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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 ground-based astronomical observatory. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries.
ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in northern Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor (home to ALMA), and the ESO Headquarters are located in Garching, near Munich, Germany.
At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the world's most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory, and will host and operate the southern array of the Cherenkov Telescope Array, the world's largest and most sensitive high energy gamma-ray observatory. ESO is a major partner in ALMA. On Cerro Armazones, ESO is building the 39-metre Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), which will become "the world's biggest eye on the sky" and whose operations will be fully integrated into the Paranal Observatory.
ESO is a member of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO) and will host the CTA-South Array at its Paranal site.
The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is a multinational project to build two sites of telescope arrays in the northern and southern hemisphere to observe extremely high energy photons from the Universe with greatly improved sensitivity. Up to 99 optical telescopes are planned to be installed at the CTA-South site at Paranal observatory in Chile, while 19 telescopes are planned for the CTA-North site on La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain). A Science Data Management Centre (SDMC) will be built in Berlin-Zeuthen (Germany).
A dedicated organization, the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO) with its Headquarter and Project Office in Bologna (Italy) is responsible for the construction and operation of CTA.
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.
For the Southern site of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO), at the La Silla Paranal Observatory in Chile, ESO is advertising an international staff member position of:
The successful applicant will be the Senior Mechanical Engineer within the CTAO Team at the ESO La Silla Paranal Observatory, who will be responsible for the procurement, on-site installation and operation of infrastructure and equipment, such as power generators, special vehicles, lifting- and handling equipment, as well as for the posterior maintenance of these systems.
The Senior Mechanical Engineer will actively participate in the preparation of the CTAO-South site for the installation and commissioning of the Cherenkov telescopes and their related calibration equipment. S/he will also support the CTAO member institutes during assembly and integration tasks on site and contribute to the development of the subsequent technical operations related to the maintenance of the CTAO-South telescope array and its facilities.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
The selected candidate will have the following main duties:
- Preparation of procurement documentation for CTAO-South infrastructure, equipment, facilities, and services; perform procurements and accompany tender processes, coordinate contracts where applicable.
- Lead and supervise the implementation and operation of temporary and of permanent installations at the CTAO-South.
- Support the CTAO member institutes during the assembly, integration and commissioning phases of telescopes and calibration equipment at the CTAO-South.
- Contribute to the design and planning efforts of infrastructure and facilities at the site, including support with the preparation and monitoring of the CTAO-South budget.
- Lead he preparation of the CTAO-South preventive maintenance program for telescopes, infrastructure, facilities, and vehicles; provide technical leadership for corrective maintenance.
- Implement and track maintenance tasks via a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS), ensuring due configuration control and traceability, and organize and manage inventory and spare part stock.
- Monitor the technical performance of telescopes and equipment and issue suggestions for improvements where appropriate.
Reports to:
The CTAO-South Senior Mechanical Engineer reports to the CTAO-South Site Manager.
Key Competences:
- Excellent and broad technical knowledge and understanding, which allows to adapt to different and complex systems quickly.
- Ability to prepare precise and well-organized technical documentation.
- Very good planning and organizational skills.
- Team player with the ability to coordinate and supervise multi-disciplinary teams.
- Clear, respectful and effective communication.
- Experience with the maintenance of complex technical systems, using tools like computerized maintenance management systems.
- Versed in the use of productivity tools like Excel, Word, and Project.
- Ability to build constructive relationships and manage conflict, maintaining a cooperative and solution-oriented environment.
- Strong focus on safety and compliance, ensuring proper implementation of health & safety plans and adherence to applicable policies.
- Desirable: experience with the use of CAD systems, e.g. AutoCAD.
Qualifications:
- Applicants for this position should have a university degree in Mechanical Engineering or in a similar technical discipline, or equivalent work experience, with at least 10 years of field experience in the areas of site construction and/or technical plant operation, including assembly, integration, commissioning and maintenance tasks, preferably at a large-scale scientific project.
- Excellent communication skills.
Language Skills:
ESO is an international organization where the official language is English. The position requires excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Spoken Spanish is highly desirable for communication in the day-to day business.
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, if needed.
ESO aims to support members of personnel in maintaining a good work-life balance (https://www.eso.org/public/jobs/conditions/intstaff/#work-life-balance) between their professional and private life. ESO is also committed to offering family-friendly support (https://www.eso.org/public/jobs/conditions/intstaff/#family-friendly-support), creating a work environment and policies which allow staff to balance their professional and private responsibilities through flexible working arrangements and financial support for families.
The contract is for a fixed term duration of three years and is subject to successful completion of the probation period. There may be a possibility of extension(s) subject to individual performance and organisational requirements, in particular for the ELT Programme, and as defined in the applicable policies and staff rules and regulations. For any further information, please visit ESO's conditions of employment. Please note that the contract policy and in particular the regulations concerning fixed-term and indefinite contracts are currently under review which may lead to changes in the contractual conditions applicable to this position.
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, after a probation period with the appropriate shift scheme. Up to 25% of working time can be taken as mobile work. When integrated operations are starting, the duty station will change to Santiago with frequent travels to the Observatory (hybrid shifts). Duty travels to the other CTAO sites in Europe or events outside the organization will be expected.
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://recruitment.eso.org/. Applications must be completed in English and should include a motivation letter and CV. Within your CV, please provide the names and contact details of three persons familiar with your work and willing to provide a recommendation letter upon request. Referees will not be contacted without your prior consent.
Deadlines for applications is 15 May 2026.
Interviews are expected to start soon after this date.
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.
Nationality:
No nationality is in principle excluded from employment at ESO, however, recruitment preference will be given to nationals of our Member States, host states and strategic partners: Australia, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Chile, irrespective of gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity or religion.