Actuator Technician IV

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; United States; On-site; USD 94,000 - 116,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Flexible schedule

Parental leave

Childcare support

Job summary

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA, is seeking an Actuator Technician to support the actuator lab. You will assemble, test, and integrate flight and prototype actuators, following precise procedures and safety standards.

You will work with expert engineers, mentor junior technicians, and contribute to workflow improvements in a highly collaborative, safety-sensitive environment.

Qualifications

• Excellent electromechanical assembly and testing skills.
• Ability to read schematics, diagrams, manuals and procedures.
• Hands-on experience with precision assembly and bonding operations.

Responsibilities

• Assemble flight and prototype actuators and integrate into subsystems.
• Read engineering drawings; select appropriate tools for precision work.
• Ensure flight-hardware handling, cleanroom protocols, and safety compliance.
• Bond thermal components and perform bonding/adhesion tasks.
• Support electrical integration, harnesses, and basic signal-path checks.
• Troubleshoot and resolve actuator-related issues; drive improvements.

Skills

Electromechanical assembly

Read engineering drawings

Soldering basics

Cleanroom protocol

Inventory/documentation

Electrical troubleshooting

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Associate’s degree in engineering

High school diploma + aerospace experience

Tools

CAD familiarity

Job description

Job Details

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 theMechanical and Control Systems Division (35) which creates advanced mechanical, robotics, thermal, propulsion, onboard GNC, and electronic packaging systems. Division 35 develops hardware and systems from early architecture through design, fabrication, subsystem, and system-level integration and test.

You will be working as an Actuator Technician , within the Manufacturing, Packaging, and Test Services Section , which supports the mechanical and electronic fabrication, assembly, packaging, and testing needs of all JPL projects. As an Actuator Technician supporting the actuator lab, you will perform assembly, integration, and testing for flight and prototype actuator hardware. This role requires deep technical expertise, strong judgement, leadership, and the ability to mentor less-experienced personnel.

• Assemble flight and prototype actuators and support integration into higher-level subsystems.
• Read and follow engineering drawings, assembly procedures, and electrical diagrams; select appropriate tools for precision electromechanical work.
• Ensure strict adherence to flight-hardware handling, contamination-control practices, cleanroom protocols, and safety requirements.
• Bond thermal hardware components, including surface preparation and adhesive mixing.
• Support electrical integration activities, including harness mates/demates, cable routing, safe-to-mate checks, and basic signal-path troubleshooting.
• Diagnose and resolve electrical system failures by determining root-cause and corrective action.
• Operate thermal chambers and actuator testing equipment.
• Support functional and environmental testing (e.g., TVAC, vibe) including setup and monitoring of instrumentation and data acquisition systems.
• Troubleshoot integration issues and contribute to process improvements, including developing custom tooling for complex assembly tasks.
• Organize and maintain actuator lab (workstations, equipment, tools, etc.).
• Provide accurate labor estimates, identify schedule impacts, and collaborate with cognizant engineers on workflow planning and assembly processes.
• Mentor and support the development of less-experienced technicians.

******IMPORTANT******* This position, because of its associated job duties, has been determined by JPL to be safety-sensitive as defined in JPL's Drug Free Workplace Requirement. An employee holding this position will be subject to periodic, unannounced, random drug testing. Please refer to JPL's Drug Free Workplace Requirement for more information. Candidates who are hired into designated safety-sensitive positions will be included in a pool from which individuals are randomly selected to participate in the unannounced drug testing.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a High School diploma with a minimum of 10 years of aerospace experience specializing in electromechanical assembly; or an Associate’s degree with a minimum of 6 years of related experience; or a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 3 years of related experience.
• Ability to interpret technical documentation and schematics, including electrical diagrams, equipment manuals, and assembly/test procedures.
• Extensive hands-on experience with electromechanical systems, including assembly, testing, maintenance, troubleshooting, and fault isolation in support of actuator development.
• Basic soldering and electronic cable fabrication skills.
• Working knowledge of AC and DC motors, gearing, position sensors, braking systems, and related components.
• Experience performing precision mechanical assembly, including handling delicate and miniaturized components.
• Competency in surface preparation and bonding operations.
• Experience applying lubrication to actuator and mechanism components.
• Experience configuring and operating actuator test instrumentation and support equipment.
• Familiarity with clean room protocol and applicable policies for handling Flight Hardware.
• Strong organizational skills with ability to track, maintain, and accurately document inventory.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Working knowledge of basic Microsoft tools (Outlook, Teams, Excel, Word).

Desired Qualifications

• Familiarity with Computer-Aided Design (CAD) platforms.
• Experience with cryogenic shrink-fitting techniques for assembling precision hardware.
• Competence in basic machining operations.
• Competence operating overhead cranes to maneuver flight hardware.
• Experience operating Mobile Elevated Work Platforms.
• Ability to travel to support off-Lab integration and test campaigns.

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work-life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

For further benefits information click Benefits and Perks

The hiring range displayed below is specifically for those who will work in or reside in the location listed. In extending an offer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory considers factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s job related skills, experience, knowledge, and relevant education/training.

The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California.

$94,328 - $116,376

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state or local law.

In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

EEO is the Law.

EEO is the Law Supplement

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here.