Career Portal

Vacancies

Welcome to the European Southern Observatory (ESO) Recruitment Portal. All of our current vacancies are listed below. We hope that you find the desired opportunities and look forward to receiving your application.

ESO strives to attract and appoint exceptional talents to support its development as a world leader in Astronomy. We recruit individuals who demonstrate a range of far-reaching skills including integrity, academic excellence, initiative, problem solving and leadership. ESO provides the opportunity to work in a truly international environment, with access to cutting-edge technology and front-line scientific research.

Members of the personnel at ESO are engaged as International Staff Members, Local Staff Members, Fellows, Students or Associates. They represent a wide spectrum of professions in the capacity of scientists, skilled engineers, technicians and administrative staff.

Fellows and post-doctoral scientists are recruited by the organisation in order to foster their scientific careers. Associates work under short-term contracts with ESO to perform certain tasks in the field of scientific research, or for technical or administrative support. Post-Graduate Students spend up to two years at ESO within the framework of the Studentship Programme.

ESO Benefits

Flexitime system

ESO operates a flexible working time scheme in Garching and Santiago, according to which eligible ISM may vary the time of their arrival, breaks and departure, from day to day.

Mobile working

With the agreement of one’s supervisor, and if circumstances allow it, a mobile working policy is available for eligible ISM in Garching and Santiago to do some of their work outside of the ESO premises, for example at home. Two schemes, which may be combined, are available: regular mobile working, in which staff work up to one day per week on a regular basis outside ESO, and occasional mobile working, in which staff work up to 24 days per leave year outside ESO.

Part-time work

If permitted by circumstances the Organisation may offer part-time appointments. During the first three years of age of a dependent child the possibility to work part-time becomes an entitlement. The working week for part-time appointments cannot be less than 20 hours.

Family-Friendly Support

ESO holds a limited number of places at the childcare facility (Kinderkrippe/Kindergarten) run by Wichtel Akademie on the Garching campus. Places, at preferential rates, can be offered subject to availability. The children of ESO’s ISM with duty station in Garching have access to the European School Munich as Category II pupils (through an agreement between ESO and the school). In most cases, the availability of places at the European School is guaranteed. Registration forms for both the Wichtel Akademie Garching and the European School Munich can be obtained from Human Resources at the time of appointment.

Joining expenses covered

Newly appointed ISM residing more than 50 km from the duty station before their appointment are entitled to be paid travel expenses for themselves and their families, removal expenses, and an installation allowance. Additional information on the importation of household goods (personal effects, cars, etc.) to the duty station can be obtained from Human Resources.

Flexitime system

ESO operates a flexible working time scheme in Garching and Santiago, according to which eligible ISM may vary the time of their arrival, breaks and departure, from day to day.

Mobile working

Part-time work

Family-Friendly Support

Joining expenses covered

ESO Values

The ESO Values describe the basic behavioural standards that all ESO staff are expected to adhere to, they reflect the way we work as a team to continue guaranteeing the success of our organisation. Our ESO Values are:

Integrity
Behaving ethically, with intellectual honesty and being accountable for one’s own actions;

Commitment
Demonstrating a high level of motivation and dedication to the achievement of ESO’s mission and protecting ESO’s reputation;

Accountability
Taking responsibility for own performance and actions;

Continuous Development
Being at the forefront of our professional field, furthering innovation and organisational development;

Collaboration
Promoting diversity and fostering respect and teaming.

Get in touch

You have got questions about ESO or your application?
We will be happy to provide support and advice.

Karl-Schwarzschild-Str. 2

85748 Garching bei München

+49 89 32006 0

General Inquiries

vacancy@eso.org

Questions regarding local positions in Chile

vacchile@eso.org

Vacancies

Current vacancies at ESO (0)

Join our team

ESO Benefits

ESO Values

Get in touch