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. 

• Assist in the provision of specific engineering support to ESA projects; 

• Provide support to detailed technical specification of planned R&D activities;  

• Assist in the technical evaluation of development results, as well as designs from projects 

• Conceptual planning and implementation of test set-ups in the microgravity laboratory; 

• Plan, set-up and execute test activities in the laboratory; 

• Analyse, evaluate, report and interpret data of biological or physiological experiments; 

• Support Breadboard testing and sample evaluation for Life Support activities; 

• Supervise the gravity research related activities in the TEC-MMG LIS labs; 

• Prepare and execute experiments for the Large Diameter Centifuge (LDC), the Random Positioning Machines and all related equipment; 

• Provide services for commercial customers of the labs (use of centrifuge for testing);  

• Liaise with the science community to organise gravity related experiments;  

• Operate and maintain the Large Diameter Centrifuge (LDC) at ESTEC;  

• Provide inputs to technology and science strategies related to diagnostics for life and physical science experiments for exploration enabling science. 

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. 

Requirements

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. 

•  PhD or Master’s degree in Life and/or Engineering sciences;  

• At least 4 years of relevant experience; 

• Background and experience in gravity related research;  

• Experience with optical diagnostic methods (optical microscopy etc.);  

• Excellent knowledge of (micro)gravity research for Life & Physical Science;  

• Experience in space related instrumentation; 

• Good knowledge of software and electronics is an asset; 

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

• 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.