Laboratory Coordinator (Life, Physical Sciences and Life Support)

We are looking for a ​Laboratory Coordinator​ to support and coordinate the ​Life, Physical Sciences Instrumentation and Life Support Laboratory​ of the European Space Agency (ESA) at ESTEC in ​Noordwijk, the Netherlands​.  

The Laboratory Coordinator shall have a leading, coordinating and hands-on technical role in the operation, management and continuous development of the laboratory and its associated facilities. The coordinator will carry significant responsibility for laboratory planning, stakeholder coordination, personnel competence, safety, quality assurance and the effective execution of laboratory activities related to microgravity research, life support, planetary protection and other exploration related activities​.  

Please note, the successful candidate will be employed by ATG Europe (or one of its subsidiaries). Furthermore, upon selection, they will be subject to a general security screening performed by an external provider (further information will be provided at the interview stage). 

ATG is dedicated to diversity and inclusion and is an equal opportunity employer. Regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, handicap, or any other reason protected by relevant state or municipal legislation, we are pleased to consider all eligible candidates for employment. 

The successful candidate will be tasked with, but not limited to: 

Tasks and Responsibilities 

Laboratory Coordination 

• Lead and coordinate the day-to-day operation of the laboratory, its facilities, personnel and supporting services, while actively contributing to technical activities; 

• Coordinate weekly technical meetings and participate in Laboratory Management Boards to report progress, resolve priorities and support decisions on resources, safety, anomalies and non-routine activities; 

• Maintain effective interfaces with laboratory users, ESA representatives and supporting services, including Laboratory Administration, IT, Health and Safety, HRE and the ESTEC workshop; 

• Ensure sufficient trained and competent personnel are available to safely operate the facilities and maintain continuity of critical functions; 

• Support Agency outreach activities where these do not interfere with the laboratory test programme; 

Test Execution and Technical Support 

• Coordinate laboratory requests from intake and feasibility assessment through planning, execution, reporting and archiving; 

• Assess requests against technical, safety, scheduling, personnel, materials, access and cost requirements; 

• Prepare, configure and operate laboratory facilities and equipment, and participate in routine and specialised testing; 

• Perform or support sample preparation, equipment setup, measurements, data collection, basic analysis, cleaning, sterilisation, storage and material disposal or return; 

• Supervise laboratory users, provide hands-on technical support and troubleshoot non-routine test setups and operational problems; 

• Organise or participate in Test Readiness Reviews and Post-Test Reviews, and contribute to test procedures, records and technical reports; 

Facility and Equipment Management 

• Maintain facility schedules, balancing test activities with inspections, calibration, preventive maintenance and required downtime; 

• Perform or coordinate functional checks, maintenance, calibration and inspection of laboratory equipment; 

• Ensure that equipment, tools, consumables and documentation are available, suitable and correctly recorded in ESA asset-management systems; 

• Support facility modifications and new equipment from feasibility assessment and procurement through commissioning, documentation, training and practical integration; 

Health, Safety and Laboratory Readiness 

• Be responsible for the safe operation of the laboratory and compliance with applicable biological, cleanroom, electrical, cryogenic, laser, radiation, ultraviolet and other facility-specific requirements; 

• Prepare and maintain risk assessments, safe working procedures, inspections, housekeeping and personnel training; 

• Promptly report hazards, incidents and near-misses and ensure corrective and improvement actions are implemented; 

• Maintain the laboratory and its equipment in a safe, clean, organised and operationally ready condition; 

Quality Assurance and Performance 

• Perform laboratory activities in accordance with the ESA Quality Management System and applicable ISO 9001 processes, ensuring quality, traceability, reproducibility and accurate records; 

• Report anomalies and non-conformances, participate in review boards and implement corrective and preventive actions; 

• Review test reports and deliverables for technical and quality compliance before release; 

• Support accreditation, certification, ISO 9001 meetings and internal audits; 

• Monitor customer satisfaction and laboratory performance and contribute to periodic reporting; 

Specialised Laboratory Responsibilities 

• Operate and coordinate specialised facilities, including cleanrooms, gravity-simulation equipment, centrifuges, sterilisation equipment and associated life and physical sciences infrastructure; 

• Perform or support planetary protection activities, microbial sampling and assays, precision cleaning and sterilisation, payload integration, ground-reference testing and off-site campaigns; 

• Provide hands-on technical expertise for specialised, mission-critical and non-routine activities, safeguarding the availability and integrity of laboratory facilities and services. 

Please ensure that your CV clearly explains how you meet the mandatory requirements. If it doesn’t align completely with the essential criteria, it could result in rejection. 

• A Master's degree or equivalent qualification in engineering; 

• At least 4 years of relevant working experience;  

• Experience with any of the following routine tests for Life, Physical Sciences Instrumentation and Life Support research, for example:  

  • bioassay swabbing and bioburden evaluation;  

  • sampling of airborne bioburden;  

  • sampling and analysis of airborne molecular organic contamination;  

  • molten salt electrolysis reduction furnaces;  

  • gas analysis; 

  • operation and maintenance of clean rooms. 

• Familiarity with space programs and space instruments testing, particularly within the fields of Life and Physical Sciences Instrumentation;  

• Experience in operation of testing labs, covering planning, calibration, maintenance, cleanliness management;  

• Knowledge of health and safety aspects of a lab;  

• Knowledge and experience in preparation and implementation of testing campaigns, including preparation of supporting documentation;  

• Knowledge and experience in managing non-conformances;  

• Knowledge of ISO 9001 standards;  

• Experience in Quality Assurance implementation in testing and engineering labs;  

• Knowledge of health and safety in lab environments;  

• Experience in performing testing activities, following a test plan, and reporting test results;  

• Solid experience in people management;  

• Knowledge and experience of ESA/ESTEC operations and rules is a distinctive advantage;  

• Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the EU;    

• Fluency in English, both written and spoken.  

Early applications are encouraged as they allow for a smooth and efficient recruitment process. Please do not wait until the deadline to submit your application.   

Please submit your application in English via the apply button below. Applications submitted in other languages will not be considered.