Postúlate en Kit Empleo: kitempleo.cl/empleo/1cpaed

The European Southern Observatory (ESO) is recruiting a Senior Mechanical Engineer to join the CTAO-South team at the La Silla Paranal Observatory in Chile. This role will contribute to the preparation, installation, and technical operation of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO), the world’s most advanced ground-based gamma-ray observatory.

Key Responsibilities
- Lead procurement processes for infrastructure, equipment, facilities, and services at CTAO-South.
- Supervise the implementation and operation of temporary and permanent site installations.
- Support telescope assembly, integration, and commissioning activities on site.
- Contribute to infrastructure planning and budget monitoring for CTAO-South.
- Develop and oversee preventive and corrective maintenance programs for telescopes, infrastructure, and vehicles.
- Manage maintenance activities using computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) and coordinate spare parts inventory.
- Monitor technical performance and propose improvements where needed.

Qualifications




- University degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline.
- Minimum 10 years of field experience in site construction, technical plant operation, assembly, integration, commissioning, or maintenance.
- Experience working with complex technical systems, preferably in large-scale scientific projects.
- Strong organizational, documentation, and communication skills.
- Experience with CMMS tools and productivity software (Excel, Word, Project).
- English proficiency required; Spanish is highly desirable.

Duty Station

Paranal Observatory, Chile (120 km south of Antofagasta).

Work schedule: 8 days on / 6 days off, with accommodation on site.

Possibility of up to 25% mobile work.

In later phases of integrated operations, the duty station may transition to Santiago with frequent travel to the observatory.

Contract and Benefits
- 3-year fixed-term contract, with potential extensions depending on performance and

Postúlate en Kit Empleo: kitempleo.cl/empleo/1cpaed

📌 CTAO-South Senior Mechanical Engineer (Región Metropolitana)
🏢 European Southern Observatory
📍 Región Metropolitana