Intern in the Mission Operations Department - Deep Space and External Services Section

Intern in the Mission Operations Department - Deep Space and External Services Section

Job Requisition ID: 21089

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 directly contributing to the objectives of the Facility for Operations Experimentation (FOX) (https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/Facility_for_Operations_Experimentation_FOX).

FOX, based at ESA’s European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany, is an initiative designed to support operational experimentation, technology validation, in-orbit demonstration/validation (IOD/IOV), qualification activities, end-to-end operational assessment and experimentation support for both traditional and New Space missions.

FOX facilitates experimentation, qualification, interoperability and operational validation activities that may be difficult to perform within purely operational service environments. Experimental applications, services and concepts can be tested and progressively adopted by mainstream missions. Furthermore, FOX contributes to increased interoperability and operational readiness across the evolving New Space ecosystem.

FOX supports ESA internal users as well as universities, research institutes and companies prototyping, testing and validating innovative operations concepts and technologies by fostering innovation, experimentation, and cross-functional collaboration in the domain of ground operations. Typical users benefitting from FOX services span from traditional space missions to CubeSats and SmallSats manufacturers and operators, as well as Ground segment developers and ground station service providers.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

You will be part of the FOX team, gaining insight into operational challenges and contributing to the development of novel solutions for future mission support. You will be actively involved in ongoing experimental activities, including system prototyping, testing, integration, and performance evaluation, and will participate in regular technical discussions and collaborative reviews across disciplines. The internship provides an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a highly dynamic and interdisciplinary environment at the intersection of operations, engineering, and research.

You can choose between the following topics:

Topic 1: Integration and validation of Digital Intermediate Frequency Interoperability (DIFI) solutions

Activities include the use of Software Defined Radio (SDR) & Digitizers/Samplers to be integrated, configured and validated within the FOX operational environment. In particular, you will focus on the implementation of DIFI to enable SDR interoperability using a generic DIFI enabled sampler. You will learn how to configure and operate SDRs, especially for what concerns user-friendliness, sustainability and reliability aspects.

Topic 2: Harmonisation of ground station interfaces and protocols for enhanced interoperability

You contribute to the integration of external systems using different protocols into the centralized FOX ground segment environment. You will tailor and validate interfaces with the aim of improving interoperability aspects for both real-time telecommanding and telemetry reception, as well as tracking and scientific data downlink. The final goal is to centralise services and allow users to transparently adapt well-established standardardised protocols without the need to embark in developing custom interfaces. You will learn how mission users connect to ground stations with a special focus on interoperability aspects and their trade-offs for real operational environments.

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 of Python or another relevant programming language;
• general understanding of Radio Frequency communication systems and signal processing;
• basic understanding of ground station operations;
• familiarity with software defined radios and/or ground station protocols 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 [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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