Intern in the Quality Department - Human Spaceflight Safety

European Space Agency - ESA; Noordwijk; On-site; EUR 11,000 - 16,000; Part time

Job summary

The European Space Agency (ESA) invites you to join the TEC-QI Independent Safety Office in Noordwijk for an internship in the Quality Department - Human Spaceflight Safety. You will work under supervision to learn safety requirements, certification processes for ISS, Lunar Gateway modules, and human spaceflight.

You'll help review safety aspects of system and payload hardware, define new safety requirements, compile safety guidelines for transport and operations on-board the ISS, and assist in

Qualifications

• Must be a university student in Master’s level and enrolled for the entire duration of the internship.

Responsibilities

• Familiarise yourself with updated safety requirements and certification processes for ISS and Lunar Gateway modules and human spaceflight exploration.
• Participate in ESA safety review activities for certification of system and payload hardware developed by European industry.
• Review already certified system and payload hardware for lessons learnt compilation.
• Assist in defining new safety requirements, their implementation and verification approach.
• Compile safety guidelines for transportation and operations of simple payloads/experiments on-board the ISS.
• Support the preparation of drafts, presentations and tools to improve the efficiency of the ESA Safety Review Panel.

Education

Master's student in a relevant field

Job description

Intern in the Quality Department - Human Spaceflight Safety

Date Posted: 1 November 2026

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

Location

Noordwijk, NL

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Our team and mission

The TEC-QI Independent Safety Office is responsible for overseeing the development, implementation, and maintenance of ESA policies, requirements, standards, and for providing functional support to ESA projects in the areas of:

• Human Spaceflight Safety;
• Space Debris Mitigation;
• Re-entry Safety;
• Nuclear Safety for applications in space.

The mission of the TEC-QI is to ensure the highest safety standards for ESA missions by enforcing clear safety processes, reducing risks, and protecting space assets, environment and general public. TEC-QI aims to make sure all ESA activities are carried out with a strong commitment to safety.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Under the supervision of the assigned tutor in the Independent Safety Office, you will:

• familiarise yourself with the recently updated safety requirements and the safety certification process applicable to the International Space Station (ISS), the Lunar Gateway habitation modules and, more generally, human spaceflight exploration, including crewed vehicles;
• participate in ESA safety review activities for the certification of system and payload hardware developed by European industry;
• review already certified system and payload hardware for lessons learnt compilation;
• participate in the definition of new safety requirements, their implementation and verification approach;
• compile safety guidelines for transportation and operations of simple payloads/experiments on-board the ISS;
• support the preparation of drafts, presentations and tools aimed at improving the efficiency of the ESA Safety Review Panel.

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.

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.