Materials and Processes Laboratory Technician

Aurora is an established supplier of skilled manpower to ESA and in particular at ESTEC and ESAC. Aurora has the opportunity to expand our support to ESA in the domain of SMT – Structures, Materials, Mechanisms and Thermal Engineering. We are looking for a Materials and Processes Laboratory Technician to support the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality (TEC).

Happiness of our employees has proven key to obtaining excellent results and a client who also regards us highly for excellent service.

Overview

• Support of the Metallic and Non-Metallic Materials and Processes as well as Evaluation Engineer, assess customers’ needs in relation to laboratory/analysis activities.
• Perform all measurements and analyses on metallic as well as non-metallic materials (including cleanliness and contamination control related activities as well as PCBs and electronic assembly) on a variety of destructive and non-destructive test equipment/tools. This includes also the issuing of dedicated testing procedures and documentation development as well as inclusion of test requests and test results in the relevant quality management systems and databases.
• To set up and operate equipment/analysis tools devoted to the assessment of space environmental effects. This includes assessment by simulating the space environment (vacuum, radiation, ATOX, contamination, thermal ….) as well as pre/post characterisation by analytical techniques (thermal analysis, chemical analysis, physical and microscopic analysis, surface analysis, spectroscopic analysis, NDI techniques etc.)Use a variety of laboratory tools, including acoustic microscopy, optical microscopy.
• Scanning microscopy, confocal microscopy, XRD, X-Ray imaging, NDI etc., XPS, surface tension, Auger Microscopy, Raman Spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, IST Testing.
• Perform mechanical and thermo-mechanical testing (including static, fatigue, fatigue crack propagation, Nano indentation, Nano scratch, low speed impact, hardness testing), also using contact and contact less in-situ strain measurement systems (strain gauges/ARAMIS).
• Perform all thermal analysis on materials (including thermo-gravimetric, differential scanning calorimetry, thermo-mechanical as well as dynamic mechanical analysis, dielectric analysis, CTE determination, thermal diffusivity/conductivity analysis as well as coupled and advanced thermal modelling techniques for physico-chemical analysis.
• Perform all corrosion characterization testing, including but not limited to stress-corrosion, galvanic, red-plague, general corrosion, humidity/salt fog testing, etc.
• Perform all verification activities on Printed Circuit Boards and electronics assemblies.
• Recording sample properties or condition during and after test, accurately and legibly.
• Draft relevant test reports for all performed test activities.
• Checking on test equipment performance and reporting any anomalies or faults.
• Improving test procedures and ensuring that these are executed correctly.
• Maintenance of the relevant test equipment, ensuring that the equipment under his/her responsibility is kept in an operational state and all necessary routine calibration and maintenance activities are performed.

Specific qualification requirements

• Degree in Engineering.
• A very good working knowledge of spoken and written English is essential.
• Strong hands-on experience in non-destructive investigation such as X-ray tomography, X-ray diffraction,
• Acoustic inspection
• Hands-on experience in optical and electron microscopy
• Experience in metallurgical sample preparation for failure investigations and root cause analysis
• Experience in test execution according to recognized standards and equipment maintenance and troubleshooting
• Strong background in materials engineering, including metallurgy and hands-on laboratory experience

Legal and Security Requirements

• All applicants must be legally allowed to work in The Netherlands
• Applicants are required to provide a copy of their passport and degree certificate. Aurora will validate the Degree with the issuing University and provide evidence to ESA.
• Prior to issuing a letter of employment the applicant shall provide to Aurora a recent official document declaring that they are of good conduct from the country where currently resident.

Location

The work will be performed at the European Space Technology and Research Centre (ESTEC) at Noordwijk, The Netherlands.

Contract

• The selected candidate will receive good remuneration  in line with ESA Job Class.
• Will be registered for both social security and tax in the Netherlands.
• The standard working hours are 40 per week. There are 12 public holidays and an additional 30 annual days holiday.
• Training to improve efficiency and provide strength for future career are of course included.
• Aurora assist with relocation both with support and financially.
• Aurora contributes to a company pension scheme.

To be considered for this Position

Prior to 10 November 2022, please apply via our Job Application form quoting TEC-SMT-893 (RT-C/TEC-MSP/00893) as reference.

Aurora will agree conditional employment terms and conditions with candidates before presenting them by 14 November 2022, 13.00 hours.

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