Luxembourgish National Graduate Trainee in Human and Robotic Exploration Commercialisation

As a Luxembourgish National Graduate Trainee in Human and Robotic Exploration Commercialisation, you will have the opportunity to:

• Type of Appointment: National Graduate Trainee
• Grade Band: F1 - F1

The ESA National Graduate Trainee (NGT) Programmes offer recent Master’s graduates the opportunity to gain practical, hands-on experience at ESA across a range of space-related disciplines. The programmes are essentially similar to ESA’s own Graduate Trainee Programme, notably in offering the same employment conditions. They however differ in one important respect: each NGT Programme is funded by an individual ESA Member State or Associate Member under a bilateral partnership agreement concluded with ESA. As a result, a representative of the sponsoring State participates in the selection process. In addition to assessing candidates against the requirements of the position, the selection may also include an evaluation of their background and knowledge of the space policies and related activities of the sponsoring State.

Location

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Our team and mission

The Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration Programmes is a programme directorate within the ESA matrix structure. Using a partnership between humans and robots, the Directorate is dedicated to exploring destinations in space where humans are already living and working – or will live and work in the future – for the purpose of scientific research, economic development, international cooperation and public inspiration.

Within the Directorate, the Commercialisation and Innovation Team works to turn the transformation of space exploration into opportunities for European industry and society. We develop and implement cross-sectoral innovation initiatives that help build sustainable commercial ecosystems in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and the cislunar environment.

Our activities focus on four markets with strong links to exploration and significant potential for growth: Health and Life Sciences, Agrifood, Advanced Materials and In-Space Manufacturing, and Space Resources. Our ambition is to create, nurture and scale companies and other actors across these emerging value chains, strengthening innovative capabilities while developing sustainable commercial demand.

At the heart of this effort is the Business in Space Growth Network (BSGN) and its Industry Accelerators. Together, they connect the space ecosystem with industries on Earth, launch innovation calls and challenges, provide scientific, technical and commercial expertise, foster cross-sector collaboration, and bring together technology and service providers, customers, researchers, investors and institutional partners.

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

Reporting to the Commercialisation and Innovation Team Leader, you will join ESA’s efforts to shape and grow the emerging commercial economy in Low Earth Orbit and around the Moon. You will contribute to the Business in Space Growth Network (BSGN) and its ambition to scale research and production in space, connecting new space capabilities with demand, investment and innovation from industries on Earth.

You will work closely with the LEO Services and Lunar Projects Teams, the Chief Exploration Scientist, the European and International Stakeholder Relations Team, the Studies and Technology Team, and experts across the Directorates of Commercialisation, Industry and Procurement, Technology, Engineering and Quality, and Space Transportation.

• Explore the emerging LEO and lunar economy, analysing new commercial stations, transportation systems, free-flyers, payload-hosting facilities and in-orbit services, as well as evolving institutional and commercial demand;
• Work with emerging commercial ventures supported through the BSGN Industry Accelerators and follow innovative projects towards commercially viable services;
• Engage with industries beyond the traditional space sector, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, cosmetics, advanced materials, in-space manufacturing,agrifood, mining and construction to understand where research and production in space can create value and what customers need;
• Help identify strategic ESA–industry partnerships, including ambitious, long-term initiatives that mobilise companies, researchers and investors around major challenges and new market opportunities;
• Support commercially relevant in-orbit projects, gaining first-hand experience of how opportunities are identified, assessed, selected and translated into concrete activities;
• Help bring the ecosystem together through ESA conferences, workshops, industry days and stakeholder consultations involving institutional partners, space companies, terrestrial industries and investors;
• Develop practical skills in space commercialisation, market assessment, emerging infrastructures, business models and investment cases, while understanding how public and private actors can jointly create and scale new markets.

Above all, you will have the opportunity to address a defining question for the next generation of space exploration: how can Europe turn its excellence in science, technology and exploration into scalable commercial activities and sustainable markets in space?

You will not only observe this transition — you will help shape it.

Technical competencies

• Knowledge of relevant technical and functional domains
• Relevant experience gained during internships, project work and/or extracurricular or other activities
• General knowledge of the space sector and relevant activities
• Knowledge of ESA and its programmes and projects

Behavioural competencies

• Result Orientation
• Operational Efficiency
• Fostering Cooperation
• Relationship Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Forward Thinking

Education

You should have recently completed or be in the final year of your master’s degree in business, economics or a relevant scientific or technical discipline.

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.

Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.

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.

Nationality and Languages

Please note that applications can only be considered from nationals of Luxembourg or permanent residents of Luxembourg with the nationality of an ESA Member State, Associate Member or Cooperating State.

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.