Electronics Engineer

The successful applicant will be an Electronics Engineer in the Electronics and Electrical Group within the MSE Department at the Paranal site of the La Silla Paranal Observatory. The MSE Department, with a workforce of 85 engineers and technicians, provides maintenance and technical support to the four 8m VLT telescopes, to the VLT Interferometer with its auxiliary telescopes, the VST and VISTA survey telescopes and to all instruments available for scientific observations. The Electronics and Electrical Group is comprised of 16 engineers and technicians and is responsible for all telescope electronics, site electrical distribution and backup power generation, and other miscellaneous systems like the site atmospheric monitoring equipment at the Paranal Observatory.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

The selected candidate will have the following main duties:

As Electronics Engineer:

• Have the technical responsibility of one or more systems:
• Be responsible of all maintenance activities (corrective and planned) and obsolescence analysis.
• Perform troubleshooting and repairing activities when needed,
• Ensure the availability and performance of equipment according to specification.
• Propose technical change request and implement once approved (analysis, design, implementation, commissioning, documentation)
• Interact with Headquarters experts and with Support and Quality Assurance group (planning, spare parts, maintenance plan optimization, documentation, and quality control)
• Coordinate and supervise contractor activities in close coordination with the outsourced contract Work Package manager.

Support activities:

• Execute performance analysis when needed.
• Assembly Integration and Verification of new systems and ensure the transfer of knowledge from project to the dedicated team.
• Supports other groups like Instrumentation and Software in electronics engineering
• Any critical Paranal observatory activities for which your competencies are requested by your manager.

Reports to:

The Group Leader of Electronics and Electrical Group.

Experience:

The candidate has, ideally, professional experience in:

• Industrial and/or scientific equipment operations and maintenance.
• A wide range of analogue and digital electronics and electrical applications like: motion control, servo control, electrical drives (like SEW, Siemens, etc.) and PLC systems (ideally Siemens, Beckhoff, etc.), precision sensors, field bus (like Profibus, Profinet, CANbus, etc.), etc.
• Experience with some operating systems like Unix, Linux, Windows, Mac OS, also programming language like C++ or Python. Some knowledge numerical computing systems, like MATLAB or GNU Octave, is desirable. Good level of Office software tools.
• PLC programming and troubleshooting, Safety PLC (ideally Siemens S5 and S7).
• Industry 4.0 technologies for remote monitoring and control.

Experience in telescopes and in a multicultural environment would be an asset.

Key Competences:

The candidate ideally has several of the following competences (technical and soft):

• Ability to understand the 'big picture' and the details of complex systems, their interfaces, and their performance.
• Ability to troubleshoot and solve problems under difficult working conditions and with tight deadlines.
• Real interest to learn and apply maintenance and troubleshooting techniques.
• Having a fine grasp of practical work.
• Strong sense of team spirit with the ability to work effectively in a multi-national and multi-cultural environment
• Good self-organization.
• Constructively suggest improvements to work processes.
• Plan effectively and monitor progress of work, deliver results on time and to standards.
• The applicant must have a real interest in belonging to a multinational and multicultural astronomical organization.
• The candidate may eventually be part of the construction and operation of the world's largest ground-based optical telescope, the ELT.

Qualifications:

University degree in Electronics Engineering or equivalent engineering field.

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.

Remuneration and Contract:

We offer an attractive remuneration package including a competitive salary and educational benefits, as well as financial help in relocating the candidate's family, where applicable. ESO aims to support members of personnel in maintaining a good work-life balance.

The initial contract is for a period of two years with the possibility of indefinite extension, subject to evaluation. The title or grade may be subject to change according to qualification and the number of years of experience.

For further information, please visit https://www.eso.org/public/archives/static/jobs/conditions/brochure-lsm-updated-jan2020.pdf

Duty Station:

Paranal Observatory located 120 km south of the city of Antofagasta, Chile. The working schedule will be 8 days on duty and 6 days off duty (8x6) with accommodation provided on site.

Career Path:

V

Application:

If you are interested in working in areas of frontline science and technology and in a stimulating international environment, please visit http://www.eso.org for further details.

Applicants are invited to apply online at https://recruitment.eso.org/. Applications must be completed in English and should include a motivation letter and CV. Please note that the interviews will be conducted in English.

Closing date for applications is 15 july 2023.

Interviews are expected to start soon after this date.

Nationality

No nationality is in principle excluded from employment at ESO, however, non-Chilean applicants to this role must reside in Chile and/or have a pertinent working permit, according to Chilean regulations at the time of their application. ESO is committed to equal opportunities. The post is equally open to suitably qualified candidates irrespective of gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or religion.

ESO Values:

An important element in any successful employment relationship is harmony in values between an organisation and its people.

The ESO values are:

ESO strives for excellence through innovation.

ESO provides outstanding services to its communities.

ESO fosters diversity & inclusion.

ESO believes in the key role of sustainability for its future.

Achieving the above are recognized as only possible on the basis of personal values and attitudes that we expect from our employees: respect, integrity, accountability, commitment, collaboration, and clear & open communication. Applicants to any ESO role are asked to reflect on their affinity with these values and advised they may be asked about them if called for interview.

Diversity:

ESO has established diversity as an important value of the Organisation, is committed to providing an equal opportunities environment and is actively seeking to promote a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Please visit https://www.eso.org/public/about-eso/sustainability/dei-at-eso/ for further details.