Junior Systems Engineer

European Southern Observatory; München; Vor Ort; EUR 42.000 - 64.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Relocation assistance

Pension scheme

Medical benefits

Education and family support

Zusammenfassung

ESO in Garching near Munich is seeking recent engineering or physics graduates to join the Systems Engineering Department on a one-year Paid Associate contract. You will work with senior engineers on real-world projects related to the VLT and ELT, starting from design activities and developing tools, then maintaining and modifying existing systems.

The exact project depends on your background and interests, with areas including Requirements Management, AI/ML, data science, and Adaptive Optics.

Qualifikationen

• Understanding of the concepts of Systems Engineering.
• Experience in python programming, configuration management, data science, requirements management, verification management, machine learning / LLMs, Adaptive Optics.
• Experience in international or interdisciplinary teams.

Aufgaben

• Work alongside senior engineers on real-world projects in support of the VLT or ELT, starting from new design activities and developing tools.
• Maintenance and modification of existing systems of the VLT or ELT.
• Projects will be in areas such as requirements management, AI/ML, data science, or adaptive optics depending on background.

Jobbeschreibung

The role is based on-site at ESO and relocation to the duty station area is required.

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.

Closing date for applications is 7 November 2026.

Interviews are expected to start soon after this date.