Junior Professional in Technology Research & Development Engineering

Join ESA as a Junior Professional in Technology Research & Development Engineering

This post is part of ESA’s Junior Professional Programme. We are looking for enthusiastic candidates with up to 2–3 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.

The selection process for the 2025 cohort of Junior Professionals will take place during Spring 2025, with a projected start date in October or November 2025.

Recruitment will take place at the A1 grade. 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.

Developmental assignments form an integral part of the JP Programme and may entail a temporary relocation to another ESA establishment or other location.

Description

The Technology Department of the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality (D/TEC) is responsible for technology strategy, research and technology development programmes, the Education Programme and the Directorate’s communication activities. It includes the Advanced Concepts and Studies Office and its Advanced Concepts Team, the Technology Programme Office, the Technology Coordination and Planning Office, the Education Office, and D/TEC and ESTEC Communication. You will have the opportunity to work and gain experience in the various offices of the department.

Duties

As a Junior Professional, your tasks and responsibilities will include the following:

• Supporting the development and implementation of ESA's overall technology strategy, ensuring alignment with programme needs, future missions and strategic objectives;
• Contributing to the definition of technology and mission development roadmaps for the full technology development lifecycle (TRL1 to TRL9) via studies, research and developments that provide a continuous technology development path;
• Contributing to the innovation process to enable new, innovative activities from the Advanced Concepts Team, ESA’s internal research think-tank, up to in-orbit demonstrations;
• Contributing to harmonising technology developments across ESA's internal programmes, as well as with European and national technology development programmes;
• Contributing to the preparation of future missions via early-phase studies, system analyses and feasibility assessments, and establishing mission baselines to support decision-making for ESA leadership and Member States;
• Supporting communication and outreach for technology activities and initiatives;
• Engaging with industry and academia, including via ESA’s Open Space Innovation Platform, activities.esa.int, or nebula.esa.int;
• Contributing to effective cooperation with the Directorate of Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness (D/CIC) to align R&D activities with commercialisation strategies, amplifying ESA's competitive position in the marketplace;
• Contributing to the smooth integration of education-related activities in R&D processes and to knowledge-sharing and innovation within the Agency;
• Assisting in the monitoring of emerging technologies, new actors and innovation trends relevant to the space sector;
• Supporting the identification and maturation of critical technologies that strengthen Europe’s technological independence and resilience.

One of your particular areas of focus will be the implementation of low-TRL technology development activities, incorporating and linking activities conducted within the Discovery and Technology Development elements and the General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) de-risk activities. This will involve the analysis and organisation of R&D initiatives into trending clusters, connecting the activities and their results to the ESA Strategy 2040 (specifically to strengthen European autonomy and resilience, and to boost European growth and competitiveness), as well as the ESA Technology Vision 2040.

Development programme

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.

As part of the Junior Professional mobility component, you will have the opportunity to contribute to and work within the different teams in the Technology Department. You will gather knowledge on technology activity management and processes. You will be encouraged to investigate recent technology developments, as well as reported best practices and proven methodologies in the field of technology R&D management. This will allow you to experience the R&D management of activities with:

• start-ups and SMEs: activities linked to ESA’s innovation and early-stage funding programmes (such as Discovery, Preparation, TDE or GSTP), helping to scout, assess or support novel concepts developed by emerging actors.
• large industrial prime contractors: coordinating technology developments that feed into ESA-led programmes implemented by major European aerospace prime contractors.
• national space agencies and public R&D organisations: through ESA’s harmonisation process and joint technology development activities, you may interact with national delegations and public research centres.
• ESA directorates: you may interact with all of the other ESA directorates, specifically as part of the Department’s close cooperation with R&D initiatives across the Agency.

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.

Technical competencies

• General background and some experience in space science and engineering
• Understanding of related technologies, R&D trends and the industrial landscape
• Data analytics (e.g. Power BI)
• Experience with software development would be considered an asset (such as Python, JavaScript and AI applications)
• Web technologies and frameworks
• Space technologies and their development lifecycle
• Communication skills for outreach activities

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

A master's degree in any space-related science and engineering domain.

Additional requirements

You should have between two and three years of professional experience, preferably in a relevant domain, after completion of your Master's degree.

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, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.

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 & security clearance by their national security administrations.

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.

Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.

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, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

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 first be given to internal candidates and secondly 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.