PCB Layout Engineer

This vacancy is part of the Engineering Group. In addition to mechanical designers and instrument makers, PA/QA/CC (Product Assurance/Quality Assurance/Configuration Control), there is a large electronics group with analog and digital designers, system engineers, and software engineers. The layout and construction of the electronics is also handled within SRON. There are three assemblers and two PCB layout engineers spread across Leiden and Groningen. The majority of these activities take place at our Leiden location.

We don’t consider the PCB Layout Engineer role solely a design role. Due to the unique demands placed on PCBs, you’ll collaborate extensively with designers, physicists, and assemblers, with a strong focus on the hardware and associated testing. You’ll be assigned to a project and involved in the preparations, design phase, and sometimes even the construction and testing phases. Every project is unique, and we don’t produce; we manufacture single units, and every design is unique. We use Siemens Xpedition (formerly Mentor Graphics) as our layout software. Library management is also part of the role. Versatile indeed!

We’re looking for:

• A colleague with a higher professional education (HBO) work and thinking level and an electronics background
• Experience in high-tech/research environments is a plus
• An affinity for analog circuits, high-speed signals, and high-density board design is important
• We’re specifically looking for someone who also has a passion for and experience with hardware
• We’re of course interested in the projects you’ve worked on and what types of PCBs you’ve designed; if you can provide examples, please let us know
• Are you not yet very experienced but see this as your mission? Then please get in touch, because who knows, we might be able to help each other

Appointment will be in the position of Design Engineer A on a temporary contract with NWO-I for a minimum of one year, with the prospect of permanent employment. The collective labour agreement for research institutions applies. Salary will depend on education and experience, but will not exceed €5,241 gross per month (salary level 1-1-2026). The position is based in Leiden.

NWO-I has good secondary employment conditions such as:

• An end-of-year bonus of 8,33% of the gross yearly salary
• A holiday allowance of 8% of the gross yearly salary
• 42 days of vacation leave a year on a full-time basis
• An excellent pension scheme
• Options for (additional) personal development
• Excellent facilities for parental leave
• Ample training opportunities
• Possibility of flexible working hours

SRON’s mission is to achieve breakthroughs in international scientific research from space. To this end, SRON develops groundbreaking technology and advanced space instruments. SRON promotes societal applications for space technology. We have a strong international reputation as ‘excellent in space research’. The quality and societal relevance of our science is considered ‘world-leading’.

SRON is the Netherlands Institute for Space Research. Based at locations in Leiden and Groningen, SRON combines fundamental scientific research, technology innovation, and instrumentation development to enable breakthroughs in astrophysics and earth atmospheric research from space. In partnership with leading international partners and space agencies such as ESA, NASA and JAXA, SRON provides scientific and technological contributions to international space missions as well as expertise and support to the Dutch and international scientific communities.

SRON is the national base for the Netherlands participation in the ESA science program. On the national level, it works in close collaboration with the Dutch universities, other NWO institutes, and governmental agencies to pursue a cohesive agenda for space-based research.