Technical Facilities Operations Engineer III

Jet Propulsion Laboratory; United States; On-site; USD 135,000 - 162,000; Full time

Job summary

Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA seeks a Technical Facilities Operations Engineer III to lead the operational readiness and compliance of cleanroom and laboratory environments. You will interface with researchers, engineers, vendors, and safety personnel to ensure safe, reliable facilities.

You will manage lab infrastructure, environmental control systems, and certifications, guiding upgrades from design through handover, while collaborating with other divisions to deliver reports to

Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering, Facilities Management or related discipline with 6+ years of experience; or a master’s degree with 4+ years.
• Demonstrated experience managing or operating cleanrooms, laboratories, or specialized technical facilities.
• Direct working knowledge of cleanroom operational protocols, environmental compliance, and contamination control practices.
• In‑depth understanding of laboratory equipment maintenance, instrumentation qualification, and calibration programs.
• Proven experience administering facility scheduling systems, resource utilization, and user access control programs.
• Strong organizational, operational planning, and project management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication abilities; US Citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical contact for cleanroom and laboratory environments.
• Manage day-to-day operations across cleanrooms, labs, and shared spaces.
• Develop and maintain facility operating procedures and technical standards.
• Monitor facility performance and ensure readiness for operations.
• Oversee lifecycle of laboratory facility upgrades from design to handover.
• Coordinate with design/construction leads to capture and deliver requirements.
• Coordinate preventive and corrective maintenance for facility infrastructure.
• Interface with Facilities, EHS, Security, IT, and external providers for safe operations.
• Lead safety compliance activities and incident investigations as needed.
• Administer facility training, onboarding, and access control.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Project management

Organizational skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Master's degree in related field

Tools

Facility scheduling systems

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 Facilities and Logistics Operations Division (6400) oversees the physical development, maintenance, and safe operation of the Laboratory’s infrastructure to enable advanced workplaces, resilient systems, and uninterrupted mission support.

Within this division, the Facilities Operations Section (642) is seeking a Technical Facilities Operations Engineer III to join the Technical Facilities Management Group (642B). The Technical Facilities Management Group delivers a comprehensive suite of services supporting JPL’s cleanrooms and technical workspace infrastructure. These services include cleanroom and research & development lab management, cleanroom engineering and compliance, HEPA filter systems management, cleanroom maintenance, system administration, and cleanroom garment logistics.

The group’s mission is to exceed customer expectations for high quality, on-time delivery, and operational efficiency.

Reporting to the Group Supervisor, you will lead the operational readiness, technical compliance, and continuous optimization of cleanroom and laboratory environments. You will serve as the primary interface for project teams, equipment owners, researchers, engineers, vendors, contractors, and safety personnel, ensuring facilities operate safely, reliably, and in full compliance with all organizational and regulatory requirements.

In this capacity, you will oversee laboratory infrastructure, shared technical assets, environmental control systems, and facility certifications, establishing operational baselines to support advanced research, prototyping, and flight hardware integration.

Specifically, you will manage B306, B318, and B189 while serving as the lead liaison to the Communications & Instruments Division (3600). You will also collaborate with peer operations engineers to deliver reports on all Division 36 labs directly to division leadership.

Tasks

Facility Operations & Management

• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for cleanroom and laboratory environments.
• Manage day-to-day operations across cleanrooms, labs, test facilities, & shared lab spaces.
• Develop, implement, and maintain facility operating procedures, technical standards, and operational best practices.
• Monitor facility performance to ensure continuous operational test readiness.
• Oversee the complete lifecycle of laboratory facility upgrades—from initial design and construction through final handover to maintenance and operations.
• Partner closely with facility design and construction leads to ensure all stakeholder and technical requirements are fully captured, integrated, and delivered.
• Coordinate preventive and corrective maintenance activities for facility infrastructure, technical systems, and specialized equipment.
• Interface with Facilities, EHS, Security, IT, and external service providers to ensure seamless, safe laboratory operations.
• Oversee institutional safety adherence and compliance, including System Safety, OSPO requirements, and Mishap Reporting (JMIS).
• Serve as an after-hours and emergency contact for assigned facilities, responding to urgent and time-sensitive operational issues outside of normal working hours.
• Act as the designated badge reader owner/approver, verifying personnel training qualifications and authorizing facility access.

