Estonian National Graduate Trainee in Advanced Materials and Process Engineering

Estonian National Graduate Trainee in Advanced Materials and Process Engineering

Job Requisition

Date Posted: 15 September 2026

Closing Date: 13 October 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication Method:
External Only

Type of Appointment (learn more):
National Graduate Trainee

Directorate:
Technology, Engineering and Quality

Workplace:

Harwell, GB

Grade Band: F1 - F1

The ESA National Graduate Trainee (NGT) Programmes offer recent Master’s graduates the opportunity to gain practical, hands‑on experience at ESA across a range of space‑related disciplines. The programmes are essentially similar to ESA’s own Graduate Trainee Programme, notably in offering the same employment conditions. They however differ in one important respect: each NGT Programme is funded by an individual ESA Member State or Associate Member under a bilateral partnership agreement concluded with ESA.

As a result, a representative of the sponsoring State participates in the selection process. In addition to assessing candidates against the requirements of the position, the selection may also include an evaluation of their background and knowledge of the space policies and related activities of the sponsoring State.

ECSAT, Harwell, United Kingdom

The Structures, Mechanisms and Materials Division is the centre of competence of the Agency in all areas related to spacecraft and launcher structures, mechanisms, tribology and pyrotechnic devices, as well as materials and processes. This encompasses spacecraft and launcher lightweight structures, stable structures, advanced mechanical materials applications, structural dynamics, damage tolerance, deployable structures/booms, active structures, hold‑down and release devices, electrical motors for space mechanisms, launcher and re‑entry vehicle hot‑ and cold structures, landing attenuation systems, seals, valves, parachute systems, separation systems, solar array drive mechanisms, reaction wheels, pointing mechanisms, pyrotechnics, bearings and tribology aspects.

It provides support to projects, preparatory programs and technology programs.

In order to achieve its objectives, the Materials, Manufacturing, and Assembly Section, located at ESTEC (Noordwijk, NL) is also managing the Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory at ECSAT (Harwell, UK) whose objective is the performance evaluation and feasibility assessment of emerging manufacturing processes such as additive manufacturing and advanced joining techniques and to explore the benefit of utilising additional capabilities available through the Harwell campus.

The work proposed will be carried out at ECSAT in close cooperation with the Materials and Processes Section  general activities performed within the remit of the Materials and Processes Section, covering also activities at ECSAT include:

• the qualification for space flight of all advanced metallic and non‑metallic materials, structural ceramics and glasses as well as all related manufacturing and surface treatment processes for all ESA spacecraft and launchers programme;
• the development of revolutionary materials and innovative manufacturing technologies both internally and in cooperation with other space agencies and research organisations;
• the failure investigation of materials and processes underperforming and impacting ESA space missions;
• the development, certification and support of new European industrial capabilities, manufacturing processes and manpower skills training related to space applications of materials and components;
• the establishment and implementation of requirements and standards for the development and the procurement of space grade materials and manufacturing processes;
• the development, maintenance and improvement of the European Space Materials…