Senior Mechanical Designer NOVA

At The NOVA Optical Infrared instrumentation Group at ASTRON in Dwingeloo, we develop world-leading optical and infrared instruments for some of the most prestigious international observatories. We work closely with astronomers from the NOVA universities of Amsterdam, Groningen, Leiden and Nijmegen, and our extensive network of industrial partners. Our primary goal is to develop instruments for the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT, see the website of the European Southern Observatory: elt.eso.org) and other observatories, building on our rich history with the Very Large Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope.

The group is dynamic and agile consisting of some 30 highly skilled professionals, covering all phases of instrument development —from feasibility, through design, to manufacturing, testing and commissioning. We work across various disciplines, including optical, mechanical, thermal, electronics & software. The group is a world leader in the design and manufacturing of opto-mechanical parts with extremely small tolerances. NOVA parts are highly specialized single pieces and small series of advanced milled parts and optics of different sizes (specials) that are made mostly of aluminum.

For this unique and innovative group we are on the lookout for a passionate and detail-oriented:

Senior Mechanical Designer

(Instrument Engineer)

0,8 – 1,0 FTE

In this position you will lead the mechanical design of the Visible Spectrograph of MOSAIC. MOSAIC is the multi-object spectrograph instrument for the ELT that is being developed by a consortium of international partners led by CNRS-INSU in France. Your first objective is to successfully complete the current preliminary design phase by making detailed models and drawings of all the mechanical components of the Visible Spectrograph subsystem. After approval all parts will be manufactured, integrated and verified together with the project team. The second objective is to successfully pass the performance verification tests and deliver a complete documentation package, including Non Compliance Reports and as-built drawings.

Besides working on MOSAIC you can also contribute to other NOVA projects, including projects that focus on cryogenic opto-mechanical subsystems and on introducing new manufacturing technologies. In these projects you collaborate with our system engineers, optical and mechanical designers, PA/QA, and project managers, and you also play a key role in enhancing our design and production processes and in knowledge transfer.

Your main tasks include:

Your duties and responsibilities consist of, but are not necessarily limited to:

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Technically leading the opto-mechanical design of sub-systems and mechanisms including having a design philosophy and making design choices

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Constructing detailed designs of opto-mechanical systems and its components

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Coordinating with external partners and suppliers on design activities

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Contributing to documentation for design and analysis reports

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Providing 3D models and 2D drawings for manufacturing and as-built drawings and contributing to manufacturability assessments for parts and assemblies