Intern in the Software and Artificial Intelligence Team - Data Management and AI Readiness

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

Job summary

European Space Agency (ESA) invites motivated university students to join the HRE-FI data lab internship in Noordwijk. You will gain hands-on experience in data wrangling, metadata design, and governance while working on real mission datasets and AI-ready workflows.

You will collaborate with engineers, scientists and IT specialists across disciplines, contribute to FAIR-aligned models, and prototype simple tagging or clustering tools under supervision. English required.

Qualifications

• University student in final or near-final year; must be enrolled for full duration of internship.
• Good knowledge of English or French; other ESA languages are an asset.
• Background in data science, data management standards, computer science, information engineering, or related field; Python/SQL experience is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Perform exploratory data analysis and metadata tagging on heterogeneous mission datasets (telemetry, experiments, reports, 3D models).
• Support cataloguing and profiling of data assets; identify structure, storage, and access methods.
• Help design a data categorisation and governance model aligned with FAIR principles.
• Contribute to automated workflows for metadata enrichment and data organisation.
• Assess potential of datasets for future AI/ML exploitation and digital twins.
• Support implementation of ESA AI study recommendations related to data infrastructure and readiness.
• Collaborate with colleagues across engineering, science, and IT to ensure consistency and avoid duplication.
• Optional stretch: develop small prototypes (tagging, clustering, text search) to demonstrate data preparation for AI.

Skills

Python

SQL

Data science

Data governance

English

French

Education

Master's student

Tools

Jupyter

Pandas

NumPy

Job description

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Our team and mission

HRE-FI mission is to advance digital and AI-driven capabilities for human and robotic exploration across all destinations, from low Earth orbit to Mars. Its activities focus on four pillars: Artificial Intelligence, Extended Reality, IoT & Robotics, and Quantum Technologies, supported by robust data governance. Key initiatives include AI-enabled mission planning, immersive XR training, predictive maintenance, and digital continuity. The environment is highly collaborative, combining ESA experts, industry partners, and research institutions, fostering innovation through labs and pilot projects. HRE-FI operates within a dynamic, multidisciplinary setting, integrating cutting-edge technologies to enhance operational efficiency, astronaut support, and future mission readiness.

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 HRE Data Lab Lead, you will:

• perform exploratory data analysis and metadata tagging on heterogeneous datasets from past and current missions (e.g. spacecraft telemetry, experiment results, technical reports, 3D models);
• support the cataloguing and profiling of data assets, identifying how they are structured, where they are stored, and how they can be accessed;
• help design a data categorisation and governance model, aligned with international standards such as FAIR principles;
• contribute to the development of automated workflows for metadata enrichment and data organisation;
• assess the potential of datasets for future AI/ML exploitation and digital twin applications;
• support the implementation of recommendations from ESA’s ongoing AI study, particularly those related to data infrastructure and readiness;
• collaborate with colleagues across engineering, science, and IT to ensure consistency and avoid duplication;
• (optional stretch task) develop small prototypes (e.g. scripts for automatic tagging, clustering, or text search) to demonstrate how data could be prepared for AI.

Learning Outcomes

During this internship you will:

• gain insight into space mission data and documentation and the challenges of managing them;
• acquire hands‑on experience in data wrangling, metadata design, and governance;
• learn how to prepare real datasets for AI/ML training, analytics, and simulation workflows;
• understand the role of data engineering in enabling digital twins, AI agents, and decision support;
• work in an international and interdisciplinary team, engaging with experts in engineering, science, and IT.

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 data science, data management standards, computer science, information engineering, or a related field is an asset.

Experience with Python (pandas, numpy, Jupyter), SQL, or similar data handling tools is 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.

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.