Intern in the Quality Department - RAMS Section

EU Satellite Centre (SatCen); Noordwijk; On-site; EUR 10,000 - 15,000; Full time

Job summary

The European Space Agency (ESA) TEC-Q team at ESTEC, Noordwijk invites a university student in their final year (Master’s level) for an internship in Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) and RAMS disciplines. You will assist in collecting and reviewing PRA standards from space agencies and help build harmonised ESA PRA guidance.

Under the Head of the Quality Department, you will analyse methodologies, identify gaps, and propose recommendations while gaining hands-on exposure to space-system risk

Qualifications

• Master's level student, enrolled for entire internship period.
• Strong knowledge of risk assessment and PRA concepts.
• Knowledge of Fault Tree Analysis and Reliability Analysis is an asset.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills; able to work in a multicultural environment.

Responsibilities

• Collect and review PRA documentation, standards, and tools from space agencies (e.g., NASA).
• Analyse materials to identify gaps and key elements for ESA PRA methodology.
• Provide recommendations for a harmonised ESA PRA framework and RAMS integration.
• Support RAMS-related activities and contribute to safety engineering discussions.

Skills

Risk assessment knowledge

Fault Tree Analysis

Reliability Analysis

Space systems knowledge

Interpersonal communication

Cross-cultural teamwork

Education

Master's student

Job description

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Our team and mission

Under the direct authority of the Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality, the Head of the Quality Department is responsible for the establishment and implementation of the ESA policy, requirements, and standards with respect to quality. TEC-Q is responsible for the provision of required expertise and support services to ESA projects, support Directorates and research activities in the Product Assurance and Safety disciplines, applied to all elements of space systems (ground and on-board), including hardware, software, and humans. Product Assurance and Safety disciplines comprise Product Assurance management, technical risk management, reliability, availability, maintainability, safety, quality assurance, with support from the other TEC engineering Departments, expertise, and laboratories.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

The Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) is a systematic and exhaustive methodology for qualitative and quantitative assessment of risks in complex space systems. It estimates the probability of major undesired outcomes such as Loss of Mission (LOM) and Loss of Crew (LOC), providing quantitative, traceable risk metrics to support design and Programme-level decisions.

ESA needs to develop its own PRA methodology. At present, no dedicated ESA/ECSS standard or handbook defines PRA principles, processes, or implementation guidance. Current PRA activities rely primarily on external standards and project-specific approaches, creating a risk of inconsistencies in modelling assumptions, analysis scope, and interfaces with Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (RAMS) activities.

As ESA increases its independent application of PRA for future ESA-led missions, the need for harmonised guidance becomes increasingly important. Establishing an ESA PRA methodology would promote consistency across projects and provide a solid foundation for an integrated RAMS framework, encompassing FMEA, Reliability and Availability Analyses, Hazard Analyses, and Fault Tree Analyses.

The main objectives of this initiative are to:

• collect and review documentation, standards, guidance material, and software tools related to PRA methodologies used by other space agencies and organisations, including NASA;
• analyse the collected material and produce a comprehensive assessment of existing methodologies, tools, requirements, best practices, and lessons learnt, identifying gaps, challenges, and key elements that should be addressed in the early stages of developing an ESA PRA methodology;
• provide recommendations for the definition of a harmonised ESA PRA framework and its integration within the broader Dependability and Safety engineering processes.

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 must have knowledge of risk assessment. Familiarity with Fault Tree Analysis and Reliability Analysis, as well as knowledge of Space Systems would be an asset.

You must have good interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work in a multi-cultural environment, both independently and as part of a team. You must also be thorough and meticulous.

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.