Radiation Effects Test Engineer II

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL); United States; On-site; USD 107,000 - 128,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Job summary

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) seeks an early-career Radiation Effects Test Engineer in Pasadena, CA, to develop test hardware and automation software for SEE and TID testing on microelectronics for space missions.

You will design custom test boards, automate measurements, and work with senior engineers to support radiation hardness decisions. The role entails embedded software, hardware design, and lab testing with travel to test facilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 3 years of related experience, or master's degree with 1 year of related experience in Electrical/Computer Engineering or closely related field.
• Hands-on experience with radiation effects testing or characterization through university research, internship, or employment, including SEE and TID.
• Experience developing Python software for instrument control, test automation, or data acquisition.
• Experience with schematic capture and PCB layout using Altium Designer or comparable tools, plus hands-on hardware debugging.
• Working knowledge of analog and digital circuits and laboratory electrical measurement.
• Experience with embedded C or C++ and microcontroller- or FPGA-based hardware.
• Ability to document experimental methods and results, communicate findings, and complete technical work with senior review.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain reusable Python software to configure instruments, sequence measurements, log data, and support automated SEE and TID testing.
• Design schematics and PCB layouts for device biasing, monitoring, and electrical characterization before, during, and after irradiation.
• Integrate programmable power supplies, source measure units, and test equipment to meet measurement and protection needs.
• Develop embedded software and interfaces for microcontroller, FPGA, and SoC test platforms; enable monitoring and error recovery with senior support.
• Prepare devices and evaluation boards for irradiation testing and verify monitoring paths.
• Support SEE testing at accelerator facilities and TID testing in the lab, including setup and troubleshooting.
• Analyze upsets, transients, latchup, and dose-related degradation; document conditions and assess uncertainty.
• Write test plans and reports; present results to colleagues and project teams.

Skills

Radiation effects testing

Python

Embedded C/C++

FPGA/SoC hardware

Device interfaces

Lab measurements

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Master's degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering or related field

PhD in a related field

Tools

Altium Designer

FPGA development tools

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.

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?

Within the Component Engineering, Technology and Assurance Office, the Radiation Effects Group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory is seeking an early‑career Radiation Effects Test Engineer to develop test hardware and automation software and characterize microelectronics for space missions. The position combines single‑event effects (SEE) and total ionizing dose (TID) testing with embedded systems development and laboratory measurement.

The engineer will design custom test boards, automate electrical measurements, configure devices for irradiation, and analyze radiation‑induced changes in performance. Devices may include memories, FPGAs and systems‑on‑chip (SoCs), microcontrollers, mixed‑signal circuits, and power semiconductors. Working with senior radiation effects engineers, the successful candidate will take responsibility for assigned hardware, software, and test activities and provide results that support component selection and radiation hardness assurance decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• - Develop and maintain reusable Python software to configure instruments, sequence measurements, log data, and support automated SEE and TID testing.


• - Design schematics and printed circuit board layouts for device biasing, monitoring, functional testing, and electrical characterization before, during, and after irradiation.


• - Integrate programmable power supplies, source measure units, digital multimeters, oscilloscopes, function generators, and relay or switch matrices. Select and configure instruments to meet the measurement and protection needs of each test.


• - Develop embedded software and device interfaces for microcontroller, FPGA, and SoC test platforms. Implement functional monitoring, error detection, and recovery appropriate to each device, with senior support for FPGA architecture and HDL development as needed.


• - Prepare devices and evaluation boards for radiation testing by establishing operating conditions, isolating the device under test, and verifying monitoring and measurement paths.


• - Support SEE testing at accelerator facilities and TID testing in the laboratory, including setup, execution, troubleshooting, and configuration control.


• - Analyze upsets, transients, latchup, burnout, and dose‑dependent parameter degradation as applicable to the device. Document test conditions, identify measurement limitations, and assess uncertainty in the results.


• - Write test plans and reports, document hardware and software, and present results to colleagues and project teams. Work with device, systems, and mission assurance engineers to relate test results to application needs.

You Must Have:

• - Bachelors with 3 years of related experience, or master's degree with 1 year of related experience in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, or a closely related field, or a PhD with 0 years of related experience


• - Hands‑on experience with radiation effects testing or characterization through university research, an internship, or employment, including SEE and TID.


• - Experience developing Python software for instrument control, test automation, or data acquisition.


• - Experience with schematic capture and printed circuit board layout using Altium Designer or a comparable electronic design tool, along with hands‑on hardware debugging.


• - Working knowledge of analog and digital circuits and laboratory electrical measurement, including configuring bias conditions and monitoring device behavior.


• - Experience with embedded C or C++ and microcontroller‑or FPGA‑based hardware.


• - Ability to document experimental methods and results, communicate findings, and complete assigned technical work with senior technical review.

Got These? Even Better:

• - Master’s degree with coursework or research focused on radiation effects in microelectronics.


• - Research on the radiation response of advanced CMOS technologies, memories, or power semiconductors, including silicon carbide.


• - FPGA firmware development using VHDL or Verilog and experience with FPGA or SoC development tools.


• - Analog measurement circuit design and interfaces for memories, high‑speed digital devices, or mixed‑signal components.


• - Statistical analysis of experimental data, including event counting, cross-section estimation, confidence intervals, or uncertainty evaluation.


• - Technical publications or conference presentations in radiation effects, microelectronics reliability, or related fields.


• - Fundamental understanding of radiation effects basic mechanisms.

Additional Information

This position involves hands‑on laboratory work and may require occasional travel to radiation test facilities and includes shift work.

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.

$107,120 - $128,128

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 .