Intern in the Ground Systems Engineering & Innovation Department - Mission Analysis Section

Intern in the Ground Systems Engineering & Innovation Department - Mission Analysis Section

Job Requisition ID: 21142

Date Posted: 1 November 2026

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

Publication Method: External Only

Type of Appointment (learn more):

Directorate: Operations

Workplace:

Darmstadt, DE

Location

ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany

Our team and mission

You will be part of the Mission Analysis Section, Flight Dynamics Division, Ground Systems Engineering Department.

The Mission Analysis Section is entrusted with mission studies for future terrestrial, lunar and interplanetary missions as well as scientific missions located in planetary or lunar libration points. The emphasis is typically on trajectory and attitude related aspects, and on supporting ground segment design and operations. This includes trade-offs for selection of the nominal mission trajectory, definition of manoeuvering strategies, optimisation of orbital manoeuvres (low- and high-thrust propulsion, including rocket ascent trajectories), calculation of propellant budget, analysis of launch window, analysis of orbit perturbations and navigation. The task also includes the development of the necessary analytical and numerical methods and software tools.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Comet Interceptor, the first ESA F-class mission under the Cosmic Vision Programme, targets a yet-to-be-discovered dynamically new or long-period comet. To retain the ability to select a target even after launch, the spacecraft will wait in a parking orbit around the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point. Once a suitable comet is identified, the transfer trajectory may follow one of two baseline strategies: a direct escape from L2 or an escape assisted by a lunar gravity assist. A small number of particularly challenging targets may require more complex trajectories exploiting an Earth powered swing-by, the weak stability boundary, or a Delta-V Earth Gravity Assist (ΔVEGA).

In this internship, you will develop a trajectory optimisation framework based on ESA's mission analysis software infrastructure to investigate the most suitable transfer strategies under the full-ephemeris dynamics of the Sun-Earth-Moon system. Even when formulated within the simplified Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem (CR3BP), the transfer trajectory optimisation problem exhibits a rich landscape of local optima and a wide variety of feasible trajectory geometries.

Long Description

The study will investigate:

• The range of comet encounter geometries in the ecliptic plane that can be achieved within the spacecraft propulsion capabilities;
• the influence of the parking orbit characteristics, including variations resulting from launch-window and injection conditions;
• the exploitation of the unstable manifolds associated with the parking orbit to reduce the required ΔV;
• the influence of the encounter date optimisation;
• the impact of mission and operational constraints, as well as available flexibility on the optimisation of encounter conditions for scientific return;
• the sensitivity of transfer solutions to uncertainties in the target orbit knowledge and the evolution of these solutions as orbit determination improves;
• the trade-off between transfer time and ΔV through Pareto-front analysis, comparing at least the direct escape and lunar gravity-assist strategies.

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 [email protected].

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).

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