RF Microwave Engineer III

JPL/NASA•Pasadena, CA

5d•$146,744 - $173,472•Onsite

About The Position

The Flight Communications & Tracking Section at JPL is seeking an RF Microwave Engineer III for its Frequency and Timing Systems Group. The Group provides the Deep Space Network with precision atomic frequency and time references and distribution systems, and operates microwave and optical metrology references and test capabilities in the Frequency Standards Test Laboratory. The position involves contributing to the development and implementation of advanced frequency and timing systems with a diverse engineering team. The role develops low-noise, power-efficient microwave oscillators, synthesizers, resonant drivers, and analog electronics for trapped-ion frequency standards, with the goal of improving clock size and performance compared with the recently flown Deep Space Atomic Clocks. It also supports development and maintenance of RF and microwave assemblies for the DSN Frequency and Time Subsystem, including S-Ka band comb generation assemblies. The engineer designs, assembles, and tests electronic drivers for compact atomic clocks, low-noise optical and RF systems, metrology devices, and microwave photonic oscillators.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering with a microwave engineering focus and at least 6 years of related experience; or a master’s degree in a related discipline and at least 4 years of related experience; or a Ph.D. in a related discipline and at least 2 years of related experience.
Expertise developing radiofrequency resonant tank circuits and low-noise analog electronics.
Wide-ranging hands-on experience and advanced knowledge of low-noise and precision circuits.
Familiarity with atomic clock principles.
Experience developing hardware from concept through prototype and engineering model to field-deployed or flight model, for operation over multiple years in the relevant environment.
Experience with electrical and electronic design tools such as Altium and HFSS.
Ability to assemble microwave boards hands-on and work with assembly houses.
Ability to troubleshoot advanced microwave boards for impedance mismatches, parasitics, grounding issues, layout effects, and packaging imperfections using vector network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes with high-bandwidth probes, and phase-noise measurement systems.

Nice To Haves

Computer and analytical skills for microwave circuit design using AWR Microwave Office, ADS, PSpice, or HFSS.
Experience developing, building, and testing circuits for controlling state-of-the-art frequency references and using measurement techniques such as cross-correlation phase-noise analysis, frequency discrimination, heterodyne measurements, timing-jitter measurements, and time-error measurements.
Familiarity with quantum physics and spectroscopy, fundamental and technical noise sources, clock and oscillator error sources, control theory, and oscillator stabilization techniques.
Significant experience with printed circuit board programs such as OrCAD and Altium Designer, and taking circuit analysis through design, build, and test.
Experience developing analog-digital mixed circuitry involving microprocessors, FPGAs, high-resolution ADCs, and digital phase detectors.
Familiarity with computer-based data acquisition and instrumentation.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

Develop ultralow-noise, power-efficient microwave oscillators and synthesizers.
Develop reliable resonant drivers for ion traps and discharge lamps.
Develop ultralow-noise, power-efficient analog electronics for JPL trapped-ion frequency standards, with the goal of reducing clock size and improving performance compared with the recently flown Deep Space Atomic Clocks.
Support development and maintenance of RF and microwave assemblies for the Deep Space Network Frequency and Time Subsystem at a Cognizant Engineer level.
Develop, design, assemble, and test electronic drivers for compact, power-efficient atomic clocks; low-noise optical and RF systems; and compact, rugged metrology devices and microwave photonic oscillators.
Develop S-Ka band Comb Generation Assemblies that produce stable microwave harmonics for spacecraft tracking and radio astronomy signal frequency calibration.