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Mechanical / Mechatronic Design Engineer
Should you apply?
You want to work in a thriving team? Contribute to high-tech developments for space? Driven for space engineering? Enthusiastic about cutting edge robotics and mechatronics?Like a nice, friendly, openminded but high focus work environment?
Overview of the Position:
The ESA Telerobotics & Haptics Laboratory is an engineering and research laboratory of the European Space Agency targeted at performing fundamental research, developments and at enabling future space robotic projects. The Laboratory is collaborating closely with Delft University of Technology, where a number of Ph.D. Students and R&D projects are coordinated with. This position is associated with the H-Haptics project, initiated by the University of Delft. Hiring will be performed by TU Delft (as NWP – niet wetenschapelijk personeel, non-scientific staff), with daily work secondment to the ESA Telerobotics & Haptics Laboratory in Noordwijk.
Main Purpose of the Position:
It is the primary purpose of this position of Mechanical-/Mechatronic Design Engineer, to support the H-Haptics Project No. 5 (Multimodal Space Robotics Teleoperation for Uncertainty Robustness in Human-Robot and Robot-Environment Variations) by supporting and implementing the mechanical design of a novel haptic exoskeleton prototype. The engineer in this role will be performing CAD design and supervision of manufacturing and integration of latest state of the art mechatronic devices. Additionally, the engineer in this position will design and contribute to specifications and requirements definition of hardware prototypes of the laboratory. The novel exoskeleton shall be compatible with usage on-board the International Space Station.
Your Responsibilities:
- help develop and define / refine system level requirements for the exoskeleton robot
- establish, review, update and analyze engineering specifications, e.g. to organize key requirements from existing prototype designs of the laboratory
- perform the CAD design in CATIA V5, including all assembly and parts designs
- Selection of active and passive COTS components, such as sensors, motors, etc. and preparation of procurement specifications
- establish manufacturing plans, including material choice, part tolerances and production methods for the production of all components
- establish manufacturing drawings
- manage and organize, with management and team members, the manufacturing capabilities, monitors the manufacturing process (at LIS Leiden), production schedule, and other necessary organizational matters to ensure timely readiness of the prototype
Qualifications:
Educational:
- Bachelor´s degree or Master´s degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited institution
- Practical fine-mechanics / mechanical construction experience preferred
Professional:
- 3+ years experience in the mechanical design, manufacturing and integration of integrated mechatronic/mechanical systems (robotics preferred)
- Experience in CAD (CATIA V5 preferred for Assembly Design, Part Design, Generative Shape Design, DMU Kinematics , Structural Analysis , Generative/Interactive Drafting)
- Experience in design of complex integrated mechanical-/electrical assemblies including actuators, electronics, wiring harnesses and electrical/computing components.
- Experience in CAE (FEM) preferred
- Experience with Product Lifecycle Management tools (PLM) and configuration management preferred
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent organizational skills
- Experience in CAM processes (e.g. CATIA)
- Familiarity with aerospace and/or MIL standards preferred
- Strong computer skills, including but not limited to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- Strong team player
- Experience in scripting for CAD (CATIA macros, CATScripts) preferred.
Personal:
The ESA Telerobotics & Haptics Laboratory operates in a somewhat informal fashion that encourages individuality and innovation. Nevertheless, the laboratory consists of a high focus, goal oriented and well organized structure that is targeting at innovating the space sector and implementing world-class space robotics projects and technology developments.
The team of the Laboratory is composed of members with various professional and educational backgrounds centered around mechatronics and (tele)robotics. The Laboratories team consists of young professional engineers, engineering doctors, promovendi and a small number of students and trainees. The Laboratories culture is such that you need to be able to integrate and contribute to a continuous `start-up´ entrepreneurial atmosphere by being highly motivated, enterprising, enthusiastic, concentrated and intrinsically driven to excellent results.
You will be a self starter and possess a good sense of responsibility. You will work under pressure of spaceflight projects and thrive on being given challenging assignments. You will be able to work easily with international team members and you will communicate clearly and be confident and persuasive. You will be intrinsically motivated to contribute to exciting robotics research and you will have excellent problem solving skills.
Duration and Contact:
The position is available asap. Initial hiring will be for 3 years under TU Delft as TU Delft Staff under the H-HAPTICS project.
Interested applicants, please submit a 1) cover letter 2) CV and brief synopsis of your prior related projects to me:
andre (dot) schiele (at) esa (dot) int
SUBJECT: Application Mechanical/Mechatronic Design Engineer