Photonics Engineer / Physicist

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The European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world\’s most productive ground-based astronomical observatory. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries.

ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in northern Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor (home to ALMA), and the ESO Headquarters are located in Garching, near Munich, Germany.

At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the world\’s most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory, and will host and operate the southern array of the Cherenkov Telescope Array, the world\’s largest and most sensitive high energy gamma-ray observatory. ESO is a major partner in ALMA. On Cerro Armazones, ESO is building the 39-metre Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), which will become \“the world\’s biggest eye on the sky\“ and whose operations will be fully integrated into the Paranal Observatory.

Due to the need for additional resources associated with the ELT programme, for the Optical Engineering Department, within the Directorate of Engineering (DoE) at its Headquarters in Garching, near Munich, Germany, ESO is advertising the position of a

We are looking for an photonic engineer / physicist to support ESO\’s ELT and Instrumentation programs, in the fields of spectroscopy and interferometry with a focus on fiber optics and photonic integrated components. Among the responsibilities are to monitor new developments in photonics and optics relevant to astronomical instruments; identify where they could be applied to ESO\’s instrument suite. Contribute to ESO\’s Technology Development programme and participate in R&D activities where new developments can be tested in the lab and on sky.

This position provides the opportunity to work in a collaborative international environment and hands-on participation to large scale optical systems for astronomy.

The Optical Engineering Department comprises a team of about 20 engineers. The department provides engineering expertise to ESO\’s projects within the ESO matrix organization, in the areas of optical design for telescopes and instruments, active optics and wave front control, metrology for telescope alignment, laser guide stars, optical fiber technology and Assembly Integration and Testing of optical systems and instruments. In addition, the department manages 900m2 of optical and opto-mechanical integration laboratories at ESO headquarters and supports the observatories in solving optical problems arising in systems in operation.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Participate to the follow-up and review of telescope and instrument design and AIT activities, with a focus on fiber optics, photonics and optical analyses.
• Actively liaise, in coordination with ESO\’s project managers, with external institutes and/or contractors during the design, manufacturing and testing of optical systems.
• Develop the department\’s know-how in the field of fiber optics, photonic components and laser frequency combs. This includes the definition and implementation of dedicated studies and experiments to validate key methods or components.
• Provide support for problem solving on optical systems incl. laser frequency combs already in operation at ESO\’s observatories.

Reports to:

Head of the Telescope and Instrument Optics group in the Optical Engineering Department as functional manager within ESO\’s matrix structure.

Key Competences and Experience:

Essential Competences and Experience:

• Broad knowledge of optics, in particular fiber and photonic component technologies.
• Practical experience with fiber and waveguide based optical systems.
• Broad knowledge of interferometry and/or spectroscopy
• Strong analytical skills. Ability to identifying key issues, assessing options, and proposing a way forward to guaranty risk and problem control.
• Be proactive in acquiring new skills and quickly develop expertise.
• Provide clear, concise and timely oral and written communications.
• Plan activities, monitor progress of your own work, deliver to agreed deadlines and standards.
• Ability and motivation to work in a team. Building strong collaborative working relationships with people from different cultural backgrounds and engineering disciplines.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience within the area of the aforementioned essential competencies.

Desirable Competences and Experience:

• Familiarity with optical and photonic design software tools (preferably OpticStudio, Synopsis RSoft).
• Experience with astronomical instrumentation.
• Knowledge of laser frequency combs.
• Knowledge of optical tolerance analyses, sensitivity analyses, error budgets.

Qualifications:

Masters degree in Photonic Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics or equivalent.

Language Skills:

A very good command of English both oral and written is essential. A good command of German and/or working knowledge of Spanish would be an asset.

Remuneration and Contract:

We offer an attractive remuneration package including a competitive salary, comprehensive pension scheme and medical, educational and other social benefits, as well as financial help in relocating your family and the possibility to place your child/children in daycare.

The contract is for a fixed term duration of three years and is subject to successful completion of the probation period. There may be a possibility of extension(s) subject to individual performance and organisational requirements, in particular for the ELT Programme, and as defined in the applicable policies and staff rules and regulations. For any further information, please visit ESO\’s conditions of employment (https://www.eso.org/public/jobs/conditions/ ). Please note that the contract policy and in particular the regulations concerning fixed-term and indefinite contracts are currently under review which may lead to changes in the contractual conditions applicable to this position.

Duty Station:

Garching near Munich, Germany with duty trips to all ESO sites in Chile as required.

This role is in Career Path V.

Application:

If you are interested in working in areas of frontline technology and in a stimulating international environment, please visit (http://www.eso.org ) for further details.

Applicants are invited to apply online at http://recruitment.eso.org/ . Applications must be completed in English and should include a motivation letter and CV. Within your CV, please provide the names and contact details of three persons familiar with your work and willing to provide a recommendation letter upon request. Referees will not be contacted without your prior consent.

Closing date for applications is 21 September 2025.

Interviews are expected to start soon after this date.

ESO Values

An important element in any successful employment relationship is harmony in values between an organisation and its people.

The ESO values are:

ESO strives for excellence through innovation.

ESO provides outstanding services to its communities.

ESO fosters diversity & inclusion.

ESO believes in the key role of sustainability for its future.

Achieving the above are recognized as only possible on the basis of personal values and attitudes that we expect from our employees: respect, integrity, accountability, commitment, collaboration, and clear & open communication.

Applicants to any ESO role are asked to reflect on their affinity with these values and advised they may be asked about them if called for interview.

No nationality is in principle excluded from employment at ESO, however, recruitment preference will be given to nationals of our Member States, host states and strategic partners: Australia, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Chile, irrespective of gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity or religion.

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