Intern Software & Artificial Intelligence Team, XR-Lab

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Job Requisition

Date Posted: 1 July 2026

Closing Date: 29 July 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Directorate:
Human and Robotic Exploration

Workplace:
Porz-Wahn, DE

Location

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.

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.

• Result Orientation
• Operational Efficiency
• Fostering Cooperation
• Relationship Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Forward Thinking

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.

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.

• 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.
• 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…