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 and Control Systems Division (35), which creates advanced mechanical, robotics, thermal, propulsion, onboard GNC, and electronic packaging systems. Division 35 develops hardware and systems from early architecture through design, fabrication, subsystem, and system-level integration and test.

You will be working as a Mechanical Systems Engineer within the Mechanical Engineering, Integration, and Test Section, which leads the design, analysis, development, integration, and test of flight mechanical and robotic systems for spacecraft