Lead Engineer

We are looking for a senior engineer with both multi-disciplinary technical experience and management profile to be the technical and managerial responsible of the TMES. The TMES team works closely with external technical service providers and the Lead Engineer manages the corresponding contract.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Managerial:

• Lead the TMES team and act as Deputy Site Manager.
• Manage the TMES external technical service contracts (that cover some 90% of the TMES activities).
• Coordinate activities with other ESO Departments.

Maintenance & Troubleshooting:

• Ensure the high availability of all technical systems of the Observatory (telescopes, instruments, and infrastructure).
• Assure maintenance to a high level of all assets for the life of the Observatory by means of, for example, defining and updating corrective maintenance processes and advocating for effective preventive maintenance.
• Coordinate all daily technical maintenance and operations activities
• Troubleshoot, investigate and identify potential causes of problems.
• Provide daily support to routine operations and maintenance.
• Assess resource requirements to resolve problems.

System engineering:

• Lead technical evaluation of upgrades to the Observatory, including both basic improvements and major developments, based on the analysis of the system level performance. This includes review of proposals and their subsequent implementation.
• Define and maintain the system configuration, including standards and documentation.
• Define and manage the interfaces among sub-systems in all disciplines.
• Organise and participate in operation reviews.
• Develop, integrate, coordinate and operate project-wide engineering services, tools, processes and procedures such as configuration control processes, electronic documentation and computerized maintenance management systems
• Ensure engineering integrity, quality, and best practices maintenance methodologies.
• Manage configurations including configuration control boards and processes.
• Define acceptance processes and plans, including organization of acceptance reviews.

Reports to:

The LSD Site Manager.

Key Competences and Experience:

• Experience in leading a multidisciplinary team that includes service providers from external companies.
• Experience in Service Contract Management, including KPI definition and monitoring.
• Experience in working with international/multicultural teams.
• Creative thinking, problem-solving skills and ability to fast react to emergency situations.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Conflict resolution competences.
• Basic knowledge and experience in the use of Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) and Product Data Management (PDM).
• Conceptual knowledge of all system engineering areas (e.g., Computerized control and servo systems, user level practice with Unix OS, electronic imaging systems, optical systems, precision mechanics, cooling systems, cryogenics, high vacuum, power and water distribution, road maintenance, buildings and other structures).
• Knowledge and experience in Project Management and Change Management.
• Establish and maintain constructive working relationships with engineers, scientists and managers throughout the organisation.

Qualifications

Applicants for this position should fulfil the following requirements:

• University degree in engineering in the field of mechanics, or electrics, or electronics, or other relevant fields; or equivalent demonstrable work experience.
• At least five years of working experience in a system or project engineering position in multidisciplinary, high technology, and complex projects.
• Knowledge and experience with configuration/change control as well as review and acceptance procedures.
• Proven experience of working with formal system engineering processes.
• Familiarity with technologies used in optical/infrared observatories is an asset
• Experience in industrial tendering processes and contract management.
• Experience and demonstrated results in the project management of (parts of) large science-driven projects will be an advantage.

Language Skills

ESO is an international organization where the official language is English. It is required that the candidate has a good command of written and spoken English. Basic knowledge (as a minimum) of Spanish is mandatory.

Remuneration and Contract

We offer an attractive remuneration package including a competitive salary, comprehensive pension scheme and medical, educational and other social benefits, as well as financial help in relocating your family, if needed.

The contract is for a fixed-term period of three years, which can be extended for no more than two additional three-year periods (up to a total of 9 years). Consideration for a contract of indefinite duration may be given after a minimum of 4 years of service, based on operational needs and qualification of the staff member.

Duty Station

La Silla Observatory (600 km north of Santiago de Chile, close to La Serena), and Santiago, with potential duty trips to all ESO sites in Chile and Germany.

Career Path: V

Starting date: as soon as possible

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 via our recruitment portal http://recruitment.eso.org/. Applications should include a motivation letter and CV in English.

Closing date for applications is 17 November 2020

No nationality is in principle excluded, however, recruitment preference will be given to nationals of Australia, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom irrespective of gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, race or religion.