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The ESA Junior Professional Programme (JPP) targets Master’s degree graduates with two to three years of professional experience. Junior Professionals join ESA as staff members for four years and benefit from tailored learning and development opportunities to prepare them for a long-term position at the European Space Agency at the end of their JP assignment.

Who can apply?

To be eligible for the Junior Professional Programme, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Graduate of a relevant Master’s level degree programme.
  • Less than three years of professional experience. If you took part in one of our entry-level programmes (i.e. ESA Graduate Trainee, National Trainee or Research Fellow), the time spent on the programme counts towards the experience requirement.
  • Citizen of one of the ESA Member States, Associate Members or Canada as a Cooperating State. The full list of eligible countries is published in the footer of each ESA vacancy.

Please note that basic eligibility pre-screening questions regarding nationality and qualifications are asked during completion of the ESA online application form.

What we offer

The Junior Professional Programme offers:

  • A unique professional experience as part of a team of scientists, engineers and business professionals from all over Europe, working together on inspiring space missions in an international, multicultural and friendly environment.
  • A four-year ESA appointment at A1 level, with the perspective of an indefinite ESA appointment at the end of the programme.
  • Excellent employment conditions, including salary exempt from national income tax in ESA Member States.
  • Rotation scheme offering both internal and external opportunities to develop your knowledge and skillset of both ESA projects and processes and the wider space sector. Please read our dedicated FAQ for more information.
  • A tailored development programme, including exposure to different business areas of ESA and participation in technical and key skills training courses.
  • Mentoring by ESA experts.
  • 2.5 days paid leave per month and 12 public holidays per year. Expatriate staff can benefit from an additional eight days' home leave every two years, under certain conditions.
  • Relocation package including an installation allowance if you move from another country. Travel and removal expenses are also reimbursed.
  • Comprehensive health cover under ESA’s social security scheme.

More about life at ESA

Find out everything you need to know about life at ESA and what we offer on our pages. For more information about the different ESA sites, check out the ESA establishments page.

Be the first to be notified about the publication of the Junior Professionals vacancies by creating a job alert on our recruiting website and/or subscribe to our careers news!

Hear from Junior Professionals

Learn about the JP Programme from those who are living it.

[ Careers ]
Hear from Ilja Skrypnyk
27 JUL. 2026

Hear from Ilja Skrypnyk

With a passion for both space systems engineering and emerging technologies, Ilja Skrypnyk's journey at the European Space Agency showcases the breadth of opportunities offered through the Junior Professional (JP) Programme. In this interview, Ilja shares how the JP experience allowed him to explore multiple domains, build a strong international network and grow both professionally and personally while contributing to ESA’s mission. If you’re looking to combine technical excellence with real impact in a dynamic international environment, the ESA Junior Professional Programme is a unique opportunity to launch your career.
Read article
[ Careers ]
Laurène Delsupexhe
14 JUL. 2026

Hear from Laurène Delsupexhe

Laurène Delsupexhe discovered a passion for space during her engineering studies, pursued that passion and is now contributing to cutting-edge propulsion projects at the European Space Agency. In this interview, Laurène reflects on her path to ESA, the highlights of her JP experience and how the programme has accelerated both her technical growth and her international network.
Read article
[ Careers ]
Philippe Grisard
21 JUL. 2026

Hear from Philippe Grisard

With a strong foundation in embedded systems and hands-on experience working on Ariane 5 and Ariane 6 at ArianeGroup, Philippe Grisard brought his expertise into the European Space Agency through the Junior Professional (JP) Programme in 2022. In this interview, Philippe reflects on how the JP Programme allowed him to expand beyond his initial field, support teams in navigating evolving software and Agile practices and gain a deeper understanding of the diversity and scale of the European space sector. If you’re looking to kick-start your career in a similarly dynamic and impactful environment, the ESA Junior Professional Programme offers a unique gateway into Europe’s space activities.
Read article
[ Careers ]
Romain Esteve
07 JUL. 2026

Hear from Romain Esteve

Bringing together expertise in environmental economics and experience in the space sector, Romain Esteve joined the European Space Agency in 2022 through the Junior Professional (JP) Programme. After completing an internship at ESA focused on the economics of space debris then gaining further experience in space strategy and market analysis, he returned to the agency to contribute to Earth observation activities from a programmatic perspective. Here he tells us about his experience of the JP Programme and how it prepared him for his current role at ESA.
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[ Careers ]
Hear from an ESA Junior Professional: Laurentiu
ARCHIVE CONTENT: 27 MAY. 2025

Hear from an ESA Junior Professional: Laurentiu

The European Space Agency has officially opened applications for its prestigious Junior Professional (JP) Programme — a unique opportunity for early-career professionals to kick-start their journey in the space sector. To inspire potential applicants, we spoke with Laurentiu, a recent JP whose path into ESA took him from university labs to lunar missions. In this interview, he shares insights into his experience, the exciting projects he contributed to and how the programme helped shape his career. If you’ve ever dreamt of working in space exploration, now’s your chance to take that step.
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[ Careers ]
Maureen Allanic, ESA Junior Professional
ARCHIVE CONTENT: 22 MAY. 2025

Hear from an ESA Junior Professional: Maureen

The European Space Agency's Junior Professional Programme (JPP) is now open for applications—an exciting gateway for junior professionals eager to launch their careers in the space sector. Among the many success stories to come out of the programme is Maureen, a Junior Professional whose journey at ESA included leading innovation within the IT Department and contributing to pioneering projects like YPSat-1, a satellite mission driven entirely by the Young ESA community. With hands-on experience, international collaboration and personal growth at its core, the JPP offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of space while developing your own professional path – as Maureen demonstrates in this interview.
Read article

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