Internal Research Fellow (PostDoc) in experimental structure-performance evaluation of materials
JOB DETAIL
Internal Research Fellowship Opportunity in the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.
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.
This post is classified F2 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale.
Location
ECSAT, Harwell, United Kingdom
Our team and mission
The materials and processes used for space hardware manufacturing are confronted with very particular challenges and limitations: the omnipresent need for low mass must be fulfilled while ensuring that the final product displays very high performance and reliability, especially since there is no possibility of repair or maintenance.
The geometries necessary for operating on highly demanding mission environments are often small and complex. The transition towards Industry 4.0 is introducing smart production capabilities through digitalisation and automation, bringing greater agility to react quickly to market needs and making unprecedented design solutions (such as additive manufacturing) possible, as well as the optimisation of cost, performance and time to market.
Another important trend is the increasing utilisation of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions that require cost-effective and accelerated performance evaluation and qualification. To avoid compromising this enhanced agility through extensive and resource-intensive testing and qualification, structure-property relations need to be explored more fundamentally.
You are encouraged to visit the ESA website: https://www.esa.int/
Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship
You will carry out experimental studies on structure/performance relationships for space-related materials and processes, focusing on:
- powder bed additive manufacturing processes: influence of powder characteristics and process parameters on the final parts’ performance;
- the characterisation of Pb-free solder alloys: creep, stress relaxation, temperature dependencies, formation of intermetallic compounds on different PCB finishes and their influence on long-term reliability;
- experimental techniques that will cover novel powder characterisation, advanced NDI, static and dynamic mechanical analysis, thermomechanical analysis, metallography and experimental model verification.
You will also liaise with ICME experts to provide relevant input parameters for predictive computational modelling, as well as with colleagues to explore necessary experimental capabilities on the Harwell Campus. Your work will be integrated in a team which will give guidance for project applications for future missions.
Technical competencies
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
Education
You should have recently completed, or be close to completion of a PhD in a related technical or scientific discipline. Preference will be given to applications submitted by candidates within five years of receiving their PhD. In particular for this position, the following is required:
PhD in materials science or equivalent.
Additional requirements
The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.
Other information
For behavioural competencies expected from ESA staff in general, please refer to the ESA Competency Framework.
For further information on the Internal Research Fellowship Programme please visit: Internal Research Fellowship
The Agency may require applicants to undergo selection tests.
In addition to your CV and your motivation letter, please add your proposal of no more than 5 pages outlining your proposed research in the “additional documents” field of the “application information” section.
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 [email protected].
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, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia, as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria and Cyprus as European Cooperating States (ECS).
According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to candidates from under-represented Member States*.
In accordance with the European Space Agency’s security procedures and as part of the selection process, successful candidates will be required to undergo basic screening before appointment conducted by an external background screening service.
*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.
