

Job Requisition ID: 21021

Date Posted: 1 November 2026

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

Publication Method: External Only

Type of Appointment (learn more):

Directorate: Technology, Engineering and Quality

Workplace

Noordwijk, NL

Location

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Our team and mission

The Attitude and Orbit Control System (AOCS) & Pointing Architecture Section provides functional support to ESA projects in the technical field of AOCS & pointing systems for ESA missions on the following applicative directorates: Earth Observation, Science, Resilience, Navigation & Connectivity.

The AOCS & Pointing Architecture Section carries out technological research, harmonisation and standardisation in the field of AOCS and Pointing systems, with a focus on subsystem competitiveness, and innovation for performance, robustness and process improvements.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

As an intern in the AOCS & Pointing Architecture Section, you will develop an AOCS & pointing performance assessment tool and its time-domain simulator with a robust tuning pipeline to enable early mission feasibility assessment and architecture trade-offs.

The objectives are:

• to model and document the main performance drivers with focus on gyroless architectures and Star Tracker accommodation (including fusion of non-orthogonal Star tracker Optical Heads, dynamic-stellar estimator, and tachometer-stellar estimator);


• to consolidate the controller tuning optimisation (already implemented in the tool) with robust control synthesis & analysis for further optimised performance, with a generic design & tuning pipeline and the documentation of the process (including of the comparison with respect to the initial optimised tuning);


• to consolidate the architecture trade-off capacities (already implemented in the tool) by performing and documenting systematic performance evaluations over sets of Hardware suites (sensors and actuators) for architecture trade-offs, for different missions;


• to consolidate the early micro-vibrations impact assessment (already implemented in the tool) with improved Reaction Wheel disturbance spectrum (waterfall plots catalogue) & high frequency dynamics envelope and the documentation of the models & process (how to set the dynamics envelope without a full satellite Finite Element Model);


• to consolidate the verification & validation of the tool & simulator with built-in verification tests and documentation;


• to consolidate the tool & simulator documentation, with a user manual & hands‑on training (setting of the tool, configuration for a new satellite mission, running early performance assessment and performing architecture trade‑offs, controller optimised tuning, and running consolidated performance assessment with further improved robust tuning).

This updated version of our tool will be used for early definition of future Earth Observation and Science missions during the internship.

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.

Knowledge and background in the following fields is an asset:

• sensors, actuators and dynamics modelling;


• robust control and performance;


• Matlab/Simulink and Python.

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.