Biomedical Engineer

Title:

About Us

KBR GmbH wasestablishedin October 2000 to provide human spaceflight medical support services to the European Space Agencys (ESA) Space Medicine Team (SMT) at the European Astronaut Center (EAC) in Cologne specializes inthe provision ofbiomedical engineering space medicineprojects includingCrew Health and Performance (CHP)technology evaluationhealth care administration psychology nutrition medical informatics and technology fitness and rehabilitation physiotherapyandmedical these core areas whilst supportingcapacitybuildingand broaderstrategy/risk managementKBR GmbH has expanded to provide supportservices toa range of customers inaerospacegovernmentandspace life science/medical employees contribute to a wide range of projects including astronautselectionand trainingongoingmedical operationsto theInternational Space Stationand other Low Earth Orbit (LEO) missionswhilstsupporting theESASMTsendeavorsin preparation for spaceexplorationbeyond LEO.

Benefithighlightswithworking for KBR GmbH

• Training and Education support

• WorkersCompensation coverage

• Company pensionscheme

• KVB Job ticket support (Local Transportation support - Cologne and Bonn Area);

• SportMembership Benefit

• Hybrid/working options

WHEN APPLYING PLEASE INCLUDE A COVER LETTER WITH YOUR RESUME.

Purpose of the Job

A Biomedical Engineer (BME) is a member of the ESA Space Medicine Team (SMT) within the Engineering & Operations (E&O) unit. The general function of the BME is to ensure astronaut health and well-being by providing medical operational engineering and project support to the ESA crew surgeons the SMT medical project unit and other ESA human spaceflight mission support disciplines. This includes medical technology development support document preparation operational processes development flight controller training and console support in the role of EAC Crew Operations Support (ECOS) Flight Controller and/or EUROCOM Flight Controller. As ECOS Flight Controller the BME ensures the ops preparation and real time implementation of ESA activities assigned to ECOS in the domain of crew support astronaut training medical operations and technology testing. As EUROCOM flight controller the BME is responsible for Crew Communications and Medical the EUROCOM role on console the BME facilitates communication between the ESA Flight Controllers on the ground and the crew on board the ISS and represents the ESA crews interest in the ESA Flight Control Team. He/she ensures the implementation of the ESA Flight Program monitors and annotates biomedical environmental and other crew-related data maintains awareness of ongoing on-orbit operations and ensures the implementation of the ESA Medical Support Program. A large portion of the job corresponding to flight operations involves responding to new situations as they arise.

Job Functions (may include the following and other activities as reasonably assigned):

GENERAL functions

• Implement ESA crew medical activities during pre-flight in-flight and post-flight mission phases in coordination with the ESA Crew Surgeon Health Care Administrator Fitness Rehabilitation and Countermeasure expert Psychologist and other space medicine experts (as necessary).
• Perform the role and duties of Increment Medical Operations Lead (IML) as a representative of the ESA Space Medicine Team
• Provide operations preparation and console expertise to ESA medical system technology demonstrations and other SMT medical projects in analogues like LUNA on board the ISS and within Artemis.
• Develop requirements new operational scenarios and verification qualifications for future ESA Human Space Programs.
• Domestic and international travel as necessary.

Flight Controller functions as ECOS (EAC Crew Operations Support) or EUROCOM (EUROpean Communicator & Medical Operations)

• Provide ESA Crew Operations Support (ECOS) Flight Controller support from EAC.
• Adhere to the shift schedule for Flight Controllers requiring on a regular basis a longer than standard eight-hour workday.
• Work shifts on weekends holidays and during early morning/late evening periods in support of mission duties.
• Support on-call duties during periods when the console is not manned by being available and able to get to EAC within 60 minutes of notification.
• Support ESA and joint integrated simulations for upcoming flights.
• Provide mentorship to flight controller trainees.
• Keep all console documentation and software support tools up to date

Main ECOS (EAC Crew Operations Support) functions

• Support ISS increment or mission preparation in-mission and post-mission meetings for assigned ECOS payloads.
• Maintain an excellent working relationship with the payload integration team including payload developer and principal investigator.
• Manage and validate data received in relation to ECOS activities.
• Respond to anomalies either with the assigned payload or to failures that impact the assigned experiment and take corrective action as required.
• Maintain ECOS Facilities as required.

Main EUROCOM functions

• Provide EUROCOM Flight Controller operations support from EAC for all phases of space flight missions involving ESA astronauts ESA hardware or ESA science activities.
• Maintain an excellent working relationship with all International Partner communicator and medical teams including Spacecraft Communicators Working Group multilateral meetings and Multilateral BME Operations Panel (MBOP) meetings.
• Provide expertise of ESA controlled/provided equipment and/or ESA payloads to the ESA Flight Control Team and the International Partner Medical Teams.
• As a member of the EUROCOM Team support increments in the role of a EUROCOM Increment Lead.
• Develop and implement training for other ESA Flight Controllers on the topics of EUROCOM and ESA Medical Operations tasks responsibilities and interfaces.

The following training is required and can be provided for successful candidates:

• Successful completion of COLUMBUS systems and payload training certification (user level)
• Successful completion of COL-CC Flight Controller Training for console operations
• For ECOS-related assignments: successful completion of ECOS Flight Controller training & certification
• For EURCOM assignment: successful completion of ESA EUROCOM Flight Controller Certification
• Successful completion of Instructor Training Course (or Light version) is an asset but not required
• Successful completion of Project Management training

Background and Experience

Theroleis a full-time equivalent (e.g.40 hoursper week)with core hoursMonday through prime work locationisat the European Astronaut Centre inCologne welcome applications from people with disabilities members of ethnic minorities all genders LGBTQindividualsand ex-service candidate should possess a degree in engineering or science. Specifically degrees in Biomedical Engineering Biology Systems Engineering and Computer Science in the areas of software development data architecture or system architecture are encouraged. Fluent in English communication skills (writing and speaking) including presentations to large groups is required. Experience in ISS medical systems ISS medical operations ISS space flight procedures space flight communication protocols and/or ISS Astronaut training lesson design/development/implementation is highly sought after.

Strong foundational knowledge in human space flight especially space operations is an asset. Mission Control experience makes the ECOS and EUROCOM Flight Controller more effective.

Additionalcandidateassets

• Knowledge of English and/or another ESA member state language

• Experience in agile project management and performanceevaluation
• Formal lessons in human physiology
• High level of flexibility and positive attitude towards teamwork
• Demonstrate ability to multi-task and manage several varied projects
• Ability to excel in a multi-cultural environment
• Ability to maintain high level of organization and efficient output
• Ability to cope well with stress
• Ability to work well with information technology resources
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with international partners organizations and academic institutions is necessary

Additional experience in the following areas is an asset. ISS specific areas are followed with relatable experience obtained through other means:

• ISS medical systems: technical aspects of emergency or critical care diagnostics
• ISS space flight procedures development: process development/engineering and developing standardized procedures
• Space flight communication protocols: utilizing strict and concise communication standards
• ISS astronaut training lesson design development and implementation: formal lesson planning and execution
• Operations preparation and implementation of an ISS payload: experiment planning and execution within life sciences
• Medical technology development (preferably for human space flight)
• ISS Medical Operations ground segment infrastructure: enterprise systems and data management
• A knowledge of human physiology life sciences or medical technology operations is an asset