German National Graduate Trainee in Optical Engineering, Noordwijk

German National Graduate Trainee in Optical Engineering Job Requisition ID: 20515

Date Posted: 22 April 2026

Closing Date: 20 May 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Directorate: Technology, Engineering and Quality

The Optics Section, as part of the Optics, Robotics&Life Sciences Division, provides optical engineering support to ESA projects and carries out technological research in the areas of optical component technology, optical instrumentation (spectro-radiometric imaging instruments in the visible spectrum and infrared range, interferometry and optical aperture synthesis) and testing (calibration and performance verification).

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship As a National Graduate Trainee, you will be exposed to a wide range of activities addressed within the Optics Section. Assisting ESA optical engineers, you will participate in the development of optical instruments for dedicated space projects, and will be involved in the research and development activities of the corresponding optical technologies.

You will support the development of an optical space telescope with an industrial partner and follow all engineering steps related to this development. Under the supervision of a senior engineer your tasks will be to:

assist optical tolerancing, sensitivity studies, wavefront error budgeting, and end-to-end system performance analysis using state-of-the-art optical engineering tools such as Zemax, CodeV or FRED to verify industry's results;

supervise the procurement process for optical hardware and instrumentation, including preparation of technical specifications and review of supplier documentation;

participate in the analysis and resolution of technical anomalies arising during the design, manufacturing, integration, and test phases, proposing corrective actions and verifying implementation;

contribute to the specification, development, and validation of optical ground support equipment (OGSE) required to support alignment, testing, and verification activities;

assist in the follow-up of optical subsystem and telescope integration and test campaigns, including alignment activities, functional tests, and performance verification;

support reviews and meetings with industry.

Throughout your traineeship, you will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of engineers and scientists, gaining insights from their expertise while contributing your unique perspective. By the end of your traineeship, you will have gained valuable experience in the working principle of optical instruments for space applications in general, and specifically the development process of space instruments from design to testing. In addition, you will have acquired skills in using advanced optical simulation tools and you will have gained experience related to all development stages of a space instrument.

Knowledge and experience required• 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

You should have just completed, or be in the final year of your master’s degree in optical engineering and/or physics.

Additional requirements Very good knowledge of developing numerical simulation tools (such as in MATLAB and/or Python) and basic experience in the use of optical engineering software (such as Zemax OpticStudy and/or CodeV) are required.

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 may be considered an asset. Your motivation, overall professional prospects and career goals will also be explored during the later stages of the selection process.

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 .

Nationality and Languages Please note that applications can only be considered from nationals of Germany or permanent residents of Germany 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.

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