Life and Physical Sciences Instrumentation and Life Support Engineer

We are looking for a ​Life and Physical Sciences Instrumentation and Life Support Engineer​ to complete our consultants Workforce Management Service to support the Optics, Robotics and Life Science Division of the European Space Agency (ESA) at their location in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. The purpose of this Service is to support ground and space, payload, spacecraft and launcher development projects, including but not limited to concurrent design activities, industry technical follow-up, design review participation and shadow engineering. The Service will provide support in technology development projects. 

The Life Support and Physical Sciences Instrumentation Section is responsible and acts on behalf of the European Space Agency in the technical and strategic management of the technologies needed for planetary exploration missions and for life & physical sciences experiments in space, as well as technologies needed for life support, crew health and habitability of manned missions, and ISRU. 

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). 

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

• The team is responsible for the following tasks in the field of Life support, planetary protection, payload development for life and physical sciences instrumentation and small payloads for planetary exploration purposes and in situ resource utilisation processes. 

Task 1: Project Support   

• Technical support to ESA space programmes from phase 0 to phase E, including participation to system and sub-system design reviews, active follow-up and technical assessment of hardware design, manufacturing and testing and all associated analyses; 

• Technical support in the review of industry proposals during the ITT process (as external technical expert upon nomination by the service manager); 

• Technical support to CDF studies including expert contribution covering engineering assessment, analysis, provision of information for the reports and presentations; 

• Support in the design follow up using engineering tools, in particular performing cross analyses and shadow engineering of industry output; 

• Support in the organisation and participation of ESA and Industry led development reviews; 

• Support the performance analysis as required to support the development of components, equipment and subsystems; 

• Active participation as technical support to failure / NCR investigations and associated NRB’s; 

• Active participation as technical support to progress meetings, technical meetings / workshops, working groups as required; 

• Active participation as technical support to safety panel meetings, review of safety data packages and submit comments to the entities involved, support ISS payloads safety reviews, upon nomination by the service manager; 

• Provide lessons learned and propose updates to processes and procedures identified as part of the engineering support. 

Task 2 R&D Support 

• Contribution to the definition of studies which will lead to results of value and substance, in ESA important areas, which can be followed up in technology and project activities or can result in increased technical competence within the Section; 

• Contribution to the response to call for ideas under various funding programs within TEC or for other directorates (e.g. Earth Observation, Science, Connectivity and Secure Communications, Navigation, Human and Robotic Exploration); 

• Support to the implementation of technology development activities according to the agreed work-plans (TDE, GSTP, ARTES, etc.); 

• Support to the preparation of Statement of Work in line with the objectives of the activities and depending on the targeted output TRL level; 

• Support to the R&D Technical Officer in the R&D activities. 

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. 

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. 

• Master’s degree or equivalent in a discipline relevant to mechatronics and robotics;  

• At least 4 years of experience in robot systems and related engineering tools (e.g. standard design, analysis and simulation s/w);  

• Experience in specification and analysis of robot manipulation, locomotion and control systems;  

• Practical experience in robot systems and related engineering tools (e.g. standard design, analysis and simulation software);  

• Previous experience with one (or more) of the following design/simulation tools:  

• Robcad™;  

• Deneb/IGRIPTM (Interactive Graphics Robot Instruction Program);  

• MATLABTM ;  

• SimulinkTM ;  

• SolidWorksTM/AutoCADTM/CatiaTM.;

• Experience in space project work is a distinctive asset;  

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

• Fair experience of people management;  

• Fluency in English, both written and spoken.  

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