Intern in the Future Missions and Architecture Department, Microwave Instrument Section
Noordwijk
- Organization: ESA - European Space Agency
- Location: Noordwijk
- Grade: Internship - Internship
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Occupational Groups:
- Architecture, Building and Property Management
- Mechanics and Electronics (Engineering)
- Closing Date: 2025-11-30
Intern in the Future Missions and Architecture Department, Microwave Instrument Section
Noordwijk, NL
Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
Our team and mission
The Microwave Instruments Section is part of the Future Missions and Instruments Division, Future Missions and Architecture Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.
Within the Division, the Section is responsible for the definition, engineering, technology breadboarding and pre-development of active and passive microwave instruments for future Earth Observation research missions, e.g. Earth Explorers and Missions of Opportunity, and operational missions, e.g. Earth Watch, Copernicus and meteorology missions.
Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int
Field(s) of activity for the internship
Topic of the internship: Analysis of CRISTALair Functional Flight Campaign Data
Due to climate change, we have lost 28 trillion tonnes of ice between 1994 and 2017. It is therefore of the utmost importance to monitor the ice mass change by measuring the ice elevation of glaciers, ice caps and ice sheets and sea ice thickness in polar regions. This challenging task will be achieved by the CRISTAL (Copernicus Polar Ice and Snow Topography Altimeter) satellite mission, which is currently under development. The main instrument of CRISTAL is a dual-frequency (Ku- and Ka-band) interferometric synthetic-aperture radar altimeter. To retrieve the described environmental parameters from the measured radar data, complicated algorithms are required. Some of these algorithms are yet to be developed and/or validated, with real data from polar regions required in order to do so. A dedicated airborne radar altimeter, called CRISTALair, is therefore under development to support the CRISTAL satellite mission.
In September 2025 a functional flight campaign was performed with CRISTALair. The objective of this campaign is to acquire data over glaciers and sea ice in Iceland and Greenland to test the instrument. You will process the data with the Level-1 processor and analyse the data. The analysis will at least include: check of data for any errors, evaluation of point target responses, evaluation of the interferometric products, analysis if the acquired data meet the requirements and comparisons between altimeter and laser scanner data.
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 studying at master’s level. In addition, you must be able to prove that you will be 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 ESA Member State language is an asset.
During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.
The following would be considered an asset:
- knowledge and background in computer programming (e.g. Python, MATLAB);
- knowledge and background in radar signal processing;
- knowledge and background in radar altimeters.
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 contact.human.resources@esa.int.
Important Information and Disclaimer
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests.
The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding internship 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
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, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Applicants from Canada as a Cooperating State can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.