LUNA Operations Engineer (w/m/d)

Enter the fascinating world of the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) and help shape the future through research and innovation! We offer an exciting and inspiring working environment driven by the expertise and curiosity of our 11,000 employees from 100 nations and our unique infrastructure. Together, we develop sustainable technologies and thus contribute to finding solutions to global challenges. Would you like to join us in addressing this major future challenge? Then this is your place!

For our institute Space Operations and Astronaut Training in Köln we are looking for

What to expect:

The organisational unit Astronaut Training is integrated into the EAC Team (European Astronaut Center Team of the European Space Agency ESA) as part of a cooperative agreement between DLR e.V. and ESA. The EAC team supports the three core areas of astronaut management, training and medical care. The main objective here is the smooth operational and scientific running of the EAC centre as part of the ISS (International Space Station) programme and for exploration projects (manned space exploration, e.g. to the moon or Mars). It also supports the PR activities of the ESA astronaut team. In the immediate vicinity of the EAC, a lunar analogue facility (LUNA) is currently being built on the DLR site in an equal cooperation between DLR and ESA, a unique facility in Europe in which innovative astronautical-robotic scenarios will be developed, implemented and tested. The building will be equipped with scientific equipment in line with the scientific requirements of the (ESA and DLR internal and external) user community and must be continuously adapted for new projects.

• Cooperative organisation of the conception, development and implementation of an operating concept for the LUNA analogue facility and associated modules in coordination with the LUNA project management
• Coordination of the creation of a DLR/ESA LUNA operating concept together with the LUNA team, ESA and other DLR departments
• Realisation of the LUNA operating concept in cooperation with ESA and commissioning of LUNA under the agreed framework conditions
• Coordination with and implementation of scientific requirements of the users
• Supporting the LUNA project management in the realisation of project activities such as the development and equipping of the facility
• Preparation of relevant ESA requirements, specifications and general documentation
• Coordination and execution of dedicated work packages including implementation in line with the overall project objectives
• Preparation of studies on the individual equipment components, based on the DLR-internal and ESA-side user enquiries, evaluation of the results and preparation of the results
• Development and commissioning of a digitally supported LUNA user request and LUNA resource management system as well as a LUNA report and results documentation procedure: query and prioritisation of user requests depending on the boundary conditions
• In collaboration with ESA: preparation, implementation and management of user campaigns, including the day-to-day running of user campaigns in collaboration with project participants
• Documenting the results of utilisation campaigns in the operational and scientific areas as well as data management
• Systematic and scientific processing of the knowledge gained in LUNA in cooperation with the respective scientific teams and ESA as well as publication of the results
• Reporting to the LUNA Analogue Steering Board and implementing its strategic and budgetary decisions
• Project acquisition for the utilisation of the facility within DLR, ESA, international interest groups (e.g. NASA), research and commercial institutions, including continuous further development of LUNA in line with the strategic orientation and utilisation requirements of DLR, ESA, international partners (NASA) and commercial stakeholders
• In cooperation with ESA: representation of the LUNA Analogue Facility in the public image, e.g. vis-à-vis ministries and other institutions, acquisition of new national and international external users of the facility, network maintenance on the topic of astronautical and robotic lunar spaceflight
• Public relations work to raise awareness of LUNA and attract relevant projects and customers

What we expect from you:

We are looking for organisational talent, time management and the ability to work independently under time pressure. In addition, a high level of customer orientation and the ability to work effectively, independently and co-operatively in a multidisciplinary and international team are required.

What we offer:

DLR stands for diversity, appreciation and equality for all people. We promote independent work and the individual development of our employees both personally and professionally. To this end, we offer numerous training and development opportunities. Equal opportunities are of particular importance to us, which is why we want to increase the proportion of women in science and management in particular. Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are qualified.

Further information:

Starting date: 01.03.2025
Duration of contract: 3 years
Type of employment: Vollzeit (Teilzeit möglich)

Remuneration: Depending on qualifications up to EG 13 TVöD.

Vacancy-ID: 99078

Contact:
Sonja Brungs Raumflugbetrieb und Astronautentraining
Tel.: 02203 601 3858