Environmental Development Technician III

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 88,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision plans

Paid time off

Flexible schedule

Job summary

Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California seeks an Environmental Development Technician to support the Mechanical Fabrication & Test Section, focusing on environmental test hardware, vacuum and thermal chambers, and cryogenic handling. This role contributes to the development and testing of flight hardware and requires adherence to safety and cleanroom practices.

You will configure equipment, install sensors, troubleshoot systems, perform chamber maintenance, and coordinate with

Qualifications

• High School diploma with 8+ years related experience; or an Associate's degree with 4+ years; or a Bachelor's degree with 1+ year.
• Experience with LN2, GN2, and pressure system design, assembly, maintenance.
• Experience operating Vacuum Chambers and solar simulators.
• Ability to read engineering drawings, schematics, and test procedures.
• Troubleshooting skills for instrumentation, electrical systems, and thermal vacuum test equipment.
• Ability to work independently, in a cleanroom, and accommodate shift work.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, configure, and support thermal test equipment including vacuum chambers.
• Assist with setup and operation of vacuum and thermal chambers.
• Install, route, and verify thermocouples and temperature sensors.
• Troubleshoot vacuum, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems.
• Perform chamber leak checks, pump-down operations, and system readiness checks.
• Monitor thermal vacuum testing and respond to test anomalies.
• Support test article installation, chamber closeout, and post-test hardware removal.
• Perform routine chamber maintenance and repairs.
• Coordinate with engineers and technicians to prepare for environmental testing.
• Handle xenon arc lamps and Solar Simulator operations.

Skills

Vacuum system operation

Thermal vacuum testing

Instrumentation troubleshooting

Independence and communication

Education

High School diploma with related experience

Associates/Bachelor with related experience

Tools

Vacuum chambers

Cryogenic liquids handling

Thermocouples and sensors

Pressure systems maintenance

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 the Mechanical Systems Engineering, Fabrication and Test Division which engages in research, technology development, and the creation of advanced mechanical, thermal, propulsion, and electronic packaging systems with expertise that spans the full breath of mechanical disciplines and is applied from architectural concept development through operations.

As an Environmental Development Technician, you will be working for Mechanical Fabrication & Test Section which maintains technical support facilities and resources that provide the services required to fabricate, assemble, and test electro‑mechanical developmental and flight hardware. This Section develops and matures equipment and technologies, which enable and enhance our fabrication and environmental test capability for current and future missions.

Some Challenges You Will Tackle

• Prepare, configure, and support thermal test equipment including small and large vacuum chambers
• Assist with setup and operation of vacuum and thermal chambers
• Install, route, and verify thermocouples and other temperature sensors.
• Troubleshoot vacuum, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems
• Perform chamber leak checks, pump-down operations and system readiness checks
• Monitor thermal vacuum testing and respond to test anomalies or out of limit conditions
• Support test article installation, chamber closeout, and post-test hardware removal
• Perform routine chamber maintenance and repairs
• Coordinate with engineers and other technicians to prepare for environmental testing
• xenon arc lamp handling
• Solar Simulator operations
• Cryo pump rebuilding
• Follow test procedures, safety requirements, and contamination control practices with working with critical hardware
• Work safely around flight hardware following ESD, cleanroom, and critical item handling requirements.
• Fabricate, terminate, label, route, and troubleshoot instrumentation and signal cables supporting vibration, acoustic, shock, and modal testing.
• 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 8 years of related experience; or an Associates degree with a minimum of 4 years of related experience; or a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 1 years of related experience; and related required training.
• Experience with the use of LN2, GN2, and the design, assembly and fabrication or maintenance of pressure systems
• Experience operating and maintaining Vacuum Chambers
• Experience operating solar simulator
• Experience handling xenon arc lamps
• Experience operating and maintaining small shakers
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, schematics, and test procedures.
• Demonstrated troubleshooting skills for instrumentation, electrical systems, and thermal vacuum test equipment.
• Ability to work independently and communicate effectively.
• Ability to work in a cleanroom environment with the appropriate gloves, hat, booties, smock etc. in support of flight hardware testing.
• Ability to be available to work day and night shifts, overtime, weekends, and/or holidays, as needed.

Got These? Even Better

• Experience operating and maintaining acoustic chambers, tunable shock beams, and mass properties machines
• Knowledge of Electro Static Discharge (ESD) hazards and awareness, Foreign Object Debris (FOD) management, hazard communication, cleanroom protocols and personnel protective equipment, Job Safety Analysis, Lockout/Tagout procedures, and handling of critical flight hardware and testing equipment.
• Fall restraint knowledge and experience
• Knowledge of fabrication of thermal couples, the operation of multi-meters, signal generators, and digital data management equipment and the repair and calibration of instrumentation equipment, spot welding equipment for instrumentation assembly and repair.
• Experience in handling/plumbing of cryogenic liquids and delivery systems, component replacement, the calibration, and repair of helium mass spectrometer leak detectors, experience with the operation or setup of Programmable Logic Control (PLC) type 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.

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.

$87,568 - $107,848

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.