By continuing to browse this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Read our privacy policy

Head of the Radiation Hardness Assurance and Component Analysis Section

Noordwijk

  • Organization: ESA - European Space Agency
  • Location: Noordwijk
  • Grade: Junior level - A2 - Grade band
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Nuclear Technology
    • Managerial positions
  • Closing Date: Closed

EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY

Head of the Radiation Hardness Assurance and Component Analysis Section

Job Req ID:  17421
Closing Date:  28 March 2023 23:59 CET/CEST
Establishment:  ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
Directorate:  Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality
Publication:  Internal & External
Vacancy Type:  Permanent
Date Posted:  7 March 2023

 

Vacancy in the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

 

ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.

 

This post is classified A2-A4 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale.

 

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands  

 

Description

Head of the Radiation Hardness Assurance and Component Analysis Section in the Technical Reliability and Quality Division, Product Assurance and Safety Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

 

If selected for this position, you will report to the Head of the Technical Reliability and Quality Division. As Head of the Radiation Hardness Assurance and Component Analysis Section, you will be responsible for the management of the Section, its resources and activities. In addition, you will be required to carry out and contribute to operational activities within the technical domains of the Section.

Duties

Your duties will include:
•    ensuring a positive and motivating working environment for the Section;
•    managing the workforce of the Section with accountability for all resources and activities delegated to the Section;
•    maintaining and developing the expertise and technical competence of the Section’s members to meet current and future strategic needs, taking due account of their motivation, aspirations and professional development with appropriate opportunities for laboratory work;
•    distributing and assigning the tasks of the Section to its members, monitoring and managing their performance and providing timely and regular feedback;
•    anticipating and resolving sensitive or difficult situations, liaising with HR as required;
•    negotiating, organising and coordinating the specialist support provided by the Section to ESA projects throughout all phases;
•    preparing resource requirements based on needs originating from both inside and outside the Section and resolving conflicting demands on the use of the resources available in the Section;
•    establishing and maintaining good working relationships and technical networks with users, project groups and other organisational bodies both inside and outside the Agency;
•    contributing to the continuous improvement of working procedures and to the reflection on the evolution of the Section’s role and activities.

Further Duties

The Section covers: 
•    radiation hardness assurance;
•    selection, application and risk mitigation techniques for radiation-sensitive components;
•    component analysis and testing and the development of existing and new test methods;
•    the development of component testing methods and associated standards;
•    the dissemination and promotion of the component test results and harmonisation of the test programmes.

 

Within the terms of reference of the Section, you will be responsible for:

 

•    providing expert technical support to all ESA projects, programmes and general studies in the technical domains of the Section;
•    providing an independent technical assessment capability, at both project and Agency level, and supporting project reviews;
•    contributing to the efficient and appropriate use of EEE components in ESA programmes and to the future evolution of the utilisation philosophy with associated normative elements;
•    supporting the activities of the relevant competence domains;
•    defining, maintaining and monitoring ESA product assurance requirements for radiation hardness assurance;
•    coordinating the evolution of the radiation hardness assurance and component test method standards and specifications in the context of the ECSS and ESCC systems; 
•    coordinating, where applicable, the requirements for technology elements in your domain of competence with the overall requirements for systems being developed under the responsibility of other areas in the Directorate;
•    in line with anticipated technology trends and project needs, defining, promoting and implementing the Section’s contributions to ESA technology programmes and R&D activities;
•    maintaining state-of-the-art expertise;
•    managing, supervising and promoting the work in the Component Laboratory and third-party laboratory facilities, in line with the applicable quality references (ISO-9001 and 17025).

 

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the technical domain, you will be expected to establish and maintain good working relationships and networks with experts from other related disciplines in the Directorate.

Technical competencies

Knowledge of relevant technical domains
Experience in supporting ESA programmes and/or projects and knowledge of their technical and programmatic requirements in relevant technical domains
Knowledge of the industrial landscape and ability to define technology development roadmaps identifying future trends in technology requirements
Experience in driving R&D activities, as well as knowledge of ESA technology programmes
Resource management experience
Experience in ESA procurement processes and contract management as well as applied negotiation skills
Knowledge of laboratory quality and maintenance systems, e.g. ISO 17025/9001

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

A master’s in a field relevant to component engineering is required for this post.

Additional requirements

Solid experience related to the technical domains of the Section is required, as well as in the definition and specification of technology R&D activities. You should also have substantial experience in relevant fields of design, technology development and/or laboratory management.

 

In addition, you should have:
•    the potential to manage individuals or a team of experts in a project or R&D setting and the ability to organise their activities;
•    strong leadership capabilities, with proven relationship management and communication skills;
•    the ability to drive your team’s performance, developing your people by encouraging learning, delegating responsibility and giving regular and constructive feedback;
•    strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills;
•    strong result orientation with the ability to set priorities and present practical solutions both orally and in writing;
•    the ability to manage challenging situations proactively and constructively and to be customer focused;
•    the ability to represent the Agency in interfaces with industry and government agencies.

 

Previous people management experience would be an asset, as would international experience, i.e. outside your home country, and experience in diverse functional areas relevant to the activities of ESA.
 

Other information

For behavioural competencies expected from ESA staff in general, please refer to the ESA Competency Framework.

For further information please visit: Professionals,What we offerand FAQ  

 

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.     

 

The Agency may require applicants to undergo selection tests.

 

At the Agency we value diversity and we welcome people with disabilities.  Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace.  The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further please contact us email contact.human.resources@esa.int.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

 

According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates and secondly to external candidates from under-represented or balanced Member States*.  

 

In accordance with the European Space Agency’s security procedures and as part of the selection process, successful candidates will be required to undergo basic screening before appointment conducted by an external background screening service. 

 

This vacancy is now closed.
However, we have found similar vacancies for you: