Job Title
Biomedical Engineer
Company Overview
KBR GmbH was established in October 2000 to provide human spaceflight medical support services to the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Space Medicine Team (SMT) at the European Astronaut Center (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. KBR GmbH specializes in the provision of biomedical engineering, space medicine projects including Crew Health and Performance (CHP) technology evaluation, health care administration, psychology, nutrition, medical informatics and technology, fitness and rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and medical education. By developing expertise in these core areas whilst supporting capacity building and broader strategy/risk management, KBR GmbH has expanded to provide support services to a range of customers in aerospace, government and space life science/medical research. Thus, KBR GmbH’s employees contribute to a wide range of projects including astronaut selection and training, ongoing medical operations to the International Space Station and other Low Earth Orbit (LEO) missions, whilst supporting the ESA SMT’s endeavors in preparation for space exploration beyond LEO.
Benefits
- Training and Education support
- Worker’s Compensation coverage
- Company pension scheme
- KVB Job ticket support – Local Transportation support - Cologne and Bonn Area
- Sport Membership Benefit
- Hybrid/working options
Purpose of the Job
A Biomedical Engineer (BME) is a member of the ESA Space Medicine Team (SMT) within the Engineering & Operations (E&O) unit. The general function of the BME is to ensure astronaut health and well-being by providing medical operational, engineering, and project support to the ESA crew surgeons, the SMT medical project unit, and other ESA human spaceflight mission support disciplines. This includes medical technology development support, document preparation, operational processes development, flight controller training, and console support in the role of EAC Crew Operations Support (ECOS) Flight Controller and/or EUROCOM Flight Controller.
Responsibilities
General Functions
- Implement ESA crew medical activities during pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight mission phases in coordination with the ESA Crew Surgeon, Health Care Administrator, Fitness, Rehabilitation and Countermeasure expert, Psychologist, and other space medicine experts.
- Perform the role and duties of Increment Medical Operations Lead (IML) as a representative of the ESA Space Medicine Team.
- Provide operations preparation and console expertise to ESA medical system technology demonstrations and other SMT medical projects in analogues like LUNA, on board the ISS, and within Artemis.
- Develop requirements, new operational scenarios, and verification qualifications for future ESA Human Space Programs.
- Domestic and international travel as necessary.
Flight Controller Functions
- Support ESA Crew Operations Support (ECOS) Flight Controller from EAC, including shift schedules and on-call duties.
- Provide ESA and joint integrated simulations for upcoming flights and mentorship to flight controller trainees.
- Maintain console documentation and software support tools.
- Support ISS increment or mission preparation, in-mission and post-mission meetings for assigned ECOS payloads.
- Maintain excellent working relationships with the payload integration team, manage and validate related data, and respond to anomalies.
- Maintain ECOS Facilities as required.
- Support EUROCOM Flight Controller operations from EAC for all mission phases involving ESA astronauts.
- Maintain relationships with International Partner communicator and medical teams and provide expertise of ESA controlled equipment.
- Develop and implement training for other ESA Flight Controllers on EUROCOM and ESA Medical Operations.
Training Requirements
- Successful completion of COLUMBUS systems and payload training certification (user level).
- Successful completion of COL-CC Flight Controller Training for console operations.
- For ECOS assignments: successful completion of ECOS Flight Controller training & certification.
- For EUROCOM assignments: successful completion of ESA EUROCOM Flight Controller Certification.
- Successful completion of Instructor Training Course (or Light version) is an asset.
- Successful completion of Project Management training.
Qualifications & Experience
- Full-time equivalent (40 hours per week) with core hours Monday through Friday at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany.
- Degree in engineering or science – Biomedical Engineering, Biology, Systems Engineering, Computer Science (software, data or system architecture) encouraged.
- Fluency in English (written and spoken) and ability to present to large groups.
- Experience in ISS medical systems, ISS medical operations, ISS space flight procedures, space flight communication protocols, and/or ISS Astronaut training lesson design, development and implementation highly sought after.
- Strong foundational knowledge in human space flight, especially space operations.
- Mission Control experience enhances effectiveness.
- Knowledge of English and/or another ESA member state language.
- Experience in agile project management and performance evaluation.
- Formal lessons in human physiology.
- High level of flexibility, positive attitude, multi-tasking and stress management.
- Proficiency with information technology resources.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with international partners.
- Additional asset experience: ISS medical systems technical aspects, space flight procedures development, communication protocols, astronaut training lesson design, payload operations, medical technology development, ground segment infrastructure, human physiology, life sciences, medical technology operations.
EEO Statement
We welcome applications from people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, all genders, LGBTQ+ individuals and ex-service personnel.
