Radiation Effects Test Engineer II - Hands-on SEE/TID Lab

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

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.