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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".
The ESO Systems Engineering Department (SEN), within the Directorate of Engineering (DoE) at its Headquarters in Garching, near Munich, Germany, is advertising the following opportunity:
The Systems Engineering Department comprises a team of 30 engineers, distributed over 3 groups. The department provides Systems Engineering expertise to ESO's projects, in particular for the development of the Extremely Large Telescope and its sub-systems and for the design and development of advanced optical and infrared instrumentation for the telescopes of ESO's La Silla-Paranal Observatory.
We are offering an exciting role for recent engineering or physics graduates, who are interested to further develop their experience in systems engineering, or to develop towards such a role. You will work alongside senior engineers on real-world projects in support of the VLT or ELT, starting from new design activities, and developing tools, up to maintenance and modification of the existing systems of the VLT or ELT.
The exact project depends on your background and interest, and will be in one of the following areas:
- Further development of ESO's Requirements Management Tool.
- Support the Configuration & Asset Management for the ELT.
- Automation of hardware configuration and documentation management by using AI/ML.
- Support the Verification Management for the ELT.
- Prototype IoT & Edge Computing to support predictive maintenance.
- Apply data science to Obsolescence Management in Electronics.
- Process Modelling and Knowledge Management by applying Machine Learning.
- Review and improve the operation and maintenance of AO instruments at the VLT.
Reports to:
One of the Group-Heads in the Systems Engineering Department, depending on the selected project.
Experience:
- Understanding of the concepts of Systems Engineering.
- Depending on the selected project, experience in python programming, configuration management, data science, requirements management, verification management, machine learning / LLM's, Adaptive Optics.
- Experience in international or interdisciplinary teams.
Key Competences:
- Curiosity and an interest in astronomical instrumentation or large-scale scientific facilities.
- Sense of ownership and accountability, with the initiative to independently drive projects to successful completion.
- Ability to work both autonomously and constructively within a team, able to prioritise and manage your own work delivering high-quality work towards project deadlines.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
Qualifications:
A master's degree in engineering, physics or Applied Sciences or a PhD, graduated in or after 2024.
Language Skills:
ESO is an international organization where the official language is English. The position requires excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
Remuneration and Contract:
We offer an attractive remuneration package including a competitive salary (free of income tax for applicants from ESO member states), comprehensive pension scheme and medical, educational and other social benefits, as well as financial help in relocating your family and support to place your child/children in daycare.
The contract is a Paid Associate for a period of one year. The initial contract is for a fixed term duration of one year with the possibility of one fixed-term extension subject to individual performance and organisational requirements and as defined in the applicable policies and staff rules and regulations. For any further information, please visit https://www.eso.org/public/jobs/conditions/paidassoc/.
Our Salary and career structure:
ESO's salary structure is based upon a range of career paths which reflect the nature and level of our roles. Each career path is made up of two or three grades which are used to further reflect experience and performance. Please follow this link for more details https://www.eso.org/public/jobs/conditions/intstaff/salary-structure/
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.
Duty Station:
Garching near Munich. The role is based on-site at ESO and relocation to the duty station area is required. Staff at ESO benefit from a mobile working policy that allows for limited hybrid working for work-life balance purposes. Occasional travel to scientific institutes and companies within Europe and to the observatories in Chile will be necessary.
Career Path: III
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:
- Curriculum Vitae.
- Motivation letter, also mentioning the project, which you would like to work on, and how you would like contribute to this particular project.
- Summary of your master's thesis project, indicating the title and the supervisor (maximum one page).
- 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.
Closing date for applications is 7 November 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.
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.
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.