1 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:08,060 We are typically working at the edge of what's technologically possible. 2 00:00:08,860 --> 00:00:12,660 Certainly engineering is at the core of ESO's activity. 3 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:18,900 Engineering is kind of like the key that allows the organisation to access and explore the universe. 4 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:32,980 Episode 186 // Engineers at ESO 5 00:00:35,160 --> 00:00:44,960 ESO, the European Southern Observatory, designs, builds and operates some of the most advanced telescopes and instruments in the world. 6 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:54,500 To achieve this, ESO needs a host of talented engineers who design, develop and maintain these sensitive machines. 7 00:00:55,660 --> 00:01:01,200 ESO is the driving force of European ground-based astronomy 8 00:01:01,810 --> 00:01:07,410 and it uses the most advanced technology to put it at the service of astronomy. 9 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:14,440 So we need the best engineers to provide the astronomical community with the best telescopes. 10 00:01:15,580 --> 00:01:23,040 For me the most important is that what we actually do provides the outcome of our work, 11 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:28,080 our instruments are among the best, our telescopes are among the best, 12 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:33,360 and that we provide to the community the right tool to make science. 13 00:01:36,130 --> 00:01:43,049 The engineers have to create this technology that is unique in the world; the spares are not available in the market. 14 00:01:46,390 --> 00:01:54,700 Every time we have a failure, we need to intervene as fast as we can and we need sometimes parts on the site to repair. 15 00:01:55,060 --> 00:01:57,720 So engineering is extremely important to ESO. 16 00:01:58,689 --> 00:02:02,639 Without engineers in the first place, we would not be able to build the telescopes. 17 00:02:04,620 --> 00:02:09,360 Around half of the staff at ESO's headquarters in Garching are engineers, 18 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:12,680 and they make up much of ESO's staff in Chile. 19 00:02:13,500 --> 00:02:18,160 These highly skilled specialists cover many different fields, 20 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:22,620 from traditional disciplines like mechanical, electrical and software engineering 21 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:29,080 to more specific areas, such as optics, detector systems, and cryogenic engineering. 22 00:02:29,580 --> 00:02:35,820 These engineers have not only a variety of skills, but also a variety of experience — 23 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:45,029 ESO's diverse working environment attracts engineers of all nationalities, genders and backgrounds. 24 00:02:46,920 --> 00:02:53,740 I'm a detector engineer and we design and deliver detector systems for the instruments on ESO's telescopes. 25 00:02:54,120 --> 00:03:00,200 At the moment I am working on the CCD of the instrument HARMONI. 26 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:03,040 A CCD is basically the eye of the instrument. 27 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:05,780 I'm a software engineer. 28 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:14,040 So my responsibility is to make the software that astronomers use for exploring the sky 29 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:16,320 work perfect during the whole operating night. 30 00:03:18,470 --> 00:03:24,020 In Garching, the telescope instrumentation and detectors are developed and manufactured. 31 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:29,480 These are then transported to Chile, where they are installed on ESO facilities. 32 00:03:29,900 --> 00:03:33,300 Here, they are operated, maintained and repaired 33 00:03:33,380 --> 00:03:36,680 by the highly-skilled ESO engineers working in Chile. 34 00:03:38,900 --> 00:03:44,980 There is also a huge amount of engineering taking place for the Extremely Large Telescope, or ELT, 35 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:47,640 which is currently under construction. 36 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:55,500 The ELT will have a 39-metre main mirror and will be the largest optical telescope in the world. 37 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:00,600 What I'm doing at present at ESO is planning, 38 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:06,900 with a team, the phase of assembly, integration and verification of the Extremely Large Telescope. 39 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:11,620 I work as an optical engineer on the ELT. 40 00:04:11,620 --> 00:04:17,900 So my role is to work on the optics of this Extremely Large Telescope that we are currently building. 41 00:04:18,630 --> 00:04:23,179 There are several ways that you can get involved with world-leading engineering at ESO. 42 00:04:23,940 --> 00:04:29,820 ESO is regularly recruiting full-time engineering staff in both Garching and Chile. 43 00:04:29,820 --> 00:04:38,820 The work of professional International and Local Staff Members is vital to developing ESO's world-class fleet of innovative telescopes and instruments. 44 00:04:39,420 --> 00:04:45,400 Throughout the year, competitive internships and fellowships are offered to highly skilled individuals. 45 00:04:45,740 --> 00:04:53,620 These rewarding programs provide participants with first-hand experience of working on state-of-the-art projects. 46 00:04:54,419 --> 00:04:58,789 There is plenty of room for development during an engineering career at ESO. 47 00:04:59,340 --> 00:05:04,310 There will always be new technologies, instruments and detectors to work on. 48 00:05:04,740 --> 00:05:13,200 Ever more advanced technologies are required to improve ESO's facilities and to keep ESO at the forefront of global astronomy, 49 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:18,620 making sure the astronomical community is served in the best way possible. 50 00:05:19,420 --> 00:05:27,840 It's not so often so that one can work on building giant telescopes in a very special place like Chile. 51 00:05:27,840 --> 00:05:30,900 So this makes it amazingly special. 52 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:38,600 Being an engineer at ESO is a great thing for not only the technical aspects, 53 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:44,700 but also, from the human point of view, one gets to work with professionals coming from all over the world. 54 00:05:44,860 --> 00:05:51,640 It feels very special because you're so much at the heart of what's being done in astronomy at the moment. 55 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:54,180 Personally I enjoy very much being an engineer. 56 00:05:54,180 --> 00:06:00,720 This is a unique place to do engineering because you are dealing with the high technology, usually unique machines. 57 00:06:01,280 --> 00:06:03,339 So it's a very exciting job to be an engineer. 58 00:06:06,140 --> 00:06:12,080 It certainly is true that ESO wouldn't be the world-leading organisation that it is 59 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,380 without the hard work of its engineers. 60 00:06:15,140 --> 00:06:21,300 With their help, ESO is able to push the boundaries of astronomical technology. 61 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:27,860 ESO is the place where we can create amazing things all together. 62 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:35,220 When you are working at ESO, you kind of participate in the history of astronomy. 63 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:45,060 Transcribed by ESO; Translated by —