Recently opened
Recently opened

This position is based at the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) - Harwell, UK

IMPORTANT: Due to the location of the ECSAT and current legislation of UK, only UK citizen, students enrolled in a UK university, or those with a pre-settled status (right to study) in the UK are eligible to apply for this internship.

The Generic Programme Line Business Applications - Space Solutions (BASS) has the goal of develop pre-operational services enabled by space technologies and/or data - possibly in partnership - for a wide range of users through the combination of different systems.

Such services shall also be sustainable and support society and economies to tackle these environmental challenges.

BASS activities aim at

  • collecting user feedback for better tuning of the applications and the operation of all elements involved;
  • developing commercial sustainable space-based applications by linking user needs to corresponding solutions incorporating space assets with limited technology adaptations;
  • demonstrating to users and stakeholders that the proposed solutions work in their operational environment and are compatible with their operational practices;
  • utilising at least one space asset (such as Satellite Communications, Earth Observation, Satellite Navigation, Human Spaceflight technologies), leading to a better exploitation of existing space capacity and know-how together with a better understanding of how space technology should evolve to respond to user needs.

BASS aims to show that space is open for business and has the power to improve our everyday lives on Earth. Working in close cooperation with stakeholders and user communities across varied markets including healthcare, energy, mobility (maritime, aviation, railway, road), infrastructure, agriculture, and many more, BASS enables innovative space-based applications that deliver positive socio-economic and environmental impact.

Fields of activity for the internship

  • Topic of the internship: Leveraging Space Applications for Enhancing Green Energy Transition and Energy Security
  • Objective: You will aim to build up a comprehensive understanding of the market opportunities for downstream space applications that support the transition to clean energy, enhance energy security, and contribute to carbon neutrality by 2050.

Key responsibilities

  • Conduct research on existing space applications and their impact on the energy sector;
  • Analyse the benefits of both socio-economic and green-impact of past/current ESA BASS energy-related activities;
  • Identify gaps and opportunities for new space-based solutions in the green energy transition;
  • Supporting the identification and engagement with champion industry stakeholders and public entities who may be the potential customers/users of the services identified;
  • Contribute to conceptualise new activities;
  • Assist in organising workshops and seminars to promote the ESA BASS energy initiatives.

The Internship is expected to enable you to gain knowledge of the following in the context of energy transition:

  • Space applications and technologies contribution to energy transition;
  • Understanding of new market opportunities for space applications and their business models;
  • Learn to collaborate with diverse stakeholders and present findings effectively;
  • Contribute to real-world activities aimed at enhancing energy security and sustainability.
  • Supported links: https://business.esa.int/energy, https://business.esa.int/energy-task-force.

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 must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a university course at Master’s level and you need to remain enrolled at your University for the entire duration of the internship.

Additional requirements

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.

You have a background in any of the following disciplines: telecom and integrated applications, Earth observation and environmental sciences, international public law, political sciences, information technology, and system engineering.

Other information

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.

Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia, as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia and Cyprus as European Cooperating States (ECS).