Instrumentation Alignment and Verification Engineer

Instrumentation Alignment and Verification Engineer

The European Southern Observatory – Garching, BY, Germany – offers a competitive salary of €5,000 - €10,000 per month.

The Systems Engineering Department comprises a team of 30 engineers, distributed over 3 groups. The department provides Systems Engineering expertise to ESO's projects, in particular for the development of the Extremely Large Telescope and its sub‑systems and for the design and development of advanced optical and infrared instrumentation for the telescopes of ESO's La Silla‑Paranal Observatory.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensure the feasibility of instrument alignment approaches with respect to performance targets, cost, and manufacturability.
• Contribute to the definition of requirements and verification plans, ensuring comprehensive test coverage across development phases that balances risk mitigation and cost.
• Lead troubleshooting and root‑cause analysis of performance deviations during integration and verification.
• Collaborate closely with key stakeholders, including systems engineers, AIV managers, and specialists in optics, mechanics, cryogenics, detectors, and software.
• Provide training and mentoring to junior engineers in alignment and optical test methods, fostering knowledge transfer and appropriate documentation; contribute to lessons‑learned exercises and improving systems engineering processes.

Reports To

The Head of the Instrument Systems Group.

Experience

• At least 5 years of experience in alignment and testing of optical instruments, including hands‑on work in clean‑room environments.
• Applying systems engineering good practices in the development of optical instruments or test equipment, especially in the verification activities.
• Working in multi‑disciplinary and multi‑national teams within large scientific or engineering projects.

Key Competences

• Proven experience with metrology techniques, in particular laser tracker, theodolite, auto‑collimator, and wavefront sensing with Shack‑Hartmann and interferometry techniques.
• Broad knowledge of optical & mechanical manufacturing, optical technologies, opto‑mechanical engineering, testing/characterization/calibration methods used in optical and infrared instrumentation. Experience in the context of cryogenic instruments, mechanisms and/or seismic/vibration‑prone environments is an asset.
• Proven ability in building strong, effective relationships across cultures and disciplines, both within and outside the organization, and fostering consensus while keeping the project objectives in focus. Very good communication skills.

Desirable Competences

• Familiarity with AIT activities at astronomical observatories or large‑scale integration facilities.
• Ability to analyse instrument performances and develop supporting tools.
• Experience with scientific programming languages (e.g., Python, R, Matlab) for data analysis and test automation.
• Experience with optical simulation / modeling tools (e.g. Zemax OpticStudio, Code V, FRED) is an asset.

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Physics, Optical Engineering, Astronomy, or a closely related field.
• Additional training or certification in systems engineering or project management is an asset.

Language Skills

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

Remuneration and Contract

We offer an attractive remuneration package including a competitive salary, comprehensive pension scheme and medical, educational and other social benefits, as well as financial help in relocating your family and in placing your child/children in daycare.

Contract: fixed‑term duration of three years, subject to successful completion of the probation period. Extension possible based on performance and organisational requirements.

Duty Station

Garching near Munich, Germany with regular duty trips to ESO sites in Chile. Frequent travel to scientific institutes and companies within Europe and to the observatories in Chile will be necessary. Temporary transfer or long missions to Chile might be needed.

Application

If you are interested in working in areas of frontline technology and in a stimulating international environment, please apply online at Include a motivation letter and CV, and provide the names and contact details of three referees willing to provide a recommendation letter.

Closing date for applications is 19 January 2026.