Radiation Effects Test Engineer II

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

6d•$107,120 - $128,128•Onsite

About The Position

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Radiation Effects Group is seeking an early-career Radiation Effects Test Engineer to develop test hardware and automation software and characterize microelectronics for space missions. The position combines single-event effects (SEE) and total ionizing dose (TID) testing with embedded systems development and laboratory measurement. The engineer will design custom test boards, automate electrical measurements, configure devices for irradiation, and analyze radiation-induced changes in performance. Devices may include memories, FPGAs and systems-on-chip (SoCs), microcontrollers, mixed-signal circuits, and power semiconductors. Working with senior radiation effects engineers, the successful candidate will take responsibility for assigned hardware, software, and test activities and provide results that support component selection and radiation hardness assurance decisions. The position involves hands-on laboratory work and may require occasional travel to radiation test facilities. It includes shift work.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 3 years of related experience, or a master’s degree and 1 year of related experience, or a PhD with 0 years of related experience in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, or a closely related field.
Hands-on experience with radiation effects testing or characterization through university research, an internship, or employment, including SEE and TID.
Experience developing Python software for instrument control, test automation, or data acquisition.
Experience with schematic capture and printed circuit board layout using Altium Designer or a comparable electronic design tool, along with hands-on hardware debugging.
Working knowledge of analog and digital circuits and laboratory electrical measurement, including configuring bias conditions and monitoring device behavior.
Experience with embedded C or C++ and microcontroller- or FPGA-based hardware.
Ability to document experimental methods and results, communicate findings, and complete assigned technical work with senior technical review.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree with coursework or research focused on radiation effects in microelectronics.
Research on the radiation response of advanced CMOS technologies, memories, or power semiconductors, including silicon carbide.
FPGA firmware development using VHDL or Verilog and experience with FPGA or SoC development tools.
Analog measurement circuit design and interfaces for memories, high-speed digital devices, or mixed-signal components.
Statistical analysis of experimental data, including event counting, cross-section estimation, confidence intervals, or uncertainty evaluation.
Technical publications or conference presentations in radiation effects, microelectronics reliability, or related fields.
Fundamental understanding of radiation effects basic mechanisms.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain reusable Python software to configure instruments, sequence measurements, log data, and support automated SEE and TID testing.
Design schematics and printed circuit board layouts for device biasing, monitoring, functional testing, and electrical characterization before, during, and after irradiation.
Integrate programmable power supplies, source measure units, digital multimeters, oscilloscopes, function generators, and relay or switch matrices; select and configure instruments to meet each test’s measurement and protection needs.
Develop embedded software and device interfaces for microcontroller-, FPGA-, and SoC-based test platforms; implement functional monitoring, error detection, and recovery appropriate to each device, with senior support for FPGA architecture and HDL development as needed.
Prepare devices and evaluation boards for radiation testing by establishing operating conditions, isolating the device under test, and verifying monitoring and measurement paths.
Support SEE testing at accelerator facilities and TID testing in the laboratory, including setup, execution, troubleshooting, and configuration control.
Analyze upsets, transients, latchup, burnout, and dose-dependent parameter degradation as applicable; document test conditions, identify measurement limitations, and assess uncertainty in results.
Write test plans and reports, document hardware and software, and present results to colleagues and project teams.
Work with device, systems, and mission assurance engineers to relate test results to application needs.