Job Requisition ID: 20702

Date Posted: 1 July 2026

Application Deadline: 29 July 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication: External Only

Type of Appointment: Intern

Directorate: Human and Robotic Exploration

Workplace: Porz-Wahn, DE

Location
EAC, Porz-Wahn, Germany

Our team and mission
Within the XR-Lab, you will work on advanced extended reality applications for astronaut support, onboard operations, and space exploration preparation. The team develops and evaluates immersive tools that can support crew training, operational assistance, procedure execution, human-system interaction, and mission concept development across a wide range of human spaceflight scenarios.

This internship is focused on preliminary work for projects using some Meta Quest 3 headsets onboard the International Space Station. In this context, the work combines extended reality development with machine learning techniques to improve interaction, perception, environment understanding, data interpretation, or context-aware assistance in constrained operational environments. The work may involve prototyping, testing, and refining methods that can increase robustness and usability for astronaut applications.

You will collaborate closely with engineers and researchers in the XR-Lab and contribute to ongoing developments that connect software engineering, human-centred design, and applied space technology. The internship offers exposure to both practical implementation and experimentation, with opportunities to support the maturation of tools that are relevant to prepare future operational and research use cases.

Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity for the internship
Topic of the internship: XR and Machine Learning for Onboard Meta Quest 3 Applications on the International Space Station

You will contribute to the development of extended reality applications and supporting software for projects involving Meta Quest 3 headsets used onboard the International Space Station. Your work will focus on combining immersive application development with machine learning methods to explore new capabilities for onboard assistance, interaction, data interpretation, and experimental operational concepts.

You will help design, prototype, implement, and evaluate software components in close collaboration with the team. Depending on the project needs, this may include real-time interaction features, sensor or data processing pipelines, computer vision based functions, or software tooling that supports experimentation and validation. You will contribute to technical trade-offs, implementation work, and iterative testing of candidate solutions in a demanding applied environment.

Through this internship, you will gain experience in extended reality development for space applications, applied machine learning in operational contexts, and collaborative engineering within a multidisciplinary team. You will also develop an understanding of how immersive technologies must be adapted, validated, and matured for use in constrained and safety-relevant environments.

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.

Essential Skills:

• proven background in Unreal Engine or Unity Engine development;
• intermediate C++ and/or intermediate Python proficiency;
• interest in extended reality development and machine learning applications;
• familiarity with version control and collaborative software engineering practices.

Desirable Skills:

• knowledge of computer vision, Bayesian theory, or signal processing;
• experience with prototyping, experimentation, or technical evaluation of interactive systems.

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 [email protected].

Important Information and Disclaimer
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests.

Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.

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, Cyprus, 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.

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