Electrical Engineer for the payload bay (volunteer)

Associated Supervisor: Head of Science

Location: Delft, The Netherlands

About the position: We are seeking a motivated Electrical Engineer to join our multidisciplinary team and contribute directly to the development of the Science Testbed (a Tumbleweed prototype) . In this role, you will focus on designing, integrating, testing, and maintaining the electrical systems and components that support the scientific instruments and experiments housed within the payload bay of the Testbed. You will gain hands-on experience working with a cutting-edge prototype and collaborate closely with other engineering teams, scientists, and external partners. This work goes towards a Martian Analogous mission.

 Expectations:

• Strong hands-on experience with prototype development and testing.

• Basic proficiency in electrical integration and familiarity with tools used for assembly and testing.

• Strong communication and intercultural skills to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external mentors.

• Excellent written and spoken English.

• Willingness to engage in continuous learning and personal development in both engineering and planetary science fields.

• Familiarity with Python or MATLAB for data analysis during payload testing is a plus.

• Proximity to Delft, as this position requires regular on-site involvement.

• Graduated or enrolled in a Bachelor’s or higher degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field.

• Expected commitment of at least 1.5 years and approximately 15 hours per week.

Responsibilities:

• Integrate and test the electrical systems of the payload bay of the Tumbleweed Rover prototype, ensuring electrical compatibility with scientific instruments.

• Perform environmental and functional tests on the payload bay to validate instrument performance under simulated mission conditions (e.g., wind, vibration, temperature).

• Collaborate regularly with the engineering team to align on design constraints.

• Work with external researchers and mentors when collaborating on bespoke instruments.

• Write papers outlining the results of the numerous tests for publication.

• Present findings at relevant conferences.

Rewards: Check out the perks of being in our team at teamtumbleweed.eu/apply!