Title:

Biomedical Engineer

About Us 

KBR GmbH was established in October 2000 to provide human spaceflight medical support services to the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Space Medicine Team (SMT) at the European Astronaut Center (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. KBR GmbH specializes in the provision of biomedical engineering, space medicine projects including Crew Health and Performance (CHP) technology evaluation, health care administration, psychology, nutrition, medical informatics and technology, fitness and rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and medical education. By developing expertise in these core areas whilst supporting capacity building and broader strategy/risk management, KBR GmbH has expanded to provide support services to a range of customers in aerospace, government and space life science/medical research. Thus, KBR GmbH’s employees contribute to a wide range of projects including astronaut selection and training, ongoing medical operations to the International Space Station and other Low Earth Orbit (LEO) missions, whilst supporting the ESA SMT’s endeavors in preparation for space exploration beyond LEO. 

Benefit highlights with working for KBR GmbH 

• Training and Education support  

• Worker’s Compensation coverage 

• Company pension scheme 

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

• Sport Membership Benefit 

• Hybrid/working options  

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 Operations.  In 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 crew’s 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

The role is a full-time equivalent (e.g., 40 hours per week) with core hours Monday through Friday. The prime work location is at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. We welcome applications from people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, all genders, LGBTQ+ individuals and ex-service personnel. The 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. 

Additional candidate assets 

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

• Experience in agile project management and performance evaluation
• 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