German National Graduate Trainee in Concurrent Design of …, Noordwijk

German National Graduate Trainee in Concurrent Design of Space Missions and MBSE Job Requisition ID: 20516

Date Posted: 22 April 2026

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

Directorate: Technology, Engineering and Quality

You will be working in the ESA Future Engineering Division, responsible for developing and providing engineering expertise, tools, methods and standards for the development of future projects, in support of the Agency Programme Directorates.

You will join a team working on the following main activities:

Performing Phase 0/A studies in the Concurrent Design Facility (CDF) to assess the technical and programmatic (e.g. cost, risks and schedule) feasibility of future ESA missions;

Providing expert systems engineering support to ESA programmes and projects in various phases of development;

Conducting R&D activities and technology developments related to systems and concurrent engineering methodologies and tools– including a particular focus on MBSE – and collaborating with teams working on AR/XR, AI, end‑of‑life management (such as zero debris approach, de‑orbiting technologies or design for demise), in‑orbit servicing and eco‑design (such as life cycle assessment) and other cutting‑edge technologies;

Providing technical support to small spacecraft projects for technology demonstration and/or education, and conducting concurrent engineering challenge activities and training initiatives at the ESA Academy’s Training and Learning Facility at the ESEC‑Galaxia centre;

Designing and developing models, databases, tools and architectures to support and enhance systems and cost engineering practices, methodologies and applications across the various disciplines, project phases and organisation as a whole.

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship As a National Graduate Trainee, you will be actively involved in the following:

Multidisciplinary engineering activities, including the feasibility assessment and conceptual design of future space missions;

Systems engineering support for space mission studies in the Concurrent Design Facility;

Development of engineering tools, models and databases for use within the CDF infrastructure and in support of the concurrent engineering approach, including the infusion of novel technology (e.g. AI, AR/XR, MBSE, etc);

Technology development and R&D exploring novel methods and processes aiming at improving systems and concurrent engineering practices;

Other systems and project activities, depending on incoming requests and your specific technical background and motivation.

Knowledge and experience:

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 aerospace (systems) engineering or a related field such as electrical engineering, telecommunications engineering or mechanical engineering.

Additional requirements You should preferably have an aerospace engineering background and/or specialization in systems engineering, mission analysis and/or another system‑related discipline.

Experience in the use of engineering tools (e.g. MATLAB, Catia or STK) and office automation software (such as Microsoft Office), as well as in visual systems modelling and design tools (e.g. Python, Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect, Cameo Systems Modeler, Capella, GENESYS or COMET) would be an asset.

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

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 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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