Location
ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany
Our team and mission
The Ground Systems Engineering and Innovation Department is responsible for all the ground systems engineering and support activities required to support mission operations and implement innovation.
The Department maintains and manages a full level of competences, technologies and services in all engineering disciplines related to ground systems, infrastructure, technology evolution and Engineering R&T and innovation. Moreover, it provides expert support in these areas to the Directorate of Operations for all current and potential missions and leads, in the role of architect, ground systems evolution and innovation implementation in the infrastructure and to other ESA programs. Furthermore it is responsible for the overall technical innovation and technical standardization coordination for the ground segment.
You can see following domains of the department's expertise:
* ground Station Engineering
* flight Dynamics and Mission Analysis
* mission Operations Data Systems Engineering
* navigation Support
* multi-Mission Infrastructure – Ground Segment Integration and Testing
For further details, interested candidates are encouraged to visit:
Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website:
Field(s) of activity for the internship
You can choose between the following topics:
Topic 1: Mission Applications Deployment live Monitoring Tool
OPS-GA is responsible for the development, maintenance and evolution of the applications used for the preparation, launch and operation of all ESA un-crewed space missions. Every mission application is based on the most up-to-date core infrastructure systems version and every mission requires several applications for its preparation, launch and operations. In order to keep track of all versions of systems in operation by all missions, and tool was developed to show the live status of the different deployments, by connecting directly to the machine and reading information about the current installation. Data is always updated as it is taken from the machine live.
In this topic you will enhance the tool to provide more information from the deployed applications and systems and deploy it for all missions and systems. In addition, you will have the opportunity to get familiar with the plethora of missions in preparation and operation in ESOC as well as the types of systems needed to fly the missions.
Topic 2: Design, Development, and Modernization of public-facing websites
This internship focuses on the design, development, and modernization of several public-facing websites within the internal ecosystem, with the objective of enhancing both visual appeal and usability. A central example includes the improvement of the Codev and Simulus web platform, alongside other community and organizational websites.
You will contribute to:
* the main CODEV website (www.space-codev.org ), including content updates and design improvements to increase engagement.
* enhancing the statistics portal (https://codev-community.space-codev.org/statistics-portal/), ensuring information is presented in a visually compelling and user-friendly way.
* potentially extending support to other community public websites, depending on project scope and interest.
The overarching goal is to bring these platforms closer to industry-leading standards in terms of functionality, design, and overall user experience.
Topic 3: New generation UI binding for ETS
Eclipse RCP and SWT serve as the foundation of many large-scale, professional desktop applications in corporations like SAP, BOSCH, Infineon, Renesas, Vector, as well as in governmental organizations such as SBB, Infrabel, and InfraGO — including those at ESA/ESOC.
However, the native SWT rendering layer is showing its age in terms of UI capabilities, visual fidelity, and cross-platform consistency. Initiative 31, driven by the Eclipse Foundation, explores a forward-looking approach using Skija, the Java binding to Google’s cross-platform 2D graphics engine Skia — the same engine used in Chrome, Android WebView, and Samsung Internet.
Objective:
you will support Initiative 31 by implementing and validating a modern SWT rendering layer based on Skija/Skia. In addition, you will contribute directly to the upstream swt-initiative31/skija prototype, focusing on:
* rendering logic.
* layout behavior.
* and basic widget implementations.
In parallel, they will evaluate how the Skija backend could be integrated and tested within ESA's ETS-based ground segment systems, which are mission-critical platforms.
Technical Focus Areas:
* set up and explore the swt-initiative31/skija prototype.
* implement or extend basic SWT widgets using Skija.
* contribute to input event handling (mouse, keyboard, focus traversal).
* explore rendering themes (light/dark mode, custom styles).
* prototype loading of self-contained ETS views using the Skija backend
* benchmark widget rendering performance across platforms (Windows/Linux).
* suggest improvements, raise issues, or open SPRs/PRs in the Initiative 31 GitHub.
Tools & Technologies Java 21 Skija (Java bindings to Skia) Maven / Git / GitHub Eclipse RCP / SWT (Optional) JavaFX, JUnit, performance profilers (JFR, VisualVM).
Topic 4: Infrastructure for ground segment innovation
OPS-GA is responsible for the development, maintenance and evolution of the applications used for the preparation, launch and operation of all ESA un-crewed space missions. In addition to these tools, OPS-GA has also developed and maintains many auxiliar tools useful in certain phases of mission operations. Tools and applications are developed based on mission needs, and on different versions of available core infrastructure systems.
Moreover, OPS-GA and the AGSA lab provide essential infrastructure and services that support a variety of operational and research activities within ESA. These include platforms such as llm servers, shared virtual GPUs (VGPUs) used by OPS-G, and the broader utilization of cloud resources. Ensuring the smooth operation, availability, and continuous improvement of these services is critical for mission support and innovation. As an intern, you will contribute to the support and maintenance of AGSA and its associated services, working on both day-to-day operational tasks and long-term improvements. This role provides the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with cloud-based platforms, GPU-enabled infrastructure, and service integration in a high-impact operational environment.
Topic 5: Future visualisation technologies in mission operations
Next generation visualisations for ground segment and mission operations - utilising the spherical displays in AGSA and S2P room, making an app for rendering things like:
* assets on and around Earth, Moon, Mars drawing their metadata and eventually live TM.
* space Weather effects (Sun and Earth).
* manoeuvres close to other orbital bodies (e.g. JUICE around Jupiter, Ganymede, Europa).
The usage of such an app would be in various outreach events, and possibly in operations engineering
Additionally, modern space operations rely on large volumes of complex data, ranging from spacecraft dynamics to communication networks. Visualizing this information in an intuitive and adaptive way is critical for improving situational awareness and decision-making. To this end, this project aims to develop a flexible 3D environment capable of ingesting and visualizing data from multiple missions, both live and archived.
You will contribute to the design and implementation of a 3D visualization interface bridging mission control systems with modern rendering technologies. This includes implementing core spacecraft visualization features, communication network representation, and overlays to enrich the operational picture. The goal is to create a flexible, extensible middleware that can serve multiple use cases:
* develop an interface for 3D visualization (MCS Game Engine) for direct data integration.
* implement key features, e.g., attitude, position and velocity of a SC.
* visualize network, e.g., communication links, delay of packages.
* implement overlays with annotations, e.g., alerts.
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 studying 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 or academic specialization in the area of digitalization and/or software engineering and potentially innovation management 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 contact.human.resources@esa.int.
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, 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, Cyprus and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).