Cable Fabrication Technician III

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

3d•$88,608 - $109,200•Onsite

About The Position

The Cable Fabrication Technician III supports the Manufacturing, Packaging, & Test Services Section within JPL’s Mechanical & Control Systems Division. The section provides engineering and technical services including fabrication of electronic boards and cables/harnesses, microelectronic and photonic hardware, electronic packaging, manufacturing engineering, technical facilities and cleanroom services, custom measurement systems, instrumentation, calibration, metrology, technical inventory management, cryogenics, and flight hardware logistics. The role fabricates, assembles, inspects, and troubleshoots high-reliability electronic and electromechanical hardware for engineering model and flight systems. Work includes printed wiring board assembly, cable and harness fabrication, chassis wiring, mechanical assembly, and support for final integration. The technician uses modern and manual manufacturing tools and equipment, assists manufacturing engineering with design assessments and recommendations, and may support customer laboratories and the Spacecraft Assembly Facility during final integration. JPL is located in Pasadena, California, on a campus-like site of 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. The job posting describes a work environment focused on innovation, collaboration, and excellence. The stated full-time equivalent annual hiring range is $88,608–$109,200 for the Pasadena location.

Requirements

High school diploma and typically at least 8 years of related experience, or an associate’s degree and typically at least 4 years of related experience, or a bachelor’s degree and typically at least 1 year of related experience.
Extensive experience in electronic assembly, soldering, crimping, cable/harness fabrication, connector installation, and hardware integration.
Demonstrated experience fabricating, assembling, and inspecting complex electronic, electromechanical, and printed wiring board hardware.
Advanced ability to interpret schematics, wiring diagrams, engineering drawings, work instructions, and manufacturing documentation.
Working knowledge of IPC J-STD-001, NASA-STD-8739, and other high-reliability electronics manufacturing standards and practices.
Experience using microscopes, precision hand tools, test equipment, and manufacturing equipment to build, inspect, and troubleshoot flight or prototype hardware.
Demonstrated ability to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve fabrication and assembly issues with minimal supervision while maintaining quality and schedule requirements.
Experience working in cleanroom and ESD-controlled environments and providing technical support to engineers and multidisciplinary project teams.
Ability to use innovative and creative approaches to resolve unusual situations.
Experience participating on teams within and outside the employee’s organization.

Nice To Haves

Experience in cable operations, including soldering, crimping, routing on mockups, wrapping cable assemblies, testing, potting, and closing connectors.
Experience operating manual manufacturing tools and equipment to produce high-reliability cable and harness assemblies.
IPC J-STD-001 and/or NASA 8739 certification training.
Experience with Surface Mount Technology printed wiring assemblies.
Experience with polymeric adhesives, potting, and conformal coating material application and mixing.
Experience with JPL fabrication standards for printed wiring electronic assemblies, cables, and harnesses.
Knowledge of electronic and mechanical fabrication techniques for fabricating and assembling complex mechanical, electronic, electromechanical, cable-harness, device, fixture, part, or equipment assemblies.
Understanding of work techniques, applicable policies, procedures, and practices for planning, setup, repair, and/or modification of mechanical, electronic, or electromechanical systems, experimental design circuitry, prototype models, or specialized test equipment.
Experience working from schematics, rough sketches, diagrams, layouts, or plans that may require interpretation.
Experience working in cleanroom environments and at ESD workstations.

Responsibilities

Perform surface mount technology setup, printed wiring board electronic assembly, hand soldering, connector pin crimping, cabling, chassis wiring, and mechanical assembly for engineering model and flight electronic systems.
Operate modern and manual manufacturing tools and equipment to produce high-reliability printed wiring electronic assemblies and hybrid/microelectronic assemblies.
Support the manufacturing engineer in assessing and recommending design modifications.
Support customer laboratories and the Spacecraft Assembly Facility in final integration when required.
Fabricate, assemble, inspect, and troubleshoot complex electronic, electromechanical, and printed wiring board hardware.
Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve fabrication and assembly issues while maintaining quality and schedule requirements.
Provide technical support to engineers and multidisciplinary project teams.