This post is part of ESA’s Junior Professional Programme. We are looking for enthusiastic candidates with up to 3 years of relevant professional experience after their Master's degree to join ESA for a four-year assignment. During this time, you will be actively working and learning on the job and will benefit from valuable mobility and developmental opportunities that will prepare you for a successful career at ESA. Subject to performance, it is therefore the intention to offer you an indefinite contract which will start at the end of the four years.
Recruitment will take place at the A1 grade on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale. At the end of the fourth year and if you are offered an indefinite contract at the end of your Junior Professional assignment, you will be upgraded to the A2 grade.
Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands or other site, as required.
Developmental assignments form an integral part of the Junior Professional Programme and may entail a temporary relocation to another ESA establishment or other location.
As part of the Junior Professional Programme, you will provide scientific support to the definition, development and operation of scientific instrumentation to be operated at the Moon. ESA’s lunar science activities depend upon the performance of scientific payloads accommodated on ESA missions and the missions of international partners. Scientific instruments underpin the performance of these payloads. Your work will help ensure that the performances of instrumentation matured and developed for new lunar payloads are consistent with ESA’s scientific needs. The position will be within the Lunar Science Office Team in the Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration. The Lunar Science Office Team is responsible for defining the scientific content of ESA’s lunar activities and for ensuring the scientific performance of these missions and the data products they deliver, as well as delivering the scientific outcomes of lunar activities. You will report to the Lunar Science Office Team Leader.
During 2026, a portfolio of candidate lunar payloads which can address the scientific needs of ESA’s exploration programme will be selected. These payloads will cover a diversity of scientific topics including environment and effects, local resources, landing site characterisation, life sciences, geosciences and fundamental science. From 2027, the payloads may be considered for development for flight or for further maturation to prepare for future missions.
You will focus on the scientific measurement techniques and approaches used within the instrumentation at the core of these payloads in order to ensure the scientific feasibility of the measurements and that measurement performances will be consistent with scientific end user needs.
Your initial tasks will involve providing support to the selection of the candidate payloads. You will then follow the new flight development and technology maturation activities stemming from this selection. You will work within the Lunar Science Office and with technology development and project teams, either as the assigned ESA scientist for a given activity, or by providing, as required, specialist scientific expertise related to the instrument-specific scientific performance.
In addition to your daily work, you will take part in an extensive learning and development programme. From day one, you will learn on the job and benefit from tailored development opportunities, including participation in technical and key skills training courses.
Furthermore, there is a mobility component to the Junior Professional Programme that can be either an internal rotation to another team within ESA, an external secondment outside of ESA or a combination of both. Internal rotations aim to boost your professional experience and knowledge of the European Space Agency, whereas external secondments aim to boost your professional experience and knowledge of the European space sector.
Potential internal rotations include (details to be decided later):
- The Directorate of Science, for the planetary science missions and new instrumentation developments;
- The Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality to work on the technologies related to scientific instrumentation.
This programme represents a significant investment by ESA in your personal and professional development and is designed to provide you with the required knowledge and skills for a career at ESA. You can expect to be given many opportunities to develop your professional experience and competencies, to learn from ESA experts and to contribute to ESA activities.
Detector physics and scientific instrumentation
Space science or planetary science applications of scientific instrumentation
Skills in data analysis and calibration of scientific payloads
Ability to coordinate and contribute to scientific research activities
Proficiency in preparing and reviewing technical reports and documentation
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook
Education and professional experience
A master's degree related to scientific instrumentation, ideally space or planetary science instrumentation is required for this post with up to three years of professional experience.
A PhD in the aforementioned fields would be 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
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 are only 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, the United Kingdom and Canada, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.
According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the 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.
