Parts Engineer II

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision benefits

Retirement plans

Paid time off & parental leave

Learning opportunities & rideshare

Job summary

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, located in Pasadena, CA, seeks a Microelectronics Engineer to evaluate and select electronics for space missions, develop specifications, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure reliability and schedule adherence.

You will interface with design engineers, mission assurance, and part manufacturers, and contribute to the development and testing of high-reliability microelectronics for space-flight and commercial automotive applications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, physics, materials science/engineering, applied mathematics or related technical discipline with 3+ years of related experience; or a Master’s with 1+ year; or a PhD.
• Experience with electronic parts in design, evaluation or testing.
• Good working knowledge of circuits and device function.
• Understanding of standard device functions and failure mechanisms and ability to design tests.
• Ability to multi-task and meet schedule milestones.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work well with cross-functional teams with design engineers, line management, and project management.
• Understanding and substantial use of common computer tools and AI.
• Understanding and experience in selection, procurement, manufacture, use and testing/screening of high reliability microelectronics for space-flight applications.
• Understanding and experience in selection, procurement, manufacture, use and testing/screening of commercial microelectronics, including automotives for high reliability applications.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate, select and approve electronics from design, construction, quality and reliability perspectives for space missions.
• Advise project management on electronic part selections that maximize reliability while considering schedule and cost constraints.
• Develop part engineering specifications and drawings.
• Interface with Mission Assurance Managers, Circuit Design Engineers, and part manufacturers.
• Work with manufacturers on new component development and lead resolution of technical issues.
• Support technical surveys and audits of electronics part suppliers.
• Perform statistical data analysis and risk assessments.
• Disposition test and inspection failures, including DPA, lot qualification and receiving inspection.
• Develop screening methods that reduce risk in space and manufacturing of digital microelectronics.
• Understand potential failure mechanisms and participate in failure investigations and reliability assessments.
• Utilize PARS to review project parts lists and assess part compliance.
• Serve as essential team member ensuring part reviews, screening and testing, and procurement meet project schedule.
• Develop, execute and analyze reliability testing for new devices and publish findings

Skills

Electronic parts design

Circuits & device function

Failure mechanisms testing

Project milestones

Communication skills

Cross-functional teamwork

Computer tools & AI

High reliability microelectronics

Automotive microelectronics for high‑R

Education

Bachelor's degree in EE/Physics/Materials/Math

Master's degree with 1+ year experience

PhD in related field

Tools

PARS system

JEDEC/AEC specifications

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.

Responsibilities

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, based in Pasadena, CA is NASA’s lead center for robotic exploration of the solar system. We have an unmatched history creating groundbreaking advances in science and technology, and we’ve been in the space exploration business since the beginning. JPL builds rovers for Mars, landers for Europa, explorers for the Moon, and spacecraft to study our changing Earth. How would you like to be part of a team that wants to make a difference within the universe?

Are you passionate about evaluating potential approaches and solutions to new and unusual problems? How would you like to be a member of JPL's Electronic Parts Reliability Engineering Group? This group is part of an organization responsible for reviewing all Electrical, Electronic and Electromechanical Parts (EEE) parts for reliability related performance and advises the projects on part selection, conducts scientific experiments or theoretical analysis to determine the physical behavior of parts in a space-like environment, oversees part procurement to ensure compliance with engineering requirements and maintains part inventories. Our work is especially dynamic in today’s environment where commercial and high reliability components are both being utilized to build spacecrafts and satellites.

As a Microelectronics Engineer, you will be responsible for:

• Evaluate, select and approve electronics from design, construction, quality and reliability perspectives for use in space missions.
• Advise project management on electronic part selections that maximize reliability while considering schedule and cost constraints.
• Develop part engineering specifications and drawings.
• Interface with Mission Assurance Managers, Circuit Design Engineers, and part manufacturers.
• Work with manufacturers on new component development and lead resolution of technical issues to support project flight build.
• Support technical surveys and audits of electronics part suppliers.
• Perform statistical data analysis and risk assessments.
• Disposition test and inspection failures, including those during screening, destructive physical analysis (DPA), lot qualification, and receiving inspection.
• Develop screening methods that effectively reduce risk in space and during manufacturing of digital microelectronics.
• Understand potential failure mechanisms affecting electronics and participate in failure investigations and reliability assessments.
• Utilize the Part Acquisition and Review System (PARS) to review project parts lists and assess part compliance with project requirements.
• Serve as an essential team member within the Group, ensuring part reviews, screening and testing, and procurement meet project schedule.
• Develop, execute and analyze reliability testing for new devices and publish findings

Qualifications

• This position typically requires a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Physics, Materials Science/Engineering, Applied Mathematics or related technical discipline with typically a minimum of 3 years of related experience; a master’s degree in similar disciplines with typically a minimum of 1 year of related experience; or a PhD in similar disciplines.
• Experience with electronic parts in design, evaluation or testing.
• Good working knowledge of circuits and device function.
• Understanding standard electronic device functions and failure mechanisms and able to design tests to verify those functions and mechanisms.
• Ability to multi-task with an established track record of meeting schedule milestones.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work well with cross-functional teams with design engineers, line management, and project management.
• Understanding and substantial use of common computer tools and AI.
• Understanding and experience in the selection, procurement, manufacture, use and testing/screening of high reliability microelectronics for space-flight applications.
• Understanding and experience in selection, procurement, manufacture, use and testing/screening of commercial microelectronics, including automotives for high reliability applications.

Preferred Skills

• Knowledge of experimental design and data analysis for electronic device reliability testing.
• Knowledge of MIL-STD-883, MIL-STD-1580 and MIL-PRF-38535 and relevant JEDEC and AEC specifications and requirements related to electronic parts.
• Strong working knowledge of packaging and wafer fabrication.
• Relevant experience in digital microelectronics manufacturing or design
• Knowledge of NASA parts requirements including EEE-INST-002, NASA- STD-87932.11
• Some demonstrated Leadership skills include define deliverables, track deadlines for the team, and deliver final reports

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.

$109,512 - $130,416

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.