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Working at ESO
Are you interested in working in areas of frontline technology and in a stimulating international environment? Do you feel your profile matches our requirements? Learn more about our current vacancies and apply online. Read more..
The European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world's most productive astronomical observatory. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in the Atacama Desert region of Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. The ESO headquarters are located in Garching, near Munich, Germany. ESO is the focal point for Europe's participation in the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) consortium, which is currently operating a large submillimetre array in the Chilean Andes. The construction of a 39-m European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) is also currently underway at ESO.
For its Optical Engineering Department at the Headquarters in Garching near Munich, Germany, ESO is opening the position of:
Optical Engineer
Garching
Deadline 19/06/2015
We are looking for an optical engineer to work on the design, procurement and tests of optical systems for current and future ESO projects. This position provides the opportunity to work in a collaborative international environment and hands-on participation at different stages in the development of small and large scale optical systems.
The Optical Engineering Department provides support in the field of optics and photonics to all ESO projects. The technical expertise offered by the department includes the optical design, integration and tests of optical systems as well as photonics technologies and laser guide stars. The department supports projects in the field of system engineering and provides support for assembly, integration and testing. In addition, it supports the observatory solving optical problems arising in systems in operation. The department manages the optical and opto-mechanical integration laboratories at ESO headquarters.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
- Design the optics for telescopes and their instruments;
- Review the design of telescope and instrument optics generated by external partners or institutes;
- Generate optical tolerance analyses and engineering budgets for straylight, polarization, emissivity,throughput, wavefront errors;
- Design and apply optical metrology in telescopes and instruments;
- Support the specification and procurement of optical components.
You will be involved in collaborations with European and non-European institutes for the design and construction of telescopes and scientific instruments. Occasional visits to ESO's observatories in Chile may be required for the installation and commissioning of optical systems.
Experience:
You should have at least 3 years professional experience in the design, development, implementation, tests, documentation and operation of optical devices. Experience with telescopes and their instrumentation would be an advantage.
Key Competences:
- Broad knowledge of the theory of geometrical optics;
- Proficiency in optical design, in particular for telescope instruments;
- Knowledge of optical metrology;
- Capability to assess the quality and impact of an optical design in the context of a larger system containing the optics;
- Ability to collaborate with specialists in other engineering fields like mechanics and Integration for the optimization of the full system;
- Ability to build strong collaborative working relationships with people from different cultural backgrounds and disciplines.
Qualifications:
University Degree in Optical Engineering or Physics.
Language skills:
The position requires a good working knowledge of English.
Remuneration and Contract:
We offer an attractive remuneration package including a competitive salary (tax free), comprehensive pension scheme and medical, educational and other social benefits, as well as financial help in relocating your family and the possibility to place your child/children in daycare.
The initial contract is for a period of three years with the possibility of a fixed-term or indefinite extension based on technical and managerial achievements. The title or grade may be subject to change according to qualification and the number of years of experience.
Duty Station:
Garching near Munich, Germany.
Career Path:
V
Application:
If you are interested in working in areas of frontline technology and in a stimulating international environment, please visit (http://www.eso.org) for further details.
Applicants are invited to apply online at http://jobs.eso.org/. Applications must be completed in English and should include a motivation letter and CV together with the names of three individuals willing to provide professional reference letters.
Closing date for applications is 19 June 2015.
Although recruitment preference will be given to nationals of ESO Member States (members are: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom), no nationality is in principle excluded.
The post is equally open to suitably qualified female and male applicants.