RF Microwave Engineer III

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

1d•$146,744 - $173,472•Onsite

About The Position

The Flight Communications & Tracking Section at JPL is seeking an RF Microwave Engineer III to join 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 engineer will contribute to developing and implementing advanced frequency and timing systems. The role involves developing low-noise, power-efficient microwave oscillators, synthesizers, resonant drivers, and analog electronics for trapped-ion frequency standards. It also supports development and maintenance of RF and microwave assemblies for the Deep Space Network Frequency and Time Subsystem, including S-Ka band comb generation assemblies. Additional work includes designing, assembling, and testing electronic drivers for compact atomic clocks, low-noise optical and radio-frequency systems, rugged 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 radio-frequency 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, with the goal of operating it for 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 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 tools such as AWR Microwave Office, ADS, PSpice, and HFSS.
Experience developing, building, and testing circuits for controlling state-of-the-art frequency references.
Experience with measurement techniques including 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 experience taking circuit analysis through design, build, and test.
Software and hardware development experience with analog-digital mixed circuitry using microprocessors and 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, aiming to reduce clock size and improve 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 the Cognizant Engineer level.
Develop, design, assemble, and test electronic drivers for compact, power-efficient atomic clocks, low-noise optical and radio-frequency systems, compact rugged metrology devices, and microwave photonic oscillators.
Assemble and troubleshoot advanced microwave boards, including diagnosing impedance mismatches, parasitics, grounding issues, layout effects, and packaging imperfections.