You will be part of the electronics department of the Engineering Group. The EG realizes the mechanical, electronic and software designs and is responsible for the realization, integration and testing of the prototypes and instruments for space research. All of your colleagues are passionate for engineering, technology, space research and foremost challenges which require innovative solutions.

You will contribute to future instruments for ground based telescopes and satellite missions, such that scientists all over the world are able to do ground breaking research into the universe and our own earth. Your contribution consists of discussions with system engineers on electronics for our instruments, designing, testing and documenting those systems. Important aspects for those complex designs are reliability, low noise, low power, high speed.

You will be part of a multidisciplinary team, in which you design a complex board or complex cable harness. Also, integration and testing of the electronics is done in a team of electrical, mechanical and quality engineers together with scientists of different background. Testing and documenting your work is essential. Besides, you are experienced with a wide range of measurement equipment, at list with an oscilloscope, spectrum network analyzer and signal generator.

Your project

You will participate in the ESA Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission, for which SRON builds opto-electronic and control hardware. LISA will be the first space-based gravitational wave observatory. It will address the science theme of the gravitational universe. LISA will consist of three spacecraft separated by 2.5 million km in a triangular formation, following Earth in its orbit around the Sun. Launch is expected in 2037.

You have a bachelors or masters in electrical engineering with a specialty in analog electronics. You are well familiar with all kind of analog concepts, for example low power, low noise and high speed designs. It would be beneficial if you have knowledge on EMI, grounding and control theory. You are able to design complex circuits based on high level and detailed requirements, for which you will make the schematics in Mentor Graphics. Communication and documentation are strong points as well. You enjoy travelling to different institutes and companies for technical discussions or test campaigns. In short:

• Analog designer with affinity for hardware, space and science
• In-depth knowledge of analog design concepts
• Experience with electronic simulation and design software
• Able to work with complex measurement equipment
• Great team player

Fixed-term contract: with the intention for a permanent contract in the future.

The vacancy is based at SRON Leiden or SRON Groningen. Employment of this fulltime position is by NWO-I (the Institutes organization of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research). You will start with a temporary contract for 2 years, with the intention for a permanent contract in the future. The salary will be in accordance with the salary scales of NWO-I, scale 9, but the initial salary depends on your experience. Later, a scale 10 position is possible. NWO-I has good secondary employment conditions such as:

• 42 days of vacation leave a year on full-time basis
• An excellent pension scheme
• Options for (additional) personal development
• Excellent facilities for parental leave

SRON

It is the mission of SRON to bring about breakthroughs in international space research. Therefore, the institute develops pioneering technology and advanced space instruments, and uses them to pursue Earth science, astrophysical and exoplanetary research. The instruments which SRON develops for satellites of ESA, NASA and JAXA require world leading electronic systems, which are low in power consumption, low in noise, high speed and highly reliable.

We have a strong international reputation as 'excellent in space research'. The quality and societal relevance of our science is considered ‘world-leading’. Our mission is to bring about breakthroughs in international space science.

Therefore our Instrument Science Group, supported on project basis by the Engineering Group, technologically enables breakthroughs in our science programmes: Technology, Astrophysics, Earth science (atmospheric science), Exoplanetary science.