Environmental Development Technician III

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

7d•$87,568 - $107,848•Onsite

About The Position

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL. Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence. This unique opportunity is part of the Mechanical and Control Systems Division which engages in research, technology development, and the creation of advanced mechanical, thermal, propulsion, and electronic packaging systems with expertise that spans the full breath of mechanical disciplines and is applied from architectural concept development through operations. As an Environmental Development Technician, you will be working for Manufacturing, Packaging, & Test Section which maintains technical support facilities and resources that provide the services required to fabricate, assemble, and test electro-mechanical developmental and flight hardware. This Section develops and matures equipment and technologies, which enable and enhance our fabrication and environmental test capability for current and future missions.

Requirements

Typically requires a High School diploma with a minimum of 8 years of related experience; or an Associates degree with a minimum of 4 years of related experience; or a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 1 year of related experience; and related required training.
Experience operating and maintaining Vacuum Chambers
Experience operating solar simulator
Experience handling xenon arc lamps
Experience operating and maintaining small shakers or vibrators
Ability to interpret engineering drawings, schematics, and test procedures.
Demonstrated troubleshooting skills for instrumentation, electrical systems, and thermal vacuum test equipment.
Ability to work independently and communicate effectively.
Ability to work in a cleanroom environment with the appropriate gloves, hat, booties, smock etc. in support of flight hardware testing.
Ability to be available to work day and night shifts, overtime, weekends, and/or holidays, as needed.

Nice To Haves

Experience operating and maintaining acoustic chambers, tunable shock beams, and mass properties machines
Knowledge of Electro Static Discharge (ESD) hazards and awareness, Foreign Object Debris (FOD) management, hazard communication, cleanroom protocols and personnel protective equipment, Job Safety Analysis, Lockout/Tagout procedures, and handling of critical flight hardware and testing equipment.
Fall restraint knowledge and experience
Knowledge of fabrication of thermal couples, the operation of multi-meters, signal generators, and digital data management equipment and the repair and calibration of instrumentation equipment, spot welding equipment for instrumentation assembly and repair.
Experience in handling/plumbing of cryogenic liquids and delivery systems, component replacement, the calibration, and repair of helium mass spectrometer leak detectors, experience with the operation or setup of Programmable Logic Control (PLC) type systems.

Responsibilities

Prepare, configure, and support thermal test equipment including small and large vacuum chambers
Assist with setup and operation of vacuum and thermal chambers
Install, route, and verify thermocouples and other temperature sensors.
Troubleshoot vacuum, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems
Perform chamber leak checks, pump-down operations and system readiness checks
Monitor thermal vacuum testing and respond to test anomalies or out of limit conditions
Support test article installation, chamber closeout, and post-test hardware removal
Perform routine chamber maintenance and repairs
Coordinate with engineers and other technicians to prepare for environmental testing
xenon arc lamp handling
Solar Simulator operations
Cryo pump rebuilding
Follow test procedures, safety requirements, and contamination control practices with working with critical hardware
Work safely around flight hardware following ESD, cleanroom, and critical item handling requirements.
Fabricate, terminate, label, route, and troubleshoot instrumentation and signal cables supporting vibration, acoustic, shock, and modal testing.