ESA Graduate Trainee in Space and Defence Strategy

Our team and mission

The team of the Senior Security Coordinator (DG-OS) advises the Director General as well as DG services and all Directorates involved in geopolitical issues affecting ESA’s activities and evolutions, while contributing to ESA programmes where space services and data can benefit European security and strategic autonomy. In doing so, the Senior Security Coordinator’s Team consolidates ESA activities related to space, defence and security policy and oversees ESA’s overall strategic security coherence and position through the coordination of the ESA Strategy 2040 priority “Strengthen European Autonomy and Resilience” and the implementation of ESA’s security and defence mandate and programmatic consolidation approved at CM25. Security and Defence are now essential domains for ESA following the clear mandate from ESA Member States following CM25. Indeed DG-OS has been instrumental in opening a new historic step in ESA activities: the recognition for ESA to deal with defence programmes. This has been achieved with very limited resources. The mandate given by ESA MS during CM25 to ESA DG regarding defence efforts unquestionably requires strengthening resources, especially towards EU partners. This get position is a thus and immediate and top priority for DG-OS in the wake of CM25 and to prepare CM28.

ESA’s Brussels Office (EBO) is located in the heart of the European quarter in Brussels. Its staff members, reporting to the Directorate of Strategy, Legal and External Relations (D/SLI), monitor and report on the development and implementation of European space policy, while the Senior Security Coordinator’s Representative in EBO monitors the EU/EC Defence and Space activities. EBO works with ESA Directorates to represent the Agency’s interests within those institutions. It also liaises with national Permanent Representations to the European Union (EU) as well as the various EU bodies and institutions such as EEAS, Parliament to ensure that ESA’s views are continuously voiced.

In the space for security and defence domain, DG-OS representative in EBO, proactively interacts for a full coordination with a range from specific Commission Directorates General (e.g. DG-DEFIS) to specialised agencies such as the European Defence Agency (EDA), the EU Satellite Centre (EU SatCen), NATO, the European Maritime Security Agency (EMSA), Frontex, JRC, EU Space Programme Agency (EUSPA), the European Security and Defence College, etc.

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

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

In his Agenda 2025, ESA’s Director General proposed five priorities, along which Space for Safety and Security and the strengthening of ESA-EU relations, two intertwined policy objectives. The 2025 Council at Ministerial level consolidated ESA’s direct mandate in space for defence, while committing to significant dual use space programmes and technology developments.

Fuelled by major international geopolitical events, “space for defence and defence for space” has become a defining new policy agenda of the EU with the appointment of a new Commissioner for Defence and Space. One of the distinctive facets of this new capability-driven ambition is its space component, as reflected in both the 2022 Strategic Compass and the 2023 EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence. This is to take shape in the EU “Space Shield” action plan as part of its Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030. In the wake of ESA’s historic council at ministerial level, ESA-EU synergies will be a defining aspect of ESA’s evolution and preparation of its planned 2028 Ministerial Council, as well as of the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028-2034).

As an ESA Graduate Trainee, you will be responsible in assisting the Senior Security Coordinator’s team in developing ESA’s security contribution to Europe via its own programmes, as well as through its relationship to the EU. This entails very strong analytical and policy-making skills, as well as singular diplomatic skills. In doing so, you will contribute to the inception of new cooperative avenues with ESA Member States as well as EU partners, primarily with EDA and EU SatCen, as well as advising on the development of security-related dialogues with the European Commission. This effort may contribute to a revamping of ESA-EU governance. These tasks will require direct support to the Director General and Directors alike and may entail direct support to the organisation of space security related conferences and workshops, thematic discussions, studies, projects. They will also extend to a dedicated analysis of the future European Defence Industrial Strategy and its potential synergies with or ramifications on the European space industrial landscape.

These tasks will be performed in close coordination with your tutor, the Principal Security Strategy Officer based in Brussels EBO). In this field of activity, you will have the opportunity to deepen knowledge of European space governance, ESA-EU relations, European defence policy, as well as developing analytical and policy-making skills.

Technical competencies

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 should have recently completed or be in the final year of your master’s degree in a relevant domain, such as law, international relations or political science. 

Additional requirements

You should have good interpersonal and communication skills and should be able to work in a multicultural environment, both independently and as part of a team. Previous experience of working in international teams can be considered an asset. Your motivation, overall professional perspective and career goals will also be explored during the later stages of the selection process.