Cleanroom Management

• Ensure cleanroom certification and environmental compliance requirements; Particle counts; Temperature and humidity controls; Airflow and pressure differentials; Filtration systems; Cleanroom gowning and contamination control programs.
• Coordinate periodic cleanroom testing, validation, and recertification.
• Develop and enforce cleanroom protocols and user requirements.

Laboratory Management

• Oversee laboratories including fabrication, assembly, testing, and prototyping spaces.
• Ensure safe operation and maintenance of machine shop and laboratory equipment.
• Coordinate equipment inspections, calibration, and repairs.
• Develop equipment usage procedures and safety documentation.
• Support laboratory layout optimization and workflow improvements.

Equipment Management

• Maintain inventory of all lab and cleanroom equipment.
• Ensure equipment lifecycle activities including (Procurement, Installation, Qualification, Maintenance, Calibration, Decommissioning).
• Coordinate service contracts and vendor relationships.
• Track equipment utilization and availability.
• Establish and maintain equipment reservation systems.

Materials & Inventory Management

• Ensure lab consumables, chemicals, gases, tooling, and cleanroom supplies.
• Develop inventory tracking and replenishment systems.
• Coordinate receiving, storage, handling, and disposal of associated materials.
• Ensure proper labeling, traceability, and storage practices.
• Maintain inventory records and usage reports as needed.

Scheduling & User Support

• Manage scheduling and utilization of cleanrooms, laboratories, and shared equipment.
• Administer facility access and user permissions.
• Coordinate priorities among multiple projects and stakeholders.
• Provide user onboarding, orientation, and operational support.
• Resolve scheduling conflicts and resource allocation challenges.
• Track facility usage metrics and capacity planning requirements.

Compliance, Safety & Certifications

• Ensure compliance with all applicable safety, environmental, and operational regulations.
• Support audits, inspections, and certification activities.
• Maintain required records, documentation, and training logs.
• Partner with EAPO personnel to identify and mitigate risks.
• Conduct routine laboratory safety inspections.
• Lead incident investigations and corrective action implementation when required.
• Lead the management of FLASH risk assessments to ensure compliance with OSPO regulations.

Training & Documentation

• Administer facility training programs.
• Qualify users for cleanroom and laboratory access.
• Maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and facility documentation.
• Create training materials and user guides.
• Track certification and training status of lab users.
• Oversee FLASH Training and documentation.

Budget & Vendor Management

• Develop and manage operating budgets for facility operations.
• Forecast equipment, maintenance, and consumable needs.
• Obtain quotations and manage vendor contracts.
• Monitor expenditures and identify cost‑saving opportunities.
• Coordinate facility improvement projects and capital equipment purchases.

Required Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering, Facilities Management, Applied Sciences, or related technical discipline with a minimum of 6 years of related experience; or a master’s degree with 4 years of related experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing or operating cleanrooms, laboratories, manufacturing, or specialized technical test facilities.
• Direct working knowledge of cleanroom operational protocols, environmental compliance, and contamination control practices.
• In‑depth understanding of laboratory equipment maintenance, instrumentation qualification, and calibration programs.
• Proven experience administering facility scheduling systems, resource utilization, and user access control programs.
• Strong organizational, operational planning, and project management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication abilities, with a strong focus on cross‑functional stakeholder collaboration.
• Must be a US Citizen.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience supporting semiconductor, aerospace, medical device, advanced manufacturing, or R&D environments.
• Knowledge of ISO cleanroom standards and certification processes.
• Experience with EHS compliance programs.
• Familiarity with machine shop operations and mechanical testing laboratories.
• Experience implementing laboratory information management or reservation systems.
• Professional certifications in facilities, laboratory operations, safety, or project management.

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 further benefits information 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.

$135,408 - $161,512

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. JPL helped open the Space Age by developing America’s first Earth‑orbiting science satellite, creating the first successful interplanetary spacecraft, and sending robotic missions to the solar system. 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.