About this job

Quality Assurance in space science? Better safe than sorry!

Can you assure that our technology meets the requirements of both space and science? In space, we’re rather safe than sorry. Do you have a strong drive to understand why things fail? SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research is hiring a Head of Quality / Product Assurance within the Engineering Group.

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.

Responsibilities

In our professional and collegiate Quality / Product Assurance group (7 fte), we support users and customers in scientific and contract research projects. We ensure the implementation of quality requirements right from the beginning of a project, and throughout all phases of a program, in both hardware and software. We work in small project groups but also in large international consortia of institute organizations.

We are looking for an inspiring Head of our Quality / Product Assurance group, a team leader who has at least 5 years of experience in Product Assurance. You will support the Principle Investigator of Scientific Instrumentation projects on quality matters and interpret and manage the quality aspects of complex space hardware development contracts. You will be a member of the Engineering Management team.

Profile

Requirements:

You will need to have a background in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering, or a related field. The idea of developing failure prevention policies, procedures, trainings and methods for products, materials, components and operational quality is right up your street. You can deal and negotiate with agencies, sub-contractors, partner institutes from in and outside the EU, and with internal staff. You can define and implement solutions in line with team objectives, individual objectives and project deadlines. We would not mind if you were passionate about creation and implementation of innovative technologies. It is a plus if you have experience in diverse functional areas relevant to space instrumentation, including knowledge of the ECSS landscape and Configuration Control Systems.

Employment conditions:

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 to go for a permanent contract. The salary will be in accordance with the salary scales of NWO-I, scale 12with a maximum annual gross income of proximally €80,000.00.

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.

Other:

The vacancy is based at SRON Utrecht. SRON Utrecht moves to Leiden in 2021.

• Candidates should be willing to travel to SRON Groningen on regular basis.
• Online screening may be part of the selection procedure.
• Assessment will be part of the selection procedure.
• In the event of equal suitability, preference will be given to female applicants.
• No commercial propositions please.