{"id":2207827,"url":"https://alion.io/job/astron-senior-mechanical-designer-nova","title":"Senior Mechanical Designer NOVA","company":{"id":1881217,"name":"ASTRON","domain":"astron.nl","url":"https://alion.io/company/astron-nl","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Recruitee","truth_index":null},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"senior","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Dwingeloo, Netherlands"],"countries":["NL"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":4885,"max":6722,"currency":"EUR","period":"month","gross":null,"usd_annual":90396},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":10,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Agile","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-23T11:25:44Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-23","last_verified_at":"2026-10-18T20:01:51Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":25,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":25},"description":"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.\nThe 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.\nFor this unique and innovative group we are on the lookout for a passionate and detail-oriented:\nSenior Mechanical Designer\n(Instrument Engineer)\n0,8 - 1,0 FTE\nIn 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.\nBesides 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.\nYour main tasks include:\nYour duties and responsibilities consist of, but are not necessarily limited to:\nTechnically leading the opto-mechanical design of sub-systems and mechanisms including having a design philosophy and making design choices\n\nConstructing detailed designs of opto-mechanical systems and its components\n\nCoordinating with external partners and suppliers on design activities\n\nContributing to documentation for design and analysis reports\n\nProviding 3D models and 2D drawings for manufacturing and as-built drawings and contributing to manufacturability assessments for parts and assemblies\n\nRequirements\nWe’re looking for someone with:\nA bachelor or equivalent degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent experience\n\nAt least 10 years relevant experience in opto-mechanical design and engineering or related space/precision engineering\n\nAt least 5 years of experience in leading the opto-mechanical design of precision opto-mechanical instruments in an international context\n\nExperienced in 3D CAD design using Siemens NX and FEA using ANSYS\n\nExperienced in Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing\n\nAffinity with Manufacturing Technologies and Manufacturing Engineering\n\nExcellent oral, written and interpersonal communications skills in both Dutch and English\n\nExperience with infrared instruments and cryogenics is a plus\n\nCompetences and skills we value:\nTeam spirit with strong communication skills\n\nAccurate and results-driven mindset\n\nInnovative thinking and a hands-on approach\n\nHere's what we offer:\nAn initial contract for two years (32-40 hours per week), with the potential to become indefinite depending on good performance and sufficient funding.\n\nA gross monthly salary, on a full-time basis, in the range of € 4.885,- to € 6.722,- depending on relevant experience.\n\nOpportunities and encouragement to grow and develop yourself and your career.\n\nA pleasant and stimulating work environment in a beautiful office in the heart of one of Drenthe's National Parks.\n\nA comprehensive benefits package including a pension scheme, insurance discounts, travel allowances, and flexible work conditions\n\nYour primary workplace will be in Dwingeloo within the NOVA OIR group. Periodically you will travel to international partners (mainly within Europe) as well as to other NOVA locations.\nWe embrace diversity and strongly encourage applications from women and underrepresented groups. Discover what it's like to work at ASTRON by clicking: this link\nInformation:\nFor information about this vacancy, please contact Michiel Kregel (Group Lead, ). If you have any questions about the procedure, please contact HRM via \nComments:\nIf you have come this far reading this vacancy and are interested in this exciting opportunity, we would like to invite you to apply for this vacancy, even if not all the requirements are met! Leave your CV & motivation letter on our website http://www.jobsatastron.nl.","description_format":"text","description_chars":5478,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":10,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[{"language":"Dutch","level":"All levels","optional":false}]},"benefits":["Flexible schedule"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Graphic Design"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-10T00:27:49Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":52,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.695,"p_room":0.75,"age_days":23,"expected_fill_days":26,"reasons":["conf:1","win:late"],"computed_at":"2026-10-17T05:46:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":90396,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/astron-senior-mechanical-designer-nova","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/astron-senior-mechanical-designer-nova.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-18T23:28:34Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":25951,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-19T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":1881217},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=1881217"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fastron-senior-mechanical-designer-nova"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fastron-senior-mechanical-designer-nova"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fastron-senior-mechanical-designer-nova"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/astron-senior-mechanical-designer-nova\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fastron-senior-mechanical-designer-nova"}]}