Noordwijk (Netherlands)
ESA Graduate Trainee in the Future Engineering Data Hub - Digital Backbone of Innovation
Noordwijk, NL
Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
Our team and mission
You will be joining the Future Engineering Division of the European Space Agency, which is responsible for shaping and delivering advanced engineering expertise, tools, methods and standards to support the preparation and development of future space missions.
The Division acts as a centre of excellence and innovation hub for future-oriented engineering, ensuring that missions are designed using cutting-edge technologies, robust engineering practices and sustainable approaches. By combining innovation with direct mission support, the team transforms new ideas into practical solutions that can be reliably applied across programmes and projects.
The Division’s mission is to enable future space missions by advancing how engineering is performed, through modern engineering environments, digital and data-driven practices, and close collaboration with industry and academia. Its vision is to position future engineering as a key enabler of European space ambitions, delivering tangible, measurable and long-term impact for future missions.
The Future Engineering Data Hub will be the knowledge backbone centralising and unlocking data value to accelerate innovation, improve collaboration and strengthen ESA’s position as a global reference for future engineering.
You are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int
Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship
During your traineeship, you will contribute to the design and implementation of the Future Engineering Data Hub, envisioned as a modular, scalable and secure platform enabling advanced data-driven engineering. Activities will include:
- mapping stakeholders and collecting needs through workshops, interviews, surveys and feedback tools;
- benchmarking existing ESA solutions and off-the-shelf platforms and preparing a business case for the Data Hub;
- supporting architecture definition and exploitation for a cloud-native or hybrid Data Hub, including data lake and semantic layer for interoperability, in close coordination with existing ESA infrastructure;
- developing metadata standards and governance frameworks, ensuring traceability, versioning and compliance with cybersecurity, GDPR and intellectual property protection;
- designing data ingestion pipelines for engineering models, simulation outputs and test results;
- supporting the definition and implementation of security measures, including PL2-certified security and ESA badge-based access;
- closely liaising with teams integrating AI/ML capabilities, semantic search, and ontology-based navigation for intelligent data requests;
- connecting the Data Hub to collaborative platforms and ESA digital tools, enabling seamless workflows and supporting digital twin and simulation environments, in close coordination with the Future Engineering lab/infrastructure;
- contributing to change management and communication strategies, including regular updates and stakeholder engagement;
- supporting the establishment of a Data Hub Steering Committee and drafting data-sharing agreements with industry and academia.
Through these activities, you will gain hands-on experience in data architecture, governance and AI integration, while contributing to ESA’s digital engineering transformation.
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 just completed, or be in the final year of your master’ s degree in computer science, data science, systems engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related field. Specialisation in data engineering, cloud computing, AI/ML, or cybersecurity would be an asset.
Additional requirements
You should also have:
- familiarity with data architecture concepts, cloud platforms, and APIs;
- knowledge of data governance frameworks, metadata standards, and interoperability principles;
- basic understanding of machine learning and semantic technologies;
- interest in digital engineering, AI integration, and sustainable operations;
- strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a proactive attitude toward innovation.
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.
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
Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.
The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working 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 and Languages
Please note that applications can only be considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).
According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will be given to external candidates from under-represented Member States*.
The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.
*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.
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