Open application - Scientist/Mechanical Engineer

cosine GmbH; Sassenheim; On-site; EUR 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days of annual leave

Annual bonus based on performance

Company bicycle and fitness plans

Personal development budget

Job summary

cosine GmbH in the Netherlands is seeking a Scientist or Mechanical Engineer to contribute to innovative technologies enabling space exploration and scientific research. You will work on complex systems across various projects, developing high-performance instruments for international missions.

This role demands a MSc or PhD in Engineering or Physics, where your analytical skills and hands-on mindset will help push boundaries in the aerospace field. Enjoy a unique work environment with a competitive salary, hybrid options, and a focus on personal development.

Qualifications

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English.
• Experience through academic research projects or industrial R&D.

Responsibilities

• Develop and analyse thermal and mechanical solutions for high-performance instruments.
• Design, develop, and validate electronic subsystems for space instrumentation.
• Translate technical requirements into innovative mechanical designs.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Hands-on engineering mindset

Education

MSc or PhD in relevant engineering or physics

Job description

Your (space) mission

As a Scientist or Mechanical Engineer at cosine, you will contribute to cutting‑edge technologies that enable space exploration, Earth observation, and advanced scientific research. Whether your expertise lies in physics, mechanics, electronics, optics, thermal engineering, or systems development, you will work alongside multidisciplinary teams to solve complex technical challenges and transform innovative ideas into real‑world instruments and systems.

At cosine, we combine scientific excellence with hands‑on engineering. Our teams develop high‑performance technologies for international space missions, scientific facilities, and industrial applications. Depending on your background and interests, you will be working on projects that range from concept development and modelling to testing, integration, and validation.

We are always interested in meeting talented MSc and PhD graduates who are eager to push technological boundaries and make a tangible impact on the future of science and space exploration.

Potential opportunities include:

• Scientist Engineer Thermo‑Mechanical: Develop and analyse thermal and mechanical solutions for high‑performance instruments operating in challenging environments. You will contribute to the design, modelling, testing, and qualification of systems that must perform reliably in space and other demanding applications.
• Scientist Engineer Electronics / Avionics: Design, develop, and validate electronic subsystems that form the backbone of advanced space instrumentation. Your work may involve embedded electronics, avionics architectures, hardware verification, and system integration, contributing directly to mission‑critical technologies.
• Scientist Engineer Silicon Pore Optics: Support the development of next‑generation X‑ray optics based on Silicon Pore Optics technology. You will design and execute experiments, analyse measurement data, work with precision assembly processes, and contribute to technologies that enable future space telescopes and advanced scientific instrumentation.
• Mechanical Engineer: Translate complex technical requirements into innovative mechanical designs and practical engineering solutions. You will work across the full development cycle, from concept generation and detailed design to manufacturing support, testing, and customer‑facing project activities.

Your profile

We are looking for candidates with the following qualifications:

• MSc or PhD degree in Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related technical discipline
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills combined with a hands‑on engineering mindset
• Affinity with complex multidisciplinary systems and technology development
• Experience through academic research projects, industrial R&D, or relevant engineering activities
• Ability to communicate effectively in English within an international environment
• Curiosity, initiative, and motivation to contribute to innovative technologies for space and science
• Residing within commuting distance of Sassenheim, the Netherlands, or willing to relocate

What we offer

At cosine, we highly value our employees, and we will support your professional and personal development. We also provide our employees with:

• A unique, international working environment at the intersection of physics and engineering
• The opportunity to deliver end‑to‑end solutions in autonomous project teams, in close collaboration with customers
• A competitive salary based on the extent of relevant experience and seniority of the position
• 27 days of annual leave (based on full‑time employment)
• Annual bonus based on personal and company performance
• Hybrid working options, including the possibility to work partially from home
• Company bicycle and fitness plans
• A personal development budget

About cosine

cosine transforms high‑stakes measurement challenges into scalable, real‑world solutions.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Sassenheim, the Netherlands, cosine is a world‑leading developer of space instrumentation and measurement systems. Our expertise spans Silicon Pore Optics — including optics developed for ESA's NewAthena X‑ray observatory — as well as hyperspectral remote sensing solutions for Earth Observation and planetary science. With over 25 years of experience and facilities across the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy, cosine brings deep scientific and engineering expertise to some of the most demanding missions in the space sector.

What makes cosine a unique place to work is that your work goes end‑to‑end: from concept and design to building, testing, and delivering hardware that actually flies in space. You work in small, highly skilled teams where you have real ownership and impact, alongside experts in optics, physics, nanofabrication, and systems engineering.