Microelectronics Engineer

Telespazio Belgium can count on almost 40 years of experience in the field of Space Operations Service & Engineering activities.

We provide a significant contribution to the most major Space programs of the European Space Agency. Our core business is to work on the ground to build bridges into space, contributing to the success of ambitious missions.

The European Space Agency is our biggest client and we provide highly qualified employees to many sites of ESA but mainly for ESTEC in the Netherlands, and we provide a permanent contract with great benefits, a good salary, a relocation package along with genuine support to our employees.

On behalf of the European Space Agency, we are looking for a highly skilled Microelectronics Engineer to work in ESTEC, in the Netherlands.

What is expected from you:

The candidate is responsible for the following tasks in the field Microelectronics:

• Provide Technical Support to Projects:
  The candidate shall support ESA Staff in providing expert technical support and consultancy to ESA projects, programmes and general studies in the field of Microelectronics throughout all project phases, including:
• Provide expert consultation and problem-solving assistance throughout ESA projects development lifecycle in the field of microelectronics including ASICs, FPGAs and IP Cores
• Support the development, verification, validation and qualification of microelectronic devices for space segment platform and payload units as well as ground segment including
  a. providing technical expertise and solutions to Projects (throughout all project phases) for the implementation of digital and analogue functions into microelectronic devices involving requirements analysis, performance and budgets analysis, writing and assessment of microelectronic device specifications and architectures.
  b. review, evaluation and checking of industrial contractor's microelectronics digital and analogue design implementations.
  c. identification of design deficiencies and problem areas and proposals for their solutions.

d.participating in feasibility studies, project reviews and evaluation of procurement proposals

e. identifying critical development problems and assisting in their resolution
f. checking, review and evaluation of manufacturing and testing plans, procedures and results for microelectronic device validation, qualification and acceptance
g. initiating and monitoring of laboratory activities including preparation of test plans and review of test reports: laboratory activities as required.

• Support to R&D Programmes and Activities:

The candidate shall provide expert technical support and consultancy to ESA ESA Staff for the implementation and execution of R&D programmes and activities in the field of Microelectronics, including:
1. contributing to the definition of technology development requirements and work plans for the Agency’s technology programmes
2. supporting the ESA Staff in defining, initiating and managing R&D activities covering both long- and short-term needs
3. supporting the ESA Staff in R&D activity reviews and meetings and reporting on the R&D activity development, progress and planning
4. supporting the ESA Staff in updating associated technical dossier, roadmap and harmonisation with European industries, laboratories and national agencies; fostering new application areas for multidisciplinary activities, placing emphasis on innovative concepts, cutting-edge technologies and system architectures
5. Support ESA ESA Staff in the procurement of microelectronics development (hardware tools and IP CORE s) including the following devices for platform, payload and ground segment units:

• FPGAs
• processors
• accelerators
• security
• microcontrollers
• memories
• converters
• transceivers (wireline, wireless and optical)
• routers and switches
• front-end
• data, signal and power processing devices
• semiconductor photonics
• quantum devices

• Support the section in maintaining and improving the coordination and knowledge management in the field of microelectronics via the following tasks:
  a. participating to Section meetings.
  b. contributing to the dissemination of the results of the activities performed and the transfer of knowledge across the Agency
  c. Introducing any lesson learnt, important information and results from R&D developments, Project support and hands-on activities in common repository and in any other ad hoc directories that will be specified
  d. supporting the monitoring of applicable scientific and technological trends and maintaining state-of-the-art expertise.

• Support to ESA IP Core Service
• Technical and administrative management of the ESA System C and synthesizable HDL IP Core pool of designs. Including:
  1. development, verification, optimisation, update, implementation, testing, benchmarking, validation, qualification and overall maintenance and of the ESA HDL IP Cores databases
  2. provision of technical support to ESA IP Cores users (performing analysis and finding solutions to problems in HDL code, documentation or design methodology) holding a strong collaboration with our Contracts department in arranging and solving licences and patent issues
  3. advertising the ESA IP service (website, workshops, etc), handling IP Cores requests and their distribution
• Support to Microelectronics Laboratory
• The Microelectronic Laboratory consists of a Microelectronics Device (e.g. FPGA) Server Facility to facilitate continuous design implementation, simulation acceleration, integration, testing, evaluation and validation in an application representative environment.
• Technical and administrative management of the ESA Microelectronics Device (e.g. FPGA) Server Facility, Including:
  

1. set-up, development, optimisation, update, operation and overall maintenance and development of the microelectronics device facility,
2. Coordinate/facilitate set-up, development, optimisation, update operation and overall development of the microelectronics device facility tools and software.
3. assisting ongoing microelectronics projects with the design implementation, simulation, testing, evaluation, benchmarking, trouble shooting and validation of the microelectronics design on the facility.
4. assisting ongoing microelectronics prototype device development with the design development, improvement, implementation, testing, evaluation, trouble shooting on the facility.
5. provide expertise in the implementation, use, operation, testing, validation of functionality and performance of microelectronics devices
6. plan, specify and setup of integration, functional and performance test and validation campaigns
7. perform integration, functional and performance testing of microelectronic devices
8. recording, analysis and documentation of test and validation activities and test results,including devices configuration, equipment and failure incidents
9. contribute to the facility development management and planning
The candidate shall comply with the ESA Quality Management System.

What you offer:

• Master’s Degree in electrical engineering or equivalent fields.
• Microelectronic design for Integrated Circuits (digital and mixed-signal, wired andwireless), FPGA, IP Cores
• Microelectronic development projects from conception through qualification toapplication
• Microelectronics functional and performance verification, validation, qualification andacceptance
• Microelectronic technology, design methods and tools from HW-SW co-design,architecture modelling/analysis, circuit (schematic/hardware description languages),(high-level) synthesis, place and route, layout to verification, validation testing andapplication deployment
• Management, monitoring and supporting of industrial microelectronic activities
• Microelectronic standards for commercial and space applications

What we offer

• A competitive salary
  
• 30 days of paid annual leave, plus the days ESTEC is closed including public holidays (~12 days) based on a 40-hour working week;
• Hybrid working scheme (3 days in the office and 2 days remote in the Netherlands)
• Flexible working hours; you are in charge of your own agenda respecting core working hours
• Fully paid collective extensive health insurance scheme;
• A good pension scheme with no personal contribution;
• A career development (Coursera membership + training budget);
• Travel allowance;
• Extensive relocation package

Where:

You will be working within ESTEC, the European Space Agency’s offices in the Netherlands as a contractor for Telespazio Belgium. We don’t expect the employees to be on-site full time however you will still have to relocate to the Netherlands for this position.

Check out the ESTEC site here: esa.int/About_Us/ESTEC

When

Deadline to apply: 08/01/2025

/Please note that interviews will be held either via skype, webex, other digital platforms or onsite in ESTEC

We look forward to receiving your application for this position!