ESO is offering the opportunity for pupils in grades 9, 10, and 11 to join us for a one- or two-week internship at our headquarters of Garching bei München in the framework of their school programme.

ESO will offer a comprehensive programme showing several aspects of the work being done at ESO including:

• Astrophysical research
• Laboratory experiments in optics, mechanics, electronics
• Software development for telescope and instrument control
• Data reduction
• Project management

Requirements:

We are looking for pupils showing an interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), in particular for astronomy, astrophysics, astronomical telescopes and instrumentation (including optics, mechanics, electronics, software development, data reduction and/or information technology). The internship shall be part of the compulsory school programme, therefore ensuring adequate social security, medical cover and accident insurance coverage for the period of the internship.

Language skills:

The internship requires good communications skills (oral and written) in English.

Practical information:

• The internship is free of charge.
• ESO shall not bear any costs for the intern's transportation to and from ESO premises.
• The internship days are typically from 09:00 until 17:00 with one-hour break for lunch. A small variation around those hours could be needed depending on the activities proposed.
• ESO does not have a canteen on-site but micro-wave ovens in the cafeteria. There are some bakeries and Imbiss on the campus.

For any further questions please contact vacancy@eso.org.

Application:

If you are interested in our internship opportunities, you are invited to apply online at http://jobs.eso.org/. Applications must be completed in English and should include a motivation letter (1 page and specifying the dates of the internship), your CV and your last school report. Please also join the official letter confirming that the internship is a mandatory component of the school programme and that the student is covered by appropriate accident and medical insurance for its duration and form from the school (these do not need to be in English). Please note that only complete applications will be accepted.

You will receive feedback at least 6 weeks prior to the Praktikum/Internship dates and at the latest by 28 February 2026.

Applications must be submitted by 31 January 2026.

ESO Values

An important element in any successful employment relationship is harmony in values between an organisation and its people.

The ESO values are:

ESO strives for excellence through innovation.

ESO provides outstanding services to its communities.

ESO fosters diversity & inclusion.

ESO believes in the key role of sustainability for its future.

Achieving the above are recognized as only possible on the basis of personal values and attitudes that we expect from our employees: respect, integrity, accountability, commitment, collaboration, and clear & open communication.

Applicants to any ESO role are asked to reflect on their affinity with these values and advised they may be asked about them if called for interview.

Diversity

ESO has established diversity as an important value of the Organisation, is committed to providing an equal opportunities environment and is actively seeking to promote a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Please visit https://www.eso.org/public/about-eso/sustainability/dei-at-eso/ for further details.

Nationality

No nationality is in principle excluded from employment at ESO, however, recruitment preference will be given to nationals of our Member States, host states and strategic partners: Australia, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Chile, irrespective of gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity or religion.