Description

Materials Physics and Chemistry Engineer in the Materials Physics and Chemistry Section, Technical Reliability and Quality Division, Product Assurance and Safety Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

The Materials Physics and Chemistry Section provides functional support to ESA projects and carries out technological research and development (R&D) in the fields of the physics and chemistry of materials, the verification of environmental compatibility, cleanliness, and contamination control of the materials and processes, and quality assurance related to materials and processes. The Section also provides technical support to life cycle assessments.

Duties

Reporting to the Head of Section and within the technical fields described above, your main tasks and responsibilities will include:

• providing technical expertise and consultancy to ESA projects, programmes and general studies in the field of materials physics and chemistry, throughout all project phases;
• participating in feasibility studies, project reviews and evaluation of procurement proposals;
• providing technical expertise for project-specific activities in the selection, characterisation and verification of materials, including the review of the materials’ physical and chemical properties to ensure compliance with the expected performances and to assess the impacts of environmental degradation effects, the definition of testable hypotheses which help resolve failures of materials, the definition and execution of supporting measurements, and testing;
• providing contamination control engineering support to space projects, developing and analysing cleanliness requirements, reviewing and drafting control plans, test reports, analysis reports and procedures for sampling, monitoring and hardware cleaning;
• identifying critical development problems and assisting in their resolution, such as through NRBs, auditing, etc.;
• coordinating non-conformance investigations and failure analysis in the required fields of competence above;
• developing and implementing procedures for new laboratory test methods and materials analysis techniques with a focus on the characterisation of physical and chemical properties, environmental effects and cleanliness and contamination control; this includes analysing future mission requirements and preparing appropriate evaluation techniques as well as predictive modelling;
• contributing to the definition and implementation of technology development requirements and work plans for the Agency’s technology programmes; defining, initiating and managing R&D activities covering both long- and short-term needs;
• fostering new application areas for multidisciplinary activities, placing emphasis on innovative concepts, cutting-edge technologies and system architectures;
• providing technical expertise for the establishment and implementation of requirements, handbooks and standards regarding space materials (Q-70 series) in your field of competence;
• maintaining and developing ESA’s expertise in your domain of competence, promoting achievements and concepts through conferences, workshops and training;
• performing laboratory activities as required;
• monitoring applicable scientific and technological trends and maintaining state-of-the-art expertise;
• disseminating the results of the activities performed and actively contributing to the transfer of knowledge across the Agency.

Your duties may also include performing other activities within your field of competence.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

Education

A master’s in materials science or engineering, materials physics or chemistry, applied physics or a similar relevant field is required.

Additional requirements

•    Knowledge and experience in the fields covered by the Section.
•    Hands-on laboratory experience with characterisation techniques aimed at evaluating physical and chemical properties, environmental effects on materials and related processes, cleanliness and contamination control.
•    Proven experience in establishing and executing complex evaluation test plans as well as setting up and performing predictive modelling and correlation analyses; this also requires experience in discussing needs with customers and translating them into test requirements and goals.