SPICA is an M-class ESA mission and has recently been selected for a 3 year study phase after which it may be selected for launch. SRON, in its role as Principal Investigator, is responsible for the SAFARI instrument onboard SPICA. SAFARI is a grating spectrometer with bolometers read out by Transition Edge Sensors operating at cryogenic temperatures. For the study team we are hiring a

Sr. System Engineering manager (f/m)

Job Summary:
As technical lead of the SAFARI system engineering team you will go through all phases of a project lifecycle from concept to manufacturing and test to in-orbit operations. In the next three years the prime focus is on demonstrating the technology and developing the instrument concept (phase A and technology Readiness Level 5). The international SAFARI engineering team consists of about 20 experts, of which 10 are locally at SRON (engineers, scientists and support staff). This number will grow to about 100 worldwide if SPICA is selected after phase A. You will also act as deputy project manager. 

Duties:

• To lead a team of (system) engineers and instrument scientist throughout the development of a space instrument.
• To implement within your team:
  • requirements engineering;
  • design and configuration resulting in a physical architecture;
  • generation of technical design and development plan;
  • verification to show compliance with the specified requirements;
  • (risk) analysis;
  • Control and integration of the engineering disciplines;
  • Converging trade-offs between technical specification, delivery time, cost and risk.
• Act as technical point of contact of the instrument development and satellite interface with JAXA and ESA.
• Author scientific publications and present your work at international conferences.
• To act as internationally established expert in your discipline

• PhD in a discipline related to (FIR) instrumentation e.g. Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering or Astronomy;
• experience in developing instrumentation, preferably space instruments;
• experience with System Engineering;
• Good communicator and listener;
• Good verbal and written communication skills (in English);
• Team player, working well as part of a diverse team;
• Ability to work in a continuously changing environment;
• Ability to identify the major issues, obtain relevant technical information from the team and formulate solutions;
• Be able to spend parts of your time with partner institutes outside the Netherlands. 

SRON core competencies:

• Innovative
• Focused on collaboration
• Responsibility
• A global player
• Flexibility

Fixed-term contract: 2 jaar.

Employment of this full-time position as a Senior System Engineer at SRON-Groningen is by NWO-I (The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research Institutes) and will be for a period of two years. Longer term employment is a possibility after proven suitability for the position.

The salary will be in accordance with the salary scales of NWO-I, which will be between € 61,000.00 and € 93,500.00 gross per year, highly depending on your work experience.
NWO-I and SRON have number of regulations that support employees in finding a good work-life balance. Such as conditions for teleworking, partly paid parental leave and the possibility to purchase and sell holiday leave. Furthermore we offer generous relocation expenses and support with finding accommodation.

SRON

SRON's mission is to bring about breakthroughs in international space research. Therefore the institute develops pioneering technology and advanced space instruments, and uses them to pursue fundamental astrophysical research, Earth science and exoplanetary research. As national expertise institute SRON gives counsel to the Dutch government and coordinates national contributions to international space missions. SRON stimulates the implementation of space science in our society. SRON stimulates the implementation of space science in our society.