New Staff Position at ESO

[James Beletic]

                                26 February 1996

Dear colleagues,

    The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has opened a new staff position
for an Engineer / CCD specialist.  As you may be aware, ESO is making a big
effort to dramatically improve its optical detector technology.  We view the
proper filling of this position to be an important part of this effort.  The
selected candidate will join several other engineers, scientists, software
programmers and technicians in an exciting and growing program.  We expect
that our new CCD specialist will take a leadership role in CCD procurement,
characterization and implementation.

    Our goal is simple (and probably the same as most of you): to make the
best detector systems possible with today's science and technology.  We
are pursuing procurement of high q.e. chips that have very low noise
(<=2 electrons) at slow readout rates and good noise performance at MHz
pixel rates (4-6 e-).  In parallel, we are developing an advanced
CCD controller that should be able to run any CCD device or mosaic that we
envision for the next 10 years.  Our projects include detector systems for
high resolution spectrographs, high speed adaptive optics, and large wide
field of view imaging.  We also have a number of other interesting
projects including a new CCD testbench and a point source measurement system
for accurately determining the photoelectron diffusion in our devices.  With
a large number of telescope foci to service and the strong backing of the
ESO management and community, the next years are going to be a challenging
and fun time for optical detectors at ESO.

    There are many side benefits to working at ESO, including an excellent
central European location with easy access to the Alps, Italy, France, etc.,
good selection of cultural activities in neighboring Munich, and salary
allowances for expatriates, families and children education.

    For further information on the work and plans of ESO's Optical Detector
Team, please see our World Wide Web page at:

                http://www.eso.org/~odteam/generalccd/generalccd.html

Click on "research, developments and planned upgrades" to get some idea of
where we plan to go in 1996.

    The official ESO vacancy notice is attached at the end of this note, but
it also will be posted on the WWW with application information at:

                http://www.eso.org/adm/personnel

The personnel officer in charge of coordinating this recruitment is
Ms. Kathrin Bruchmann.  Queries can be sent to her at kbruchma at eso.org or
via post or FAX.  Ms. Bruchmann's phone / FAX numbers are:

                phone:   +49 - 89 - 320 - 06438
                FAX:     +49 - 89 - 320 - 2362

Of course, I can be contacted for information also.

    We hope that some of you will be able to seriously consider this position.
If you are not personally interested, we ask for your help in identifying
a person for the position.


                                Best wishes,

                                   Jim Beletic

                                Head of the Optical Detector Group
                                Instrumentation Division, ESO-Garching



------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESO Vacancy Notice  EID307  23.02.1996

Applications are invited for the post described below, now vacant in
the Optical Detector Group of the Instrumentation Division at the ESO
Headquarters in Garching near Munich, Germany.

This post is open to suitably qualified men and women.


Title:      Engineer/CCD Specialist

Grade:      8/9

Code:       204

Education:  University degree in electrical/electronic engineering
            or physics or equivalent.

Experience and knowledge:

Several years experience in the following areas is required:

   -  Strong analog and digital electronics experience, including
      proficiency with electronic design packages
   -  High level of proficiency in computer programming (C,C++)
      and hardware interfacing
   -  Substantial experience in the testing and implementation of
      CCD devices
   -  Knowledge of CCD controller electronics (hardware and software)
   -  Strong oral and written communication skills in English and a
      co-operative teamwork attitude

The ideal candidate will have:

   -  Extensive experience with implementing CCD devices at
      astronomical telescopes
   -  Experience with CCD detectors that demonstrates world-class
      proficiency, such as low noise performance, unique implementations
      (mosaics, high speed) or CCD controller development
   -  Knowledge of Spanish for working in Chile and/or German for
      interfacing with local contractors

Assignment: The selected candidate will be expected to take a leadership
            role in:

                -  CCD device specification and procurement
                -  CCD testing and characterisation
                -  Implementation of CCD devices into instrument systems
                   and optimisation of system performance
                -  Interfacing with instrumentation consortia.

The Optical Detector Group has established an ambitious strategy to provide
the best optical detector technology to ESO's Very Large Telescope project
(four 8-meter telescopes plus interferometric array) on Cerro Paranal and
ESO's existing suite of telescopes on La Silla. This position offers an
excellent opportunity to work with advanced CCD systems in a variety of
instrument applications. The selected person will be encouraged to publish
papers and to continue his/her professional growth.

Duty station:   Garching near Munich, Germany, with periodic missions
                (1-2 per year) to ESO's telescope sites  in Chile. These
                trips will be 2-4 weeks in duration.

Starting date:  As soon as possible

Remuneration:   The remuneration for this post will be commensurate with
                the background, experience and family status. The basic
                monthly salary (tax-free) will not be less than DM 6,358.
                Furthermore, an expatriation allowance as well as some
                other allowances may be added.


        Applications should be submitted before 1 May 1996.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------


=========================================================================
    James W. Beletic                         E-mail:  jbeletic at eso.org
    European Southern Observatory            Phone:   +49-89-320-06520
    Karl-Sch-Str 2, D-85748 Garching, GER    FAX:     +49-89-320-2362
=========================================================================