Your key responsibilities will include:

• leading the laboratory-based validation activities, with a focus on UV-Vis-NIR focal plane technologies, including both detector and readout electronics aspects, by:
  • coordinating with the mission study team, project team or operations team regarding the definition of the validation activities;
  • preparing test documentation, such as test requirements, plans and reports;
  • defining payload validation activity test setups;
  • implementing validation activity setups, with the emphasis on infrared imaging detectors and the associated control electronics;
  • performing commissioning of the validation activity setup;
  • conducting tests using the validation activity setup;
  • analysing test data and reporting to the relevant study team, project team or operations team;
• supporting the development and maintenance of the general technical infrastructure essential for validating payload technologies;
• defining and implementing, in close collaboration with other sections within the Department, ESA-funded payload activities and predevelopments;
• ensuring that payload elements, whether nationally- or ESA-provided, meet the necessary definition maturity and technology readiness levels at the time of mission adoption;
• identifying and producing new instrument technologies required for the Directorate’s programmes and participating in the preparation and implementation of the Voyage 2050 technology development plan;
• providing payload expertise and support to studies and projects under development as required, for example through participation in reviews and working groups or technical support.

Requirements: 

Education

A PhD or master’s degree in physics or engineering is required for this post.

Additional requirements

You should also:

• be able to work in a small multidisciplinary team and be flexible and able to multitask;
• have the relationship management skills required to balance interactions with various ESA stakeholders, including scientific institutions and industry;
• be self-motivated.

International experience is an asset, i.e. outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.