MAIT Manager for the NewAthena Wide Field Imager (f/m/d) Reference number 32/2025

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Applications are invited for the position of MAIT (Manufacturing, Assembly, Integration and Manager) for the Athena Wide Field Imager in the High-Energy astrophysics group of the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) in Garching, led by Prof. K. Nandra.

The main future project of the MPE High-Energy Group is NewAthena, the future observatory-class X-ray astronomy mission of the European Space Agency (ESA). MPE is the lead institute responsible for the Wide Field Imager (WFI), one of the two instruments aboard the mission, and leads the international consortium responsible for the WFI development. The WFI camera itself is based on the unique Silicon DEPFET technology developed by the semiconductor laboratory of the Max Planck Society. This enables spatially and temporally resolved spectroscopy of X-ray photons in the energy range from 200 eV to 15 keV over a large field of view, with excellent energy resolution and fast readout. More details can be found here: High-Energy Group seeks an experienced individual capable of co-ordinating and managing this complex international project, working in close collaboration with the other members of the WFI Project Office. The main responsibilities of the WFI MAIT Manager include:

Planning, organization, direction and control of the MAIT programme and personnel
Establishing and maintaining the AIT plan and AIT schedule
Inclusion of all necessary operations into the AIT program and procedures to demonstrate contractual compliance in accordance with the AIT requirements
Review and authorization of AIT documentation
Ensure that standards are applied in accordance with operating procedures, cleanliness, safety and other relevant project requirements
Coordination and availability of the necessary GSE and facilities
Preparation of test set-ups
Execution of AIT operations
Preparation of procedures

The WFI MAIT Manager should have following qualifications:

An engineering degree
At least 5 years work experience in aerospace industries with high quality standards
Experience working in clean rooms, handling highly sensitive products
Experience working with ESA standards and requirements
Good planning skills
Good technical understanding of a manufacturing environment
Excellent communication skills and a sense of responsibility
Fluency in English, both written and spoken, is essential
German language skills are essential

The MAIT Manager will report to the Director of the MPE High Energy Group, Prof. K. Nandra, who is also the WFI Principal Investigator. They will work closely together with other members of the WFI project office including the Project Scientist, Systems Engineer, Product Assurance manager and Engineering discipline leads. They will act as the primary management interface between the WFI consortium and the European Space Agency (ESA), who are responsible for the NewAthena project overall, and the German space agency (DLR) who provide funding to MPE to execute the WFI project. The role involves a high level of responsibility and autonomy and is likely to involve frequent travel for meetings with ESA and international partners.

The appointment is based on the German scale for public employees (TVöD), with salary dependent on experience and associated benefits. The position is available as soon as possible and will initially be time-limited until December 31, 2027. Contingent on project requirements and funding, it will be reviewed for a possible longer-term appointment towards the end of this period.
Applicants should submit their documents in PDF format online, comprising a cover letter, a brief description of past projects and a curriculum vitae, including the names and contact details of three referees that can provide letters of reference upon request. Applications received by January 31, 2026 will receive full consideration, but applications received after this date will be considered until the position is filled.
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The Max Planck Society is committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in its workforce and therefore encourages applications from such qualified individuals.
Furthermore, the Max Planck Society seeks to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply. xfmxmju
MPE wishes to increase diversity and equality of opportunity in all respects and welcomes applications without regard to factors such as nationality, ethnicity, disability, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation.