Description

Head of the Mechatronics and Optics Division, Mechanical Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

Reporting to the Head of the Mechanical Department, the Head of the Mechatronics and Optics Division is responsible for managing the Division and its activities that cover optical technologies and instruments, optoelectronics technologies, optical communications and quantum technologies, automation and robotics systems in crewed and uncrewed missions, and life and physical sciences instrumentation, including in situ resource utilisation technologies and environmental and control life support (ECLS) systems.

Duties

If selected for this position you will:

• ensure a positive and motivating working environment within the Division;
• establish and maintain good working relationships and technical networks with users, project groups and other organisational bodies within and outside ESA;
• contribute to the continuous improvement of working procedures and to the reflection on the evolution of the Division’s role and activities;
• support the Section Heads in anticipating and resolving sensitive or difficult situations, liaising with Human Resources as required;
• provide technical support to all ESA projects and development programmes in your areas of competence, while participating in the preparation of engineering standards and design guidelines;
• contribute to the definition and promotion of a broad ESA technical and industrial policy, while participating in the definition and execution of the Agency’s technology programmes;
• implement technology development activities in all covered disciplines (and the associated harmonisation roadmaps);
• define and manage the Division’s budgetary resources as well as its laboratory infrastructure, maintaining and operating the necessary internal/external laboratories and their analysis tools;
• liaise on technical matters with users and project groups within and outside the Agency, ensuring harmonisation with other ESA and national developments, as well as monitoring development trends.

You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

As Head of Division, you will be supported by several Heads of Section, who each manage a team of technical experts.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

You should have a university degree in one of the engineering disciplines covered by the Division, with solid experience in spaceborne systems and proven capabilities in R&D.

Additional requirements

• Demonstrated experience in the management of a large team in a project or R&D environment;
• Sound knowledge of optical technologies and instrument design and analysis, engineering and verification, covering micro-optics, interferometry and spectroradiometric imaging and calibration;
• Sound knowledge of optoelectronics technologies and instruments, including laser, photonic integrated optics, detectors, optical communications and quantum technologies;
• Sound knowledge of automation and robotics systems and payloads through dealing with space exploration projects and payload control systems in crewed and uncrewed missions;
• Sound knowledge of instrumentation technologies for life and physical sciences and exploration, including in situ resource utilisation and environmental control and life support (ECLS) systems;
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, as well as solid cognitive, analytical, planning, delegation and organisational skills. In addition, strong relationship management skills, the ability to motivate a team of engineers and a highly developed sense of innovation and creativity are required.

Additional competencies, which would be considered assets for this position:

• Previous experience of managing managers and multiple teams;
• The ability to provide strategic direction to the individuals and teams within the Division and then relate team objectives to the overall and evolving organisational goals and context;
• The ability to drive performance and foster cooperation within and across teams throughout the organisation;
• A proven track record of representing the Agency’s interests to external interfaces;
• The ability to anticipate problems, resolve complex issues and relate situations to their context;
• The ability to make solution-oriented, pragmatic and timely decisions of a high standard and with a high level of integrity, supporting others (team members, senior management and other stakeholders) in this process.