About this job

ESA is looking for an Internal Research Fellow (PostDoc) in Experimental Structure Performance Evaluation of Materials.

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

Description
The Internal Research Fellow will be based in the Materials & Processes Section, Structures, Mechanisms & Materials Division, Mechanical Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering & Quality.
 
The materials and processes used for space hardware manufacturing present very specific challenges and limitations. The ever-present need for low mass must be met while ensuring very high performance and reliability of the final product with no repair or maintenance options. Often small, complex geometries for operating in highly demanding mission environments are necessary.
 
The industrial transition to Industry 4.0 is introducing smart production capabilities through digitalisation and automation, enabling agility to react quickly to market needs and giving rise to unprecedented design solutions (e.g. additive manufacturing), as well as optimisation of cost, performance, and time to market. Another important trend is the increasing utilisation of Commercial Off-The-Shelf solutions, that require cost-effective, rapid performance evaluation and qualification.
 
In order not to compromise this agility through extensive, resource-intensive testing and qualification, structure-property relations need to be explored more fundamentally.
 
The objective of this activity is to experimentally study structure/performance relationships for space-relevant materials and processes, especially:
Powder bed additive manufacturing processes: the influence of powder characteristics and process parameters on final parts performance.
Characterisation of Pb-free solder alloys: creep, stress relaxation, temperature dependencies, formation of inter-metallic compounds on different PCB finishes and their impact on long-term reliability.
Liaising with ICME experts to provide input parameters for predictive computational modelling.
Interested candidates are encouraged to visit the ESA website: www.esa.int
 

Responsibilities

Field(s) of activity/research
Novel powder characterization techniques
Powder bed additive manufacturing
NDI
Static and dynamic mechanical analysis
Thermomechanical analysis
Metallography
Experimental model verification

Profile

Technical competencies
Ability to conduct research autonomously
Breadth of exposure coming from past and/or current research/activities
Research/publication record
Knowledge relevant to the field of research
General interest in space and space research
Ability to gather and share relevant information
Education
Applicants should have recently completed, or be close to completion of, a PhD in materials science or equivalent. Preference will be given to candidates awarded their doctorate within the past five years.

For a complete job description and to apply, click on “apply”.

The closing date for applications is 05 May 2021.

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 at contact.human.resources@esa.int.
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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, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia and Slovenia, as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Cyprus, Lithuania and Slovakia as European Cooperating States (ECS).
Priority will first be given to candidates from under-represented Member States.
We offer
The European Space Agency (ESA) is an equal opportunities employer that offers competitive salaries exempt from national income tax and excellent employment conditions, such as allowances for expatriates and relocation support. For more information: http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA
About us
We are the European Space Agency. Our mission is the peaceful exploration and use of space for the benefit of everyone. We watch over Earth, develop and launch inspiring and unique space projects, train astronauts and push the boundaries of science and technology, seeking answers to the big questions about the Universe. We are a family of scientists, engineers and business professionals from all over Europe working together in a diverse and multinational environment. We are dedicated to united space in Europe and united Europe in space. Learn more: http://www.esa.int/