Junior Professional in Optical and Quantum Detector Technologies
Job Requisition ID: 19540
Date Posted: 15 May 2025
Closing Date: 5 June 2025 23:59 CET/CEST
Publication: Internal & External
Type of Contract: Junior Professional
Directorate: Technology, Engineering and Quality
Workplace:Noordwijk, NL
Grade Band: A1 - A1
This post is part of ESA’s Junior Professional Programme. We are looking for enthusiastic candidates with up to 2–3 years of relevant professional experience after their Master’s degree to join ESA for a four-year assignment. During this time, you will be actively working and learning on the job and will benefit from valuable mobility and developmental opportunities that will prepare you for a successful career at ESA. Subject to performance, it is therefore the intention to offer you an indefinite contract which will start at the end of the four years.
The selection process for the 2025 cohort of Junior Professionals will take place during Spring 2025, with a projected start date in October or November 2025.
Recruitment will take place at the A1 grade. At the end of the fourth year and if you are offered an indefinite contract at the end of your Junior Professional assignment, you will be upgraded to the A2 grade.

DESCRIPTION

This Junior Professional position will be in the Optoelectronics Section of the Optics, Robotics and Life Sciences Division, Mechanical Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.
The Optoelectronics Section provides functional support to ESA projects and carries out technological research and development (R&D) in the field of optoelectronic device technologies and applications.
In particular, the Optoelectronics Section deals with the specification, development and characterisation of photonic component subsystems and active optical instruments, such as detectors and lasers operating in the UV to FIR wavelength ranges, fibre-optic sensors, lidars, optical communication systems and quantum technologies.
The Section is staffed with around 20 engineers supporting all ESA projects and offers a unique opportunity to contribute on the challenges related to the optoelectronic technologies needed for ESA missions, spacecraft, instruments and equipment.

EDUCATION

A master’s degree in physics or a relevant engineering discipline is required.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

You should have between two and three years of professional experience, preferably in a relevant domain, after completion of your Master’s degree.

As a Junior Professional, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the following areas and activities by studying the related optoelectronic technologies, becoming involved in the team’s ongoing activities and acquiring hands-on experience from performing experiments:

• Optical detectors operating in the X-ray to FIR range, especially using CCD, CMOS, MCT or InGaAs-based technologies
• Optical focal plane arrays and related front-end electronics
• Optical detectors exploiting quantum technologies (SNSPDs, TESs, etc.)
• Using optical detectors as part of space-based instruments for Earth observation and astronomy, as well as for quantum instruments (cold atom interferometers, atomic clocks, quantum communication and quantum sensors)
• Supporting development activities for the topics listed above and other related optoelectronic technologie

As a Junior Professional, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the following areas and activities by studying the related optoelectronic technologies, becoming involved in the team’s ongoing activities and acquiring hands-on experience from performing experiments:

• Optical detectors operating in the X-ray to FIR range, especially using CCD, CMOS, MCT or InGaAs-based technologies
• Optical focal plane arrays and related front-end electronics
• Optical detectors exploiting quantum technologies (SNSPDs, TESs, etc.)
• Using optical detectors as part of space-based instruments for Earth observation and astronomy, as well as for quantum instruments (cold atom interferometers, atomic clocks, quantum communication and quantum sensors)
• Supporting development activities for the topics listed above and other related optoelectronic technologies