Hear from ESA Graduate Trainees
Meet some of our ESA Graduate Trainees and hear about their projects, highlights and experiences at the Agency.
Meet Ora!
Hi! My name is Ora and I am a legal analyst from Belgium. I went to law school because I wanted to do something related to languages, and legal analysis is a fun puzzle involving words rather than images. I also wanted to be in an international environment, so I chose to study European and Comparative Law at Maastricht University. Then I followed the double degree between KU Leuven and University of Zurich. I’ve always been a bit of a nerd and intellectual property law allowed me to combine law and books and movies, so I specialised in IP and Technology law with an Advanced Master’s (LLM).
At the end of my studies, ESA was not even on my radar, since I’d never really heard of any lawyers involved in space-related matters throughout my education. It’s completely by chance that I found out not only about the Graduate Trainee Programme, but also that some of the offers were open for people with a legal background. So, I jumped at the opportunity, attended every single info session I was aware of… and it turns out I quoted people in my motivation letter who have now become my friends.
One of the best pieces of advice I took from those information sessions was for the motivation letter to be a reflection of my interest and to openly lean into the enthusiasm that space generates for me, as that is something many people at ESA are quite likely to share, including the hiring managers. At the time I was rewatching Star Trek, so it was natural to use the example of space diplomacy in that show to highlight my own ambitions for exploration and cooperation. I am still incredibly happy with how I tied my interests into my application.
I am currently performing the legal analysis for new and upcoming EU legislation that could impact the Navigation programmes in order to help my team carry out the cybersecurity audits for them. Space was never considered in the example cases given during my classes or exams at university, so it’s intellectually very fun to consider how to apply my knowledge to the space sector. It has been really cool to discover how my work helps my team carry out their own tasks to keep improving and securing programmes such as Galileo. It also feels great to be a (very, very small) part of something that’s in the daily life of billions of people.
Alongside my legal tasks, I am developing other skills through my voluntary role as Young ESA’s Main Coordinator (Young ESA is the agency's network of young professionals). That way, I not only get to help foster a community for the young professionals here, but I get to meet people from all sites and all Directorates, and not a day goes by without learning a cool new space fact. I think that’s my favourite part about ESA as an organisation: everyone is doing such awesome things and most people are up for a chat about their job. Every week I think I’ve finally heard my favourite new tidbit of information about the Universe, only for the next week to meet someone working on something else I never even knew existed.
Some highlights over the past year were being one of the guides for astronauts visiting ESTEC for their annual congress and visiting the Spaceport in French Guiana, where I got to see one of the satellites about to be launched while it was in the clean room. There’s nothing quite like seeing something so impressive and knowing it’s the result of years of work and is about to leave Earth forever.
Most of my favourite moments have occurred because I volunteered for an event, or because I took the time to go to a lecture on a topic I knew nothing about before. I still have a soft spot for the more artistic side of space, in particular James Webb (it was amazing to attend a lecture by one of the people who worked on it!) and its wonderful pictures. I keep the watercolour I painted of the Carina Nebula on my desk as a reminder of how beautiful space is whenever the day becomes a little bit too much of a routine, and that painting just summarises everything I love about my time here: learning new things every day while contributing in my very small way to the wonder that is our Universe.
Meet Tobias!
My first memory of ESA was the Rosetta/Philae landing on the comet “67P” when I was a teenager. Little did I know that in my future professional life I would deal with this amazing mission and find answers to unresolved questions. More than 10 years later, I am working as an ESA Graduate Trainee at the European Space Operation Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany, in the field of flight dynamics of deep-space spacecrafts, dealing with the so-called Rosetta Earth Fly-by anomaly. My journey with ESA started, in fact, during my Master studies in physics, in which I had the opportunity to complete a six-months internship at ESA’s Planetary Defence Office at ESRIN in Italy. I worked on observations of asteroids and comets and their brightness and got some insights into orbital dynamics, which turned out to be quite useful for my current role. However, at this stage I could not yet imagine how much more there is to learn, but also how many exciting topics there are to discover in the domain of spaceflight!
