Electromechanical Development Technician IV

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 94,000 - 116,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental plan

Vision plan

Paid time off

Retirement plans

Flexible schedule

Rideshare

Parental leave

Job summary

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California seeks an Electromechanical Development Technician to perform complex electromechanical assembly, integration, and testing for flight and prototype hardware. You will read drawings, follow procedures, and adhere to cleanroom and safety protocols while mentoring junior technicians.

You will support MGSE hardware assembly, electrical integration, and environmental testing, traveling as needed for off-Lab campaigns.

Qualifications

• High school diploma with 10 years aerospace experience in electromechanical assembly; or an Associate’s degree with 6 years; or a Bachelor’s with 3 years.
• 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 spacecraft development.
• Basic soldering and electronic cable fabrication skills.
• Proficiency with industrial electrical systems and safety practices used in test and support facilities.
• Working knowledge of AC and DC motors, generators, and drive systems used in industrial/aerospace equipment.
• Competence in surface preparation and bonding operations.
• Experience operating overhead cranes to move flight hardware and Mobile Elevated Work Platforms.
• Familiarity with clean room protocol and handling Flight Hardware.
• Ability to mentor less-experienced personnel and contribute to team development.
• Ability to travel extensively for off-Lab integration and test campaigns.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Working knowledge of basic Microsoft tools (Outlook, Teams).

Responsibilities

• Perform high-quality assembly and integration of flight hardware, including payloads, subsystems, instruments, and spacecraft components.
• 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.
• Support fabrication, assembly, transportation, and periodic load testing of MGSE hardware.
• Perform structural and non-structural bonding, including surface preparation, adhesive mixing, and liquid shimming.
• Operate cranes, Mobile Elevated Work Platforms, and Hydra-Sets to support critical lifts.
• 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.
• Serve as a technical liaison to support facilities proposals, major facility modifications, or major equipment purchases.
• Support environmental testing (TVAC, vibe, acoustic, EMI/EMC, mass properties, modal) and assemble instrumentation and test beds for flight, prototype, and R&D hardware.
• Troubleshoot integration issues and contribute to process improvements, including developing custom tooling for complex assembly tasks.
• Maintain organized workspaces, toolboxes, and calibrated tools.
• Provide accurate labor estimates, identify schedule impacts, and collaborate with cognizant engineers on workflow planning, storyboards, and assembly processes.
• Mentor and support the development of less-experienced technicians.

Skills

Electromechanical assembly

Read engineering drawings

Electrical diagrams

Troubleshooting

Mentoring

Cleanroom protocols

Crane operation

Travel readiness

Safety compliance

MS Office (Outlook/Teams)

Education

High School diploma + 10 years aerospace experience

Associate degree + 6 years related experience

Bachelor’s degree + 3 years related experience

Tools

CAD platforms

MGSE tooling

Hydra-Set / LO devices

Electrical test equipment

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.

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 the Mechanical 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 Electromechanical Development 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 electromechanical technician, you will perform complex electromechanical assembly, integration, and testing for flight and prototype hardware. This role requires deep technical expertise, strong judgement, leadership, and the ability to mentor less‑experienced personnel.

• Perform high‑quality assembly and integration of flight hardware, including payloads, subsystems, instruments, and spacecraft components.
• 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.
• Support fabrication, assembly, transportation, and periodic load testing of MGSE hardware.
• Perform structural and non‑structural bonding, including surface preparation, adhesive mixing, and liquid shimming.
• Operate cranes, Mobile Elevated Work Platforms, and Hydra‑Sets to support critical lifts.
• 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.
• Serves as a technical liaison to support facilities proposals, major facility modifications, or major equipment purchases.
• Support environmental testing (e.g., TVAC, vibe, acoustic, EMI/EMC, mass properties, modal) and assemble instrumentation and test beds for flight, prototype, and R&D hardware.
• Troubleshoot integration issues and contribute to process improvements, including developing custom tooling for complex assembly tasks.
• Maintain organized workspaces, toolboxes, and calibrated tools.
• Provide accurate labor estimates, identify schedule impacts, and collaborate with cognizant engineers on workflow planning, storyboards, 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 spacecraft development.
• Basic soldering and electronic cable fabrication skills.
• Proficiency working with industrial electrical systems and associated safety practices used in test and support facilities.
• Working knowledge of AC and DC motors, generators, and associated drive systems used in industrial and aerospace equipment.
• Competency in surface preparation and bonding operations.
• Competence operating overhead cranes to maneuver flight hardware.
• Experience operating Mobile Elevated Work Platforms.
• Familiarity with clean room protocol and applicable policies for handling Flight Hardware.
• Ability to mentor less‑experienced personnel and contribute to team development.
• Ability to travel extensively to support off‑Lab integration and test campaigns.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Working knowledge of basic Microsoft tools (Outlook, Teams)

Desired Qualifications

• Familiarity with Computer‑Aided Design (CAD) platforms to assess hardware.
• Basic fabrication knowledge and familiarity with periodic load testing of MGSE.
• Experience directing critical hardware lifts – understanding of payload CG and lift‑fixture leveling requirements.
• Working knowledge of cooling‑fluid and refrigerant systems.
• Experience maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing heat pump and heat exchanger systems.

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.