Vacancy in the Directorate of Technical and Quality Management

The European Space Agency is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women

POST Solar Generator Engineer in the Solar Generators Section, Power and Energy Conversion Division, Electrical Engineering Department, Directorate of Technical and Quality Management. This post is classified in the A2/A4 grade band of the Coordinated Organisations' salary scale.

LOCATION ESTEC, Noordwijk (The Netherlands).

DUTIES

Under the responsibility of the Head of the Solar Generators Section, the incumbent will be responsible for providing functional support to satellite projects, for preparing, monitoring and guiding work on applied research contracts and for overseeing and planning test activities for advanced solar generators and solar cells.

The main tasks of the post will include in particular:

· providing specialist support to satellite projects for solar generator specification, design, construction, testing and integration;

· providing independent technical assessment to both project level and Agency-level system and subsystem reviews;

· planning, initiating and supervising contracts with industry for the development of advanced space solar generator units, subassemblies, solar cells and solar generator subsystems;

· planning and supervising test programmes for space solar generators and solar cells.

QUALIFICATIONS Candidates for this post should have a university degree or equivalent qualification in Aerospace or Electrical Engineering or Physics and have industrial experience in the design, manufacturing and testing of solar generators for space applications.

Preference will be given to candidates with knowledge of:

· electrical design of solar generators;

· manufacturing and integration technologies for space solar generators;

· thermo-mechanical properties of space solar generators and their components; ESA/VN-ESTEC(2012)009 Page 2

· space solar generator test plans;

· comprehensive knowledge of present and next generation solar cells for space applications;

· electrical performance prediction and verification;

· space environment effects on solar generators. Experience in the management of technical contracts would be an asset.

Applicants should have good interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively and cooperatively in a diverse and international team environment and to achieve solutions in line with team objectives.

In addition, applicants should have good organisational and communication skills, as well as a proactive attitude towards solving problems and an interest in innovative technologies.

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these two languages is required. Knowledge of another member state language is an asset.

CLOSING DATE The closing date for applications is 05 March 2012.

Applications from external candidates for this post should preferably be made on-line at the ESA Web Site (www.esa.int/careers). Those unable to apply on-line should submit their CV to the Head of the Human Resources Division, ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ Noordwijk ZH (The Netherlands).

ESA staff members wishing to apply for this post should fill in the

Internal Application Form and email it to Apply2ESTEC. The Agency may require applicants to undergo selection tests.

Under ESA Regulations, the age limit for recruitment is 55. Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada.

Priority will be first given to internal candidates and secondly to external candidates from under-represented member states.

In accordance with the European Space Agency's security procedures and as part of the selection process, successful candidates will be required to undergo basic screening before appointment.