Looking back at my first year as an EGT in Flight Dynamics in 2024, I was able to gain several memorable experiences: from the launch of Hera and its swingby of Mars to the JUICE flyby of Venus and special observations of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, I was heavily involved in the live operations of our deep space missions – from routine to critical mission phases. This helped me understand the work that is needed for the navigation of our spacecrafts far away from Earth, deep in the solar system or orbiting other planets and asteroid systems. Knowing about the mission operations made it much clearer to me, for example, how physical effects (like magnetic fields or atmospheric drag) could cause unexpected changes in a mission, as seen in the Earth flyby anomaly of Rosetta, which led to quite some progress on that study. I hope to present the results to the scientific community sometime soon!
I would summarise my EGT project so far as one of the most exciting professional experiences in my life! I can only recommend applying to everyone who is after amazing hands-on work in a cutting-edge field in the space domain! Please have the courage to apply for a position that motivates and inspires you personally. Don’t be overwhelmed by the things you don’t know (yet) – ESA experts will guide you and teach you a lot. Be open to something new and try to connect with professionals and other young colleagues from different fields. Cooperating in a multi-disciplinary team may lead you to inspiring ideas and opportunities that you would not have anticipated before!
Meet Fisayo!
My academic and professional journey has always revolved around robotics and artificial intelligence. I began with a degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering, which led me to work as a robotics engineer for two years. From there, I transitioned into the AI field, spending another two years as a data scientist. Eager to deepen my expertise, I completed a Master’s degree in Data Science and AI and then worked for a year as an AI engineer before starting my EGT position at ESA.
Today, I am an EGT in AI and Quantum Computing for Space Exploration, where I contribute to a variety of innovative activities. My role includes assisting in the development of AI-driven prototypes and simulations, applying AI and machine-learning techniques to build small-scale applications and exploring how quantum technologies could support future space missions. Working in the space sector, especially at ESA, has long been a dream of mine. Pursuing my Master’s degree was a deliberate step toward making that dream possible. Since I lacked formal industry experience in the space domain, the EGT Programme felt like the ideal entry point. Although I had completed several personal AI projects related to space, I had never previously worked for a space-focused organisation, so joining ESA marked a significant milestone for me.
One of the aspects I enjoy most about my position is the innovation spirit within the Software and AI team. Ideas that could benefit ESA are encouraged and explored, creating an environment that nurtures creativity and problem solving. The team is supportive on every level – technical, administrative, and personal – and my colleagues at EAC contribute to a genuinely welcoming atmosphere. Some of my favourite memories so far involve meeting more astronauts in just a few months than I ever imagined I would encounter in my entire life. These individuals are personal heroes of mine, and seeing them at work brings home the fact that even the small contributions I make play a part in ESA’s larger exploration goals.
A key project I am currently working on is a lunar locomotion study. The aim is to investigate locomotion architectures for robotic systems operating on the lunar surface. By understanding how different robots perform on varying terrains, particularly at the lunar south pole, we can better identify which designs are best suited for future exploration missions. It’s a fascinating challenge and one of the projects I feel most excited to be part of.
For future candidates aspiring to join ESA, one piece of advice stood out to me during the EGT webinars and proved incredibly helpful: when you apply, clearly highlight your passion for space, for ESA and for the specific work being carried out in the department you hope to join. ESA’s website and LinkedIn pages offer valuable insights into ongoing activities and research. Taking the time to explore these resources helps you understand the nature of the work and demonstrate that you’ve done thoughtful preparation, something that can make a real difference in the application process.
Meet Jacopo!
