Mechanisms Engineer

Vacancy in the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore we welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.

Post
Mechanisms Engineer

This post is classified A2-A4 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale .

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
With a resident assign to ESRIN, Frascati, Italy

Mechanisms Engineer in the Mechanisms Section, Structures, Mechanisms and Materials Division, Mechanical Department, Directorate of Technical, Engineering and Quality.

The Mechanisms Section provides functional support to ESA projects and carries out technological research (R&D) in the field of space mechanisms, for example for deployment and pointing or hold-down and release, solar array drives and reaction wheels, tribology, pyrotechnics and space mechanical systems for satellites and launchers.

As a first assignment, you will join the Vega and Space Rider Mechanical and Propulsion Engineering Section. Your duty station will be ESRIN, Frascati, Italy. 

For the reference assignment in the Mechanisms Section, you will report to the Head of Section and, within the technical fields described above, your main tasks and responsibilities will include:

•    providing expert technical support and consultancy to ESA projects, programmes and general studies in the field of Mechanisms throughout all project phases;
•    participating in feasibility studies, project reviews and evaluation of procurement proposals;
•    identifying critical development problems and assisting in their resolution,  as well as assessing mechanisms development and verification test programmes;
•    contributing to the definition of technology development requirements and work plans for the Agency’s technology programmes;
•    defining, initiating and managing R&D activities covering both long- and short-term needs;
•    fostering new application areas for multidisciplinary activities, placing emphasis on innovative concepts, cutting-edge technologies and system architectures;
•    defining relevant infrastructure requirements in terms of testing, standards and numerical simulation;
•    hands-on laboratory activities as required;
•    monitoring applicable scientific and technological trends and maintaining a state-of-the-art expertise;
•    contributing to the dissemination of the results of the activities performed and the transfer of knowledge across the Agency.

Your duties may also include supporting other activities within your field of competence.

For the initial assignment, reporting to the Head of the Vega and Space Rider Mechanical and Propulsion Engineering Section, the range of activities encompasses the delta qualification and return to flight of Vega-C and Vega-E and the development of other structures, such as SSMS-C and the IRIDE dispenser, in the field of mechanical systems, including stages and interstage structures, payload adapters and fairing, spacecraft and stage separation mechanisms, dispensers and pyrotechnics. In addition, you will provide support to the High Thrust Engine programme in the area of structures and mechanisms.

Your specific responsibilities will include managing technical activities relating to the design, development, qualification, assembly, integration, testing, acceptance, flight and post-flight of the mechanical systems for the above-mentioned perimeter of activities. 

In the performance of your tasks, you will make contributions to:
•    trade-off analyses at mechanical systems level, in particular regarding subsystem and equipment layout and including recurrent and non-recurrent cost aspects;
•    apportioning technical requirements from system level to mechanical subsystems;
•    drafting statements of work;
•    evaluating industrial offers, negotiating industrial contracts and evaluating industry deliverables;
•    preparing and implementing the main project milestones, including specific project reviews at system and subsystem level, in your area of responsibility;
•    monitoring the manufacture and acceptance of hardware under your direct responsibility, ensuring compliance of the mission-specific configuration with the product qualification range;
•    assessing and resolving flight anomalies, non-conformances and requests for waivers or deviations;
•    assessing the evolving definition (ECP) of mechanical systems and their possible impact on the launch vehicle’s qualification status;
•    following up the technical activities related to dealing with component and material obsolescence and actions aimed at reducing recurrent costs during the exploitation phase;
•    specific tasks linked to return-to-flight activities:
•    Monitoring of the Vega and Vega-C structures and pyrotechnic product manufacturing and acceptance, ensuring in particular the compliance of the as-built configuration with the product qualification perimeter;
•    Leading the technical activities relating to Vega/Vega-C launcher general loads (static and dynamic);
•    Providing technical guidance for the handling of anomalies and non-conformances with regard to mechanical and material aspects;
•    Assessing the requests for waivers and deviations with regard to mechanical and material aspects;
•    Assessing the evolutions of the definition (ECP) of interstages, AVUM structure, payload adapters and fairing and pyrotechnic products, as well as their potential impact on the Vega launch vehicle qualification status. 

Your duties may also include supporting other activities within your field of competence.

General background and specific experience in the technical domains covered by the position (data handling system engineering and data handling units development)

Experience in the development and verification of space hardware

Experience in the preparation of procurement activities for technology development and innovation (Statements of Work, proposal evaluation, etc.)

Project support experience in a relevant domain

Hands-on laboratory experience

Experience in the management and monitoring of industrial activities, including participation in reviews

Experience with Space Engineering Standards and their preparation and implementation

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

A master’s degree in aeronautical or mechanical engineering is required for this post.

You should have at least five years of professional experience, with a demonstrated ability to lead technical activities in the launcher system domain.
Strong analytical skills and the ability to interact with industry are essential requirements for the post.

Direct experience in the development of Vega-related products would be an asset.

Other information

For behavioural competencies expected from ESA staff in general, please refer to the ESA Competency Framework.

For further information please visit: Professionals , What we offer   and FAQ  

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required.
Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.

The Agency may require applicants to undergo selection tests.

 At the Agency we value diversity and we welcome people with disabilities.  Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace.  The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further please contact us email [email protected] .

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Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates and secondly to external candidates from under-represented Member States *.

In accordance with the European Space Agency’s security procedures and as part of the selection process, successful candidates will be required to undergo basic screening before appointment conducted by an external background screening service.

In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the master’s degree, the position may be filled at A1 level. 

*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.