Intern in the RNC Projects Department - Genesis Project Team

European Space Agency - ESA; Noordwijk; On-site; EUR 12,000 - 18,000; Full time

Job summary

ESA's Genesis project internship in Noordwijk offers hands-on exposure to system engineering for GNSS, VLBI, SLR and DORIS within a small mission team at ESTEC. You will work under the Genesis System and Operations Manager and contribute to the design phase, gaining practical experience in a cutting-edge space project.

The position is for university students, preferably final-year, with strong analytical and reporting skills, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship.
• Strong analytical, organisational and reporting skills.
• Ability to work autonomously in a diverse, international team environment.

Responsibilities

• GNSS Simulation activities, including testing with hardware-in-the-loop and GNSS performance assessment.
• GNSS/VLBI/SLR/DORIS performance simulations and analysis of instrument parameters and operation scenarios.

Education

Master's student

Job description

Intern in the RNC Projects Department - Genesis Project Team

Job Requisition ID: 20999

Date Posted: 1 November 2026

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

Publication Method: External Only

Type of Appointment (learn more):

Directorate: Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity

Workplace: Noordwijk, NL

Location: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Our team and mission

Genesis is a mission in the ESA Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity Directorate, planned for launch in 2029 and currently under development. The Genesis satellite will combine the main geodetic techniques, namely VLBI (Very-Long-Baseline Interferometry), SLR (Satellite Laser Ranging), GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems), and DORIS (Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite). By flying the four geodetic techniques a single well-calibrated satellite, individual biases of the techniques can be removed. As a result, the mission will enable the generation of an updated global model of Earth – the International Terrestrial Reference Frame, employed for everything from land surveying to measuring sea-level rise, with an accuracy down to 1 mm, while tracking ground motion of just 0.1 mm per year. This improvement will have a major impact on multiple navigation and Earth science applications, including enhancing the precision of the Galileo navigation system. See ESA - Genesis for more information.

The ESA project team is small and supported by experts as required and will be working closely with industry and the scientific community to develop the mission in a ‘New Space’ approach wherever feasible. Both the space and ground segments will be under design during the internship, providing an opportunity to gain first-hand experience of system-level space mission design alongside seasoned experts.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Reporting to the Genesis System and Operations Manager, you will carry out tasks and grow your knowledge in the system engineering and payload/system performance domain, while supporting the development of the mission. In a ‘New Space’ mission framework, you will support the execution of Genesis mission engineering-related activities within the Project and industrial consortium and be part of the work during the critical design phase of the mission.

As an intern, you will have the following tasks:

• GNSS Simulation activities, including testing with hardware-in-the-loop, including but not limited to:
  • consolidation of the Genesis reference scenario using available test equipment in the ESA lab (GNSS simulators and prototype receivers);
  • assessment of GNSS performance in the Genesis orbit.
• GNSS/VLBI/SLR/DORIS performance simulations and assessment:
  • review and analysis of key performance parameters of the four Genesis instruments and their combination to achieve the Genesis mission goals;
  • preparation of Genesis operational scenarios and exploitation of scientific data.

This will be an opportunity to be part of the system engineering team of a small mission currently in its design phase, where several interesting topics need to be addressed. You will have access access to experienced team members who will support the further development of the engineering skills acquired at university, while providing opportunities to demonstrate your ability to independently handle selected tasks.

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 be able to demonstrate your ability to work autonomously, effectively and cooperatively in a diverse, international team environment. You should also be results-oriented and capable of presenting practical solutions both verbally and in writing.

You should have a good technical background from university, together with analytical, organisational and reporting skills. You should also have a proactive approach to problem-solving and an interest in innovative technologies and methodologies.

You should have good interpersonal and communication skills and be able to work effectively in a multicultural environment, both independently and as part of a team. Previous experience working in international teams would be considered an asset.

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).