Hi, I am Jacopo Carradori. I hold a BSc in Aerospace Engineering from Politecnico di Milano and an MSc in Space Engineering from TU Delft. Contributing to space exploration and pushing the boundaries of human knowledge has always been my greatest ambition, one that has shaped my academic and professional path from the very beginning of my studies. This passion first took form when I joined my university’s student rocket team, where I took part in the design and launch of sounding rockets. I later continued on this trajectory through an internship in Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) at Rocket Factory Augsburg, focusing on rocket ascent and day-of-launch procedures. After that, I completed my Master’s thesis at the German Space Agency (DLR) in Bremen, focusing on innovative rocket landing GNC techniques using AI.
While completing my thesis, I applied to the EGT Programme and ultimately joined ESA as a Systems Engineer for Future Mars Exploration missions within the ExPeRT team of the Human and Robotic Exploration Directorate. Working at ESA had long been a dream of mine. It is where some of the most ambitious, innovative and forward-looking European space initiatives take shape. I believed the EGT Programme represented the best possible starting point for a career in the space sector – a belief that has only been reinforced. The programme enables young professionals to become an integral part of the Agency, contributing meaningfully to missions that define the future of space exploration while learning from exceptional and experienced engineers and scientists.
Over the past year and a half at ESA, each day has offered new insights, experiences and memorable moments. Being part of the Mars Exploration study team has allowed me to contribute to exciting and groundbreaking studies such as LightShip—an electric propulsion tug designed to transport scientific spacecraft to Mars and later operate as a communications and navigation relay—and MEDaL, a future precision lander focused on developing critical Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) technologies for Europe. I have also participated in several studies at the Concurrent Design Facility (CDF), all centred on future Mars exploration. One of the most rewarding aspects of my role has been the opportunity to gain a deep, end-to-end understanding of orbital and landing mission design, learning directly from world leading experts in the field. Beyond the technical knowledge, contributing firsthand to shaping European missions, technologies and long-term Mars exploration strategies has been both a privilege and an honour.
The EGT experience, however, extends far beyond the core role. For those who take initiative, ESA offers countless opportunities to engage in side projects and broaden one’s skills. One example is my position as Project Manager of YPSat2, a biomedical payload designed to investigate blood flow dynamics in microgravity during the inaugural flight of Space Rider. The project brings together more than 60 ESA young professionals, offering hands-on experience across all phases of a real space mission. Entirely conceived, developed and managed by young professionals, it spans everything from concept and design to testing and launch. One of my most striking memories from this project has been witnessing the extraordinary motivation, dedication and daily collaboration of the team as we worked toward the shared and ambitious goal of reaching space!
For future applicants, my advice is to identify an EGT position or space-related topic you are genuinely passionate about and that aligns with your background and interests. At the same time, stay open to new opportunities. Exploring different topics and perspectives is invaluable, especially in a field as vast and multifaceted as space. Have a clear vision, nurture your passion, trust yourself, be ambitious and never give up. With perseverance, you will reach the stars!
Meet Michaela!
With a Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics and a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering, my academic path has always been driven by a strong fascination with physics. During my Master’s studies, this interest deepened, prompting me to specialise further in physics-related subjects—an evolution that naturally led me to my current position at the European Space Agency. Today, I work as an EGT in Science, focusing on Mars Radio Occultation. My role involves reconstructing atmospheric profiles from spacecraft communication signals, a field that perfectly blends scientific exploration with engineering problem-solving.
What I value most about my work is the sense of ownership and responsibility I have over my project. Every day, I engage in research using real satellite data, contributing directly to active space missions and scientific discovery. This hands-on involvement in understanding another planet’s atmosphere is not only rewarding but also deeply motivating. Being part of an international environment like ESA adds an additional layer of fulfilment, offering collaboration with experts from around the world who share a passion for space and science.
For those considering applying to the EGT Programme, my main piece of advice is to prioritise positions that align most closely with your qualifications, even if they differ somewhat from the areas you find the most intriguing. The programme is highly competitive and targeting the right role can make a significant difference. It’s also essential to tailor your CV specifically to the position you’re applying for, clearly emphasising the skills and experiences most relevant to that role.
