Senior Electromechanical Flight Hardware Technician

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Pasadena (CA)

On-site

USD 94,000 - 116,000

Full time

2 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental plan

Vision plan

Paid time off

Retirement plans

Flexible schedule

Rideshare

Parental leave

Job summary

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California seeks an Electromechanical Development Technician to perform complex electromechanical assembly, integration, and testing for flight and prototype hardware. You will read drawings, follow procedures, and adhere to cleanroom and safety protocols while mentoring junior technicians.

You will support MGSE hardware assembly, electrical integration, and environmental testing, traveling as needed for off-Lab campaigns.

Qualifications

High school diploma with 10 years aerospace experience in electromechanical assembly; or an Associate’s degree with 6 years; or a Bachelor’s with 3 years.
Ability to interpret technical documentation and schematics, including electrical diagrams, equipment manuals, and assembly/test procedures.
Extensive hands-on experience with electromechanical systems, including assembly, testing, maintenance, troubleshooting, and fault isolation in spacecraft development.
Basic soldering and electronic cable fabrication skills.
Proficiency with industrial electrical systems and safety practices used in test and support facilities.
Working knowledge of AC and DC motors, generators, and drive systems used in industrial/aerospace equipment.
Competence in surface preparation and bonding operations.
Experience operating overhead cranes to move flight hardware and Mobile Elevated Work Platforms.
Familiarity with clean room protocol and handling Flight Hardware.
Ability to mentor less-experienced personnel and contribute to team development.
Ability to travel extensively for off-Lab integration and test campaigns.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
Working knowledge of basic Microsoft tools (Outlook, Teams).

Responsibilities

Perform high-quality assembly and integration of flight hardware, including payloads, subsystems, instruments, and spacecraft components.
Read and follow engineering drawings, assembly procedures, and electrical diagrams; select appropriate tools for precision electromechanical work.
Ensure strict adherence to flight-hardware handling, contamination-control practices, cleanroom protocols, and safety requirements.
Support fabrication, assembly, transportation, and periodic load testing of MGSE hardware.
Perform structural and non-structural bonding, including surface preparation, adhesive mixing, and liquid shimming.
Operate cranes, Mobile Elevated Work Platforms, and Hydra-Sets to support critical lifts.
Support electrical integration activities, including harness mates/demates, cable routing, safe-to-mate checks, and basic signal-path troubleshooting.
Diagnose and resolve electrical system failures by determining root-cause and corrective action.
Serve as a technical liaison to support facilities proposals, major facility modifications, or major equipment purchases.
Support environmental testing (TVAC, vibe, acoustic, EMI/EMC, mass properties, modal) and assemble instrumentation and test beds for flight, prototype, and R&D hardware.
Troubleshoot integration issues and contribute to process improvements, including developing custom tooling for complex assembly tasks.
Maintain organized workspaces, toolboxes, and calibrated tools.
Provide accurate labor estimates, identify schedule impacts, and collaborate with cognizant engineers on workflow planning, storyboards, and assembly processes.
Mentor and support the development of less-experienced technicians.