Thermal Systems Engineer II (Multi-Layer Insulation)

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 133,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental benefits

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Flexible schedule

Job summary

Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California seeks a Thermal Engineer to design thermal systems, develop hardware, and lead insulation projects for spacecraft temperature control. You’ll work on MLI/SLI blankets, collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams, and travel for installations and testing.

The role focuses on hardware development, patterning, fabrication, and testing in a high-precision environment, reporting to the Thermal Fluid Systems & Hardware Group.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical or Chemical Engineering or equivalent with related experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge in heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and engineering lab work.
• Experience with MLI/SLI materials and CAD tools.

Responsibilities

• Design custom SLI and MLI blankets from requirements.
• Use CAD for blanket patterns in collaboration with MLI Lead Engineer.
• Support fabrication, bake-outs, delivery, and installation of flight MLI/SLI in a cleanroom.
• Guide material selection and implementation of thermal SLI and MLI with engineers.
• Oversee material traceability and flight-certified materials.
• Coordinate access and logistics for flight hardware with MLI Lead Engineer.
• Support logistics for assignments across multiple facilities and partners.
• Prepare technical design and test review presentations and close review actions.

Skills

Heat transfer

Fluid mechanics

Numerical methods

Engineering design

Engineering lab work

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace/Mechanical/Chemical Eng

Master's or PhD in related field (optional)

Tools

Thermal Desktop

TMG

SINDA/FLUINT

NX Space Systems Thermal

NX CAD / SolidWorks

MATLAB / LabVIEW

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.

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.

This unique opportunity is part of the Mechanical & Control Division which engages in research, technology development, and the creation of advanced mechanical, thermal, propulsion, and electronic packaging systems with expertise that spans the full breath of mechanical disciplines and is applied from architectural concept development through operations.

As a Thermal Engineer, you will be working for JPL's Thermal, Propulsion and Materials Engineering Section (353) which provides leadership and unique world-class expertise in a wide range of technologies and technical discipline areas of chemical and electrical propulsion, thermal, materials, contamination control engineering, materials testing, and analytical chemistry support to technology and flight programs. You will be a member of the Thermal Fluid Systems & Hardware Group and will report to the Group Supervisor.

The focus of this role includes designing thermal systems, hardware development, assembly and testing. The Thermal Engineer will be working primarily on Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) & Single Layer Insulation (SLI) blankets and soft-goods for spacecraft temperature control and energy management.

Responsibilities

• Design custom SLI and MLI blankets from requirements to support the MLI Lead Engineer.
• Work with the Lead MLI Engineer on using computer aided design for blanket patterns.
• Support the patterning, fabrication, bake-outs, delivery, and installation of flight MLI/SLI in a cleanroom environment.
• Work with JPL and JPL partners thermal system engineers to guide the material selection, design and implementation of thermal SLI and MLI.
• Oversee material traceability by tracking blanket shop supplies, flight-certified materials, processing material charge, re-certification of materials, part numbers, and procure materials.
• Support the coordination of blanket technicians’ access and logistics to flight hardware (payloads and spacecraft) with the MLI Lead Engineer.
• Support the planned logistics and technician support for a variety of assignments within multiple JPL facilities, nation-wide at non-JPL spacecraft/payload manufacturer’s facilities, as well as internationally at the facilities of any of JPL’s partners, including launch pad support.
• Prepare for technical design and test review presentations and close review action items.
• Support the MLI Lead Engineer with MLI costing/schedule for flight projects.
• Support the MLI Lead Engineering in completing significant projects or assignment milestones.
• Support design trades that successfully balance performance margins, resource use, risk, cost, and schedule.
• Build trusting relationships between project customers, team members, the Lead MLI Engineer and line management.
• Partner with subsystem engineers to complete interface agreements.
• Develop and maintain extensive knowledge base of applicable industry and/or academic practices and standards.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical or Chemical Engineering, Applied Physics or similar disciplines with a minimum of 3 years of related experience, or Masters in a similar discipline with a minimum of with 1 year of related experience or PhD in a similar discipline with 0 years of related experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge in the following areas: heat transfer (radiation, conduction, convection), fluid mechanics, numerical methods, engineering design, and engineering lab work.
• Demonstrated understanding and application of standard principles, theories, concepts and techniques in heat transfer (especially fundamental radiation heat transfer principles) thermal engineering and fluid mechanics.
• Demonstrated experience and/or education with managing plans and coordinating logistics.
• Experience with MLI/SLI materials and soft good use.
• Experience with computer aided design.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Willingness to travel extensively to support MLI installations across the country and internationally.

Desired Skills

• Experience in working on hardware with engineers and technicians in a laboratory environment.
• Familiarity with thermal balance tests (instrument, spacecraft).
• Familiarity with thermal environments for system development.
• Familiarity with typical instrumentation and ground support equipment used in thermal tests.
• Capable of working independently and being responsible for hardware development from the design phase to integration and testing.
• Software experience: Thermal (Thermal Desktop, TMG, TSS/SINDA and/or NX Space Systems Thermal), mechanical CAD (NX, AutoCAD, SolidWorks) and/or MATLAB, LabView expertise.

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.

For further benefits information click Benefits and Perks

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.

The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California.

$109,928 - $132,808

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.