Environmental Development Technician III

Jet Propulsion Laboratory; United States; On-site; USD 88,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Flexible schedule

Job summary

Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California seeks an Environmental Development Technician to support environmental testing, vacuum chambers, and thermal systems. You will fabricate, install, and test electro‑mechanical hardware and assist with Xenon arc lamp operations, cryogenic handling, and chamber readiness.

Safety-sensitive position with periodic drug testing; strong attention to cleanroom protocols and test procedures is required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma with 8+ years related experience, or an associate's degree with 4+ years, or a bachelor’s with 1+ year.
• Experience with LN2, GN2, and pressure system design, assembly, fabrication or maintenance.
• Experience operating and maintaining Vacuum Chambers and Solar simulator.
• Experience handling xenon arc lamps and small shakers.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, schematics, and test procedures.
• Strong troubleshooting for instrumentation, electrical systems, and thermal vacuum test equipment.
• Ability to work independently; cleanroom environment experience; flexible shifts.

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 other temperature sensors.
• Troubleshoot vacuum, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems.
• Perform chamber leak checks, pump-down operations and system readiness checks.
• Coordinate with engineers for environmental testing and Xenon lamp handling.

Skills

LN2/GN2 handling

Vacuum chambers

Solar simulator

Xenon arc lamps

Small shakers

Engineering drawings

Troubleshooting instrumentation

Cleanroom procedures

Shift work flexibility

Test procedures

Education

High School diploma

Associate's degree

Bachelor's degree

Job description

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 the 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.

Benefits and Perks

• variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more.

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.

Formed in 1936, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech.) JPL joined NASA as an FFRDC when the agency was founded in 1958. JPL helped open the Space Age by developing America’s first Earth‑orbiting science satellite, creating the first successful interplanetary spacecraft, and sending robotic missions to the solar system. Today JPL continues its world‑leading innovation, implementing programs in planetary exploration, Earth science, space‑based astronomy and technology development while applying its capabilities to technical and scientific problems of national significance. Above all, we are explorers. At JPL we promote collaboration, innovation, integrity, and excellence in distinct academic areas. We turn ideas for science investigation into the reality of groundbreaking space missions, partnering with our strategic business teams to guide JPL into the future.