About this job

Serco Europe is recruiting a Non-Metallic Materials and Processes Engineer to work on our Customers Site (ESA-ESTEC).

Serco is a trusted provider of services to National Space Agencies and the European Space Agency (ESA), we have over 40 years’ experience supporting the space sector and providing services for all stages of our customer’s space missions.

Responsibilities

• Act as Project Focal Point with a non-metallic materials and processes expert role for defined ESA projects, reporting to the Projects Engineering as well as Product Assurance and Safety Managers, including participation to Projects meetings, reviews and audits.
• Support Materials and Processes reviews, Materials and Processes Control Boards (MPCB’s) and participate as Engineering and/or PA Board Member in ESA Programme reviews milestones (including PRRs, SRRs, PDRs, CDRs, QARs, FRRs, etc.)
• Review Declared Materials, Parts and Processes Lists (DMLs, DPLs, and DMPLs) as well as RFAs, RFDs/RFWs, ECPs, etc.
• Perform laboratory characterisation and verification for space use on spacecraft and launchers of a variety of non-metallic materials (including but not limited to ceramics, glasses, polymers, adhesives, coatings, composites and thermoplastics) as well as all associated manufacturing processes.
• Analyse the behaviour and perform failure investigation of non-metallic materials and their associated manufacturing processes using a variety of laboratory equipment, among others NDI, physic-chemical laboratory simulation, testing and analysis, thermal analysis, chemical analysis, physical and microscopic analysis, surface analysis, spectroscopic analysis, etc.
• Support major Non-Conformances Review Board activities, perform failure analysis and failure investigation using a variety of laboratory tools (including acoustic microscopy, optical microscopy, confocal microscopy, XRD, X-Ray, NDI etc.) and drafting of related reports.
• Contribute to the establishment issuing and implementation of standards for the development and the procurement of space grade materials.
• Support the operation and regular updating of the associated management information tools and system databases, including dedicated materials and processes databases.
• Participate to the Division/Section R&D strategy definition and implementation, while supporting issuing roadmaps and strategic papers related to the Division/Section disciplines.
• Support the preparation, issuing and management of the technology roadmaps for advanced non-metallic materials and processes developments.
• Support the definition and implementation of the Research and Technology activities in the domain of non-metallic materials, structural ceramics and related manufacturing processes and coating systems.
• Support the evaluation of proposals for technology R&D activities on their technical merit, consistency and priorities and recommendation for ESA endorsement.
• Support the coordination of technology R&D activities, monitoring of the procurement implementation, evaluation and reporting of the achieved results and lessons learnt to the relevant ESA Directorates and key Partners.
• General processing of polymeric materials and their joining technologies.
• Processing/production, testing, and performance evaluation of structural and non-structural adhesive bonding.
• Processing/production, testing, and performance evaluation of carbon-fibre reinforced composites.
• Expert knowledge related to ceramic and metallic materials and processes is considered an asset.

Profile

• Master’s degree in materials sciences or mechanical engineering.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in materials and processes engineering.
• Good knowledge about general test and qualification methodologies and especially experience in mechanical testing and NDI.
• Familiarity with ESA Materials and processes related requirements.
• Understanding of space missions related requirements and capability to propose verification methods including testing, analysis, inspections.
• Materials laboratory hands-on experience related to non-metallic materials and manufacturing processes characterisation/verification and failure investigation.
• Capability to take decisions for selection of materials and processes for space applications.
• Comfortable with working in a diverse and multinational team environment.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively, autonomously and cooperatively in a diverse and international team environment, defining and implementing solutions in line with team and individual objectives, as well as project deadlines.
• Proficient in the English language, both written and spoken.
• Knowledge of another EU member state language is an asset.
• Candidates must be eligible to work in the EU.