Payload Technology Validation Engineer

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 SCI – Missions and Research Activities. We are looking for a Payload and Validation Engineer to support the SCI-F (Payload Technology Validation Activities), in the Directorate of Science (D/SCI).

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

Specific Tasks

• Support the working groups, mission study team, project team or operation team of scientific space missions for the definition of the validation activities.
• Support the definition of the validation activities setups.
• Support the preparation of the validation activities setups – electrical, software, optical and cryogenic aspects.
• Prepare and maintain test documentation (test requirement, test plan and test report).
• Perform commissioning and testing of the validation activities setups.
• Perform tests related to payload validation activities mainly but not limited to optical and near-infrared imaging detectors, x-rays and superconductor technologies.
• Perform tests, data analysis and provide reports to the supported study team, project team or operation team.
• Support to monitoring of industrial technology development activities.
• Support to payload reviews.
• Support to evaluation of proposals in response to mission calls, missions of opportunity, and technology calls.
• Provide payload expertise for future mission studies or projects.
• Provide software development in support to payload technology validation activities (data analysis and equipment control).
• Support the development and testing of front-end electronics for sensors (CCD, Infrared detectors, CIS etc.).

Specific qualification requirements

• Master’s degree or Phd in Physics or  Electrical Engineering.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the Research and Testing of dedicated payload technologies, in particular of Imaging detectors for science payloads.
• Related payload system design and performances evaluation.
• Electro-optical test bench technology.
• Data analysis and modelling for electro-optical performances evaluation.
• Python (Scientific Python programming, familiarity with libraries: ctypes, pyfits, pyvisa, pyGTK, scipy, numpy) or C++ skills.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively, autonomously and cooperatively in a diverse and international team environment, defining and implementing solutions in line with team and individual objectives, as well as project deadlines.
• A very good working knowledge of spoken and written English is essential.

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

• All employees receive good remuneration in line with function and experience.
• When autonomous then teleworking can often be utilised.
• 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 contributes 15,4% of pensionable salary to a company pension scheme and employees can optionally make additional contributions.

To be considered for this Position

Prior to 16 May 2025, please apply via our Job Application form quoting S-AST-04-02 as reference.

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