Job opportunities

Call for applications for the position of Mechanical Engineer

OF_IEEC_270_2026
Publication date
2026-10-29
Deadline
2026-11-18

The IEEC (Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia) was established in February 1996 as a private non-profit foundation (NPO) to promote R&D in the space field in Catalonia. The IEEC is a research institute that studies all areas of knowledge and technologies applied to the space sector and space sciences, including astrophysics, cosmology, planetary science, Earth observation, navigation and space engineering. Its mission is to push the frontiers of space research from the scientific and technological fields for the maximum benefit of society. It should also be noted that the Foundation is attached to the Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan Government) and forms part of its institutional public sector due to the fact that the Generalitat has a majority participation in the Board of Trustees of the IEEC.

Introduction

The purpose of this call is to select a candidate to fill an Mechanical  Engineer position within the Research Department of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia.

Qorda is a free-space quantum key distribution (QKD) testbed between the Faculty of Physics at the University of Barcelona (Alice) and the Fabra Observatory (Bob), as part of the MISIONES 2025 project, funded by CDTI and the State Research Agency. The system requires the installation and operation of two precision optical terminals at two sites in Barcelona to establish a free-space quantum communication link.

Description of position

  • Positions to be filled:  1. Call for applications for the position of Mechanical Engineer
  • Professional group: Group II. Engineering staff.
  • Professional category: Junior Engineer.
  • Working hours: 37.5 hours per week.
  • Work location: The Institute of Cosmos Sciences, located at the Faculty of Physics of the University of Barcelona, Carrer de Martí i Franquès, 1, 08028 Barcelona, and the Fabra Observatory (Collserola).

Functions

The successful candidate will join the D-RECT project team to carry out the mechanical design, installation and commissioning of the optical terminals for a free-space quantum key distribution system linking two sites in Barcelona.

The selected candidate will have the following duties and responsibilities:

The successful candidate will be responsible for the following tasks:

  • Design, manufacture and integration of the terminals’ mechanical components, including enclosures, optical baffles and bespoke parts.
  • Design of the telescope mounting and alignment system, including structural supports and counterweighting components.
  • Design and manufacture of mounts and support structures for optical and electronic components, including suitable enclosure solutions.
  • Mechanical integration of the optical beacon system.
  • Design of enclosures for environmental monitoring instruments.
  • Coordination of access to and installation at the two sites: the rooftop of the University of Barcelona (UB) in Barcelona and the Fabra Observatory.
  • Participation in verification and field test campaigns.

Participation requirements and selection criteria

The following criteria will be assessed during the selection process:

  • Required qualifications
    • Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering or an equivalent qualification (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent).
    • Experience in mechanical design using 3D CAD software (Fusion 360 or equivalent).
    • Spanish: native or equivalent proficiency.

The following aspects will be considered desirable merits (maximum 20 points):

  • Knowledge of English (up to 5 points).
  • Knowledge of Catalan (up to 5 points).
  • Programming skills (up to 5 points).
  • Previous experience in the design and manufacture of mechanical components for scientific instrumentation (5 points).

Selection procedure

Initially, compliance with the eligibility requirements will be checked, and an initial selection of candidates will be made based on the documentation submitted.

Candidates who do not meet the requirements set out in the call will not proceed to the next stage, the merit assessment.

Merits will then be assessed, and candidates who do not achieve a minimum score of 10 points will not proceed to the next stage, the personal interview.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a personal interview to expand on the information provided in their CVs and assess aspects related to their professional competencies. If deemed necessary, candidates will be invited to take a written/oral test once the interview round has been completed.

Once the interviews have been completed, the selection committee will meet to assess the different stages of the selection process and issue a report setting out the selection outcome.

The evaluation committee for this procedure will consist of:

  1. The Principal Investigator of the IEEC’s D-RECT project.
  2. A lecturer at the University of Barcelona (UB) and researcher on the IEEC’s D-RECT project, oOr a person delegated by them
  3. A research engineer at the IEEC, Or a person delegated by them

The selection committee will aim to include at least one woman among its members, in order to promote a gender-balanced composition and uphold the principles of equal opportunities and non-discrimination

In all cases, the selection committee will include at least one representative from the IEEC’s Human Resources Office, who will oversee the proper implementation of the selection procedure and ensure compliance with the principles of equal opportunities, transparency, merit and competence.

Interested persons must have the originals of the certificates accrediting the training and work experience mentioned in the curriculum and must submit them if required.

The IEEC is committed to open, transparent and merit-based recruitment processes, as well as to equal opportunities and non-discrimination. We welcome applications from international candidates and individuals with diverse career paths, including those who have experienced career breaks due to maternity, paternity, caring responsibilities or other personal circumstances, as well as applications from people with disabilities.

In accordance with Article 59 of the Basic Statute of Public Employees (TREBEP), which provides for a minimum reservation of 7% of vacancies in public sector recruitment processes for people with disabilities, the IEEC will apply this reservation to candidates who can demonstrate a disability rating of 33% or higher, provided they are suitable for the duties of the position.

For further information on the IEEC’s Open, Transparent and Merit-Based Recruitment (OTM-R) policy, please consult the Ethics and Integrity section of the IEEC website.https://www.ieec.cat/ieec/etica-i-integritat/ 

Contact and deadline

Interested persons who meet the established requirements can send cover letter and the personal curriculum in PDF format, signed as certification, with a brief description of the tasks carried out in the positions previously occupied, to the email address: RecursosHumans@ieec.cat indicating the reference "Surnames and Name – OF_IEEC_270_2026" in the subject line of the email.

The reception of applications ends on

18/11/2026
Applications that do not meet the requirements included in the cases provided for, or those which are not processed in accordance with the established procedure will not be considered.
In accordance with current regulations on the protection of personal data, we inform you that the personal data contained in your communication relating to this selection procedure will be incorporated into the database of which the IEEC is responsible. The purpose of this treatment is to manage your participation and, where appropriate, the selection of your professional profile in the recruitment processes carried out by the IEEC. Therefore, we will use your data to carry out the contracting processes, to carry out the corresponding interviews, to assess compliance with the requirements for the processes, as well as those actions necessary for the execution of the process and to make effective the recruitment of staff at the IEEC. The basis for the legitimacy of this treatment is your consent, which may be revoked at any time (which means that you will not be able to participate in the selection process in question). The data will be retained during the selection procedure. If you provide us with the data or resume but do not participate in any open recruitment process, do not specify any or have participated in a procedure and have not been selected as a candidate, the IEEC will keep the data for a maximum period of two years., from the date of receipt of the communication, in order to manage your potential participation if any appropriate procedure is opened, eg on your profile. Once this period has elapsed, if you have not been selected and incorporated into the staff of the entity, the IEEC will permanently cancel your personal data. Your personal data will not be transferred to any third party for any purpose, except in cases where it is required by law or by a competent authority. You may exercise, in accordance with the requirements established in current regulations, the rights of access, rectification, deletion, opposition and limitation by sending your request in writing to the registered office of the IEEC (Esteve Terradas 1, RDIT Building, floor 2, Of. 212, 08860 Castelldefels) or by e-mail: protecciodedades@ieec.cat. The applicant must be duly identified in order to process the application. You also have the right to file a complaint with the Catalan Data Protection Authority by writing to C / Rosselló, 214, esc. A, 1r 1a, 08008 Barcelona or at its electronic headquarters (https://seu.apd.cat). You expressly authorize and consent to the processing of your personal data for the purposes mentioned and in accordance with the conditions indicated above.