Robotics Electrical Engineer II

Jet Propulsion Laboratory; United States; On-site; USD 122,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Learning opportunities

Job summary

Jet Propulsion Laboratory seeks a Robotics Electrical Engineer II to support robotic systems from design to test. You will work across actuator electronics, motor control, sensor subsystems, avionics, flight hardware, power electronics, and data handling for rover, aerial, and ground testbeds.

Work spans early tech development to flight verification, in a collaborative team within the Embedded Robotic Systems Group, Pasadena, CA. NASA/JPL culture and mission impact are central.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Robotics Engineering, or related field with 3+ years experience.
• Understanding of standard EE/robotics principles and practices.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Experience with design, test, and verification of electronics for R&D or flight projects.

Responsibilities

• Support development of robotic systems including actuation, sensing, and control.
• Work on avionics, power electronics, and data-handling subsystems.
• Engineer FPGA, hardware testbeds, and integration with software.
• Contribute to space-flight hardware tests and mission operations support.

Skills

Actuation

Sensing

FPGA

Computer Vision

Power Electronics

Motor Control

Embedded Systems

Robotics

Verilog

Altium

SPICE

Mentor Graphics

HyperLynx

PLECS

Education

Electrical Engineering

Robotics Engineering

Master’s degree

Tools

Altium

SPICE

Mentor Graphics

Verilog

HyperLynx

PLECS

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.

Wanted: A Robotics Electrical Engineer II who is passionate about supporting the development of robotic systems, including actuator electronics and motor control algorithms, sensor subsystems, avionics & flight subsystems, electronics & test equipment, power electronics, and data-handling subsystems. We develop, design, engineer, fabricate, package, program and analyze climbing/roving/flying robots, robotic arms, testbeds, and ground support equipment (GSE) for terrestrial and space systems. The systems you will work on span the range of early technology development, to verification and validation of flight systems relative to project requirements. Every project is part of something remarkable, and you always play a key role. Our work is many things, but never, ever boring. The position is for the Embedded Robotic Systems Group part of the Robotic Mobility & Manipulation Section. The Robotic Mobility & Manipulation Section develops, matures, and brings to space flight, robotics technology for in-situ exploration of the solar system. Example activities include sampling, manipulation, and mobility systems for planetary bodies (Moon, Mars, Venus, Europa, Enceladus, etc…). The Section also provides robotics expertise for space flight hardware and software implementation along with mission operations support.

Responsibilities in Robotics Electrical Engineering include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Robotic Actuation and Sensing
• Robotic Vehicles and Manipulators
• Robotic Systems Estimation, Decision, and Control
• Electronics and Electromagnetics for Robotic Mobility
• Electronics and Electromagnetics for Robotic Manipulation and Sampling
• Power and Battery Systems
• FPGA Engineering for Robotic Systems
• Computer Vision
• Maritime and Aerial Perception Systems
• Robot Operations

Potential work includes both research and flight projects such as:

• MoonFall Avionics (Lunar drone scouts)
• SkyFall Helicopters (Mars aerial vehicles)
• Lunar Surface Robotic Support for Human exploration and habitats
• Robotic Arm Technology demonstrations for in-space and surface missions
• Collaborative Multi-agent Robotics
• Europa and Enceladus Sampling Concepts
• Mine exploration and rescue robots
• Long-range Power/Data Tether Systems and Deployment
• Autonomous surface and underwater vehicles
• Climbing robots
• Unmanned aerial vehicles

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Robotics Engineering, or a related engineering major with a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience; or a Master’s degree in a related discipline with a minimum of 1 years of relevant experience or a Ph.D. in a related discipline with a minimum of 0 years of relevant experience.
• Recently completed coursework and/or early career experience providing an understanding and application of standard principles, theories, concepts and techniques in Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related field.
• General knowledge of applicable industry and/or academic practices and standards in Electrical Engineering, Robotics Engineering, or related field.
• Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively in a team environment.
• Ability to detail, document, and communicate work performed through verbal and written means.
• Strong analytical skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with electrical circuit design and analysis, printed circuit board design, electronic systems integration, and test and verification of electronic circuits and assemblies.
• Experience in the design, implementation, and verification of Electrical Ground Support Equipment (GSE) for development and/or flight testbeds.
• Experience with System V&V (Verification and Validation) or I&T (Integration and Test) of electronics for R&D or and/space flight projects.
• Experience with embedded processing systems and single board computer designs.
• Familiarity with actuator design, motor control and characterization methods.
• Experience with hardware design tools including analog circuit design tools, IC design (SPICE, Mentor Graphics), power design (PLECS), and/or printed circuit board design/signal integrity (Altium, Hyperlynx)
• Experience with hardware design tools for FPGA design and programming (Verilog)
• Familiarity or experience with AI tools or machine learning for design, modelling and analysis.
• Experience with cable harness design.
• Familiarity with electronics test equipment and debugging systems/circuits.
• Demonstrated experience in testbed or flight hardware testing.

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.

For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California. $122,408 - $149,968

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.

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.