ESA Graduate Trainee in Future Demonstrators for Positioning, Navigation and Timing

Our team and mission

You will join the Future Navigation Department within the Directorate of Navigation, which is responsible for the long-term evolution of satellite navigation and Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) capabilities for Europe.

In particular, you will contribute to FutureNAV Component 3 - Future PNT Demonstrators, which prepares and matures innovative PNT system concepts and enabling technologies with a view to perform in-orbit demonstration in the medium to long term. This includes the preparation, execution and follow-up of Phase 0/A/B1 studies, which are a cornerstone of ESA’s technology maturation and system concept development process.

The team addresses future PNT challenges and opportunities across a broad spectrum of domains, including resilient navigation, alternative and complementary PNT solutions, advanced timing and synchronisation, and novel sensing approaches. A strong emphasis is placed on applications of quantum technologies, artificial intelligence for navigation, and advanced digital payload technologies, as well as on coordination across multiple ESA programmes and technology development lines (e.g. NAVISP, GSTP, and activities under other ESA directorates).

As an ESA Graduate Trainee, you will support the preparation of new studies, follow their technical and programmatic execution, and help ensure coherence across ESA’s internal R&D landscape and with external trends in the global PNT ecosystem.

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

You will focus on supporting the definition, preparation, and follow-up of Phase 0/A/B1 studies of future PNT demonstrators.

Your main tasks will include:

• Supporting the preparation of Phase 0/A/B1 studies, including contributing to the definition of study motivation, objectives, expected benefits, tasks and outputs.
• Supporting the preparation of yearly work plans, technical requirements and Statements of Work.
• Assisting in the drafting of the associated in-orbit demonstration and validation roadmaps.

Technical follow-up of ongoing studies:

• Supporting technical monitoring of industrial activities during studies’ lifecycles.
• Contributing to the review of technical deliverables and reports, and participating in design iterations.
• Helping identify technical risks, interfaces, synergies and dependencies across different studies.

Coordination across ESA programmes and initiatives:

• Identifying and leveraging synergies with the other FutureNAV Component 3 demonstrators OpSTAR and Novamoon.
• Supporting interactions and alignment with other ESA R&D frameworks and programmes, such as NAVISP, GSTP, and relevant activities in other directorates.
• Helping ensure coherence and complementarity between navigation-driven studies and enabling technologies developed elsewhere in ESA.

Technology intelligence and trends analysis:

• Monitoring technology and market trends relevant to future PNT, including (but not limited to) quantum sensing, optical clocks, inertial sensors, alternative PNT infrastructures, advanced digital payload technologies and AI/ML-enabled augmentation and sensor fusion.
• Contributing to internal briefings, technical notes and strategic positioning documents to support study selection and prioritisation.

Contributions to future demonstrator concepts:

• Supporting early system-level thinking for future PNT demonstrators, including mission concepts, payload ideas and system trade-offs.
• Helping assess how disruptive technologies could be integrated and demonstrated in space-based or hybrid PNT architectures.

As an ESA Graduate Trainee, you will gain first-hand experience in the preparation and management of early-phase technology and system studies, develop a broad understanding of future PNT challenges and solutions, work closely with ESA experts, industry and research organisations across Europe, and contribute to shaping the foundations of future European PNT capabilities.

Technical competencies

• Knowledge of relevant technical/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/projects.

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

You should have just completed, or be in the final year of your master’s degree in a technical or scientific discipline, such as Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics or related fields.

Additional requirements

The following additional competencies would be considered an asset:

• A background or strong interest in positioning, navigation, timing, sensing, or data science.
• Knowledge of Python and development of data processing software tools (such as MS Power BI).
• The ability to analyse complex technical information and synthesise it clearly.
• An interest in system-level thinking and cross-disciplinary topics.
• The motivation to work at the interface between technology development, system concepts, and programme planning.

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.

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.

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).

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.