Propulsion Development Technician IV

JPL/NASA•Pasadena, CA

6d•$94,328 - $116,376•Onsite

About The Position

The Propulsion Development Technician works in JPL’s Mechanical Engineering, Integration and Test Section, which provides technical facilities and support for fabricating, assembling, cleaning, and testing electro-mechanical developmental and flight hardware. The Section develops equipment and technologies to improve fabrication and environmental testing capabilities for current and future missions. The technician leads or serves as a key member of teams that work with customers and quality assurance to prepare and follow test procedures for precision tubing fabrication, orbital tube welding, pressure/propulsion/fluid system assembly, and testing of research-and-development and flight components and systems. The role also supports flight propulsion and fluid system assembly, testing, and launch-site operations, following appropriate practices for handling flight hardware. The position requires advanced technical expertise in tubing fabrication, orbital welding, and pressure, propulsion, and fluid systems. Duties may also include pressure-system safety support, precision parts cleaning and analysis, work in ISO-5 cleanrooms and other controlled environments, and maintaining equipment calibration and certification records. The technician is expected to work with limited supervision and may mentor other technicians.

Requirements

Typically, a high school diploma and at least 10 years of general work experience plus related training; or an associate degree and at least 6 years of related experience; or a bachelor's degree and at least 3 years of related experience.
Advanced understanding, technical expertise, and experience in precision tubing fabrication, orbital tube welding, and pressure/propulsion/fluid system assembly.
Expertise and experience in mechanical hardware assembly and testing, installation and testing of electronic components, and working with flight hardware.
Experience using hand tools, including some machining experience with equipment such as a drill press, band saw, and grinder.
Practice complying with applicable policies, procedures, and practices for handling flight hardware.
Ability to work with limited supervision, completing routine work without instructions and new assignments with general instructions.
Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to travel domestically and/or internationally to distant work locations as needed.

Nice To Haves

Prior lead technician experience, including planning and prioritizing work to meet schedules, delegating tasks, and training technicians.
Knowledge of JPL flight-hardware practices and requirements.
Orbital tube welding certification and experience, including tube bending and flaring.
Experience with pressure-system fabrication, testing, and certification methods, including proof, leak, and cold-shock testing.
Experience working in a Class 100–100,000 cleanroom and performing precision parts cleaning.
Experience with manual machining, including three-axis mill and lathe operations.
Experience with basic electrical fabrication, including electronic components, cabling, soldering, and wiring diagrams.
Good hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity for working with miniaturized systems or components.
Extensive knowledge of computer applications such as spreadsheets, databases, word processing, and web searches for component information.

Responsibilities

Lead or serve as a key team member, coordinating with customers and quality assurance to prepare and follow test procedures for precision tubing fabrication, orbital tube welding, pressure/propulsion/fluid system assembly, and testing of R&D and flight components and systems.
Perform flight propulsion and fluid system assembly, testing, and launch-site operations while following flight-hardware handling best practices.
Ensure processes, products, and work environments comply with Laboratory protocols, government regulations, and professional standards.
Perform and mentor others in manual and mechanical tube bending, flaring, and facing, applying material limits and minimum bend-radius requirements.
Prepare tubing, set purge parameters, configure weld heads, perform orbital tube welding, identify weld discontinuities and defects, and maintain weld certifications and logs.
Assemble pressure, propulsion, fluid, and purge systems from schematics using industry-standard components while maintaining required cleanliness and torque.
Conduct proof, cold-shock, and leak testing, and perform moisture and hydrocarbon analysis.
Support Pressure Vessel Systems and Pressure System Safety activities, which may include relief-device and flex-hose testing, pressure testing, and creating and affixing PSS tags to tested components.
Perform precision parts cleaning using specified chemicals and solutions; operate ultrasonic cleaners; conduct chemical and particle-count analyses; and perform passivation operations as required.
Follow protocols for work in ISO-5 cleanrooms and controlled environments, including wearing a full cleanroom suit.
Maintain equipment calibration and certification records and notify the area lead when equipment needs calibration or maintenance.
Operate and test equipment using detailed test procedures and make adjustments as required.
Travel to distant domestic or international work locations as needed.