ESA recruits - and not only astronauts!

In 2023, we will be recruiting over 300 new colleagues to join our teams and support our mission of the peaceful exploration and use of space for the benefit of everyone.?

We are looking for professionals to join the teams behind our inspiring missions, either to contribute their technical know-how or to provide business or administrative support to ensure their continuing success. Our future colleagues should have team spirit, curiosity and a passion for space and thrive in a diverse and multicultural workplace.

Learn more with Lucy van der Tas, Head of Talent Acquisition at ESA.

What are the main recruitment challenges that the Agency will face in the next years?

ESA is currently at the peak of a retirement wave, with 40% of our workforce retiring between 2020 and 2030. This means that we will be recruiting an exceptionally high number of new colleagues in this period, in particular during 2023 and 2024. In addition, we have 200 new positions to fill for 2023.

Can you tell us more about these opportunities?

The first thing I can say is that there are many of them and each one will list its specific requirements! As a result of the high number of vacancies, I see the potential for people from a wide range of different personal and professional backgrounds to have the opportunity to join ESA and in turn, the organisation will also benefit from the fresh perspectives that this brings. Most positions require relevant experience, often space related, but the main driver is expertise in the technical or professional domain of the vacancy and its transferability to the activities that the new colleague will be asked to do.

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How would you describe working at ESA?

It is a very international environment with something new happening almost every day. As an intergovernmental organisation, funded by the European taxpayer, we must of course be responsible about what we do and there are therefore rules to follow. Within these rules, we have a lot of freedom to give our best to the organisation and to the wider European space sector. I also like that I have the opportunity to interact with professionals and experts who are very passionate about what they do.

Do you have some tips for candidates?

My first tip is very simple. Apply! Of course, you need to be selective and go for the vacancies where you see the best fit with your background and aspirations. But it is not necessary to meet every single requirement listed (and there are often many). ESA is an attractive place to work. Competition will be tough and we will select the best, but if you do not apply, you will never know if you could have made it.

My second tip is to ensure that you include all relevant information in your application but don't overdo it. You want to make sure that the key points jump out, so structure and layout are also important. Put yourself in the shoes of the hiring manager and think about what you would need to see in order to decide whether or not to recruit you! Learn more about who we are looking for.

How to apply

Browse our?current job opportunities?to find the role that’s right for you. Then register and create your candidate profile to send us your application.

You can also?set up a job alert?to receive a notification when a job matching your profile is published and?subscribe to our careers news?to stay informed on Careers at ESA.

Why ESA

With its 22 Member States and more than 2600 staff members working across Europe in nine different locations, ESA is the only space agency of its kind and a unique place to work. Our people are key to our success and our most valuable asset and we are committed to developing our staff throughout their career at ESA.

We have put in place an attractive employment package to take care of our people in both their professional and personal lives and we offer a truly inclusive and supportive working environment. Myriad on-site services and facilities make the ESA experience outside of work just as rewarding as the work itself for our staff.

Hear from ESA people

As part of the 2022 Careers Week, we asked colleagues from various teams to share their stories: the paths that led them to ESA, highlights of their ESA careers, tips for applicants and more. Watch the videos below!

• Meet the Optical Engineering team
• Meet the Navigation team
• Meet the IT team

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This could be you!

If you are ready to take the next step in your career, this is your chance! Explore our vacancies and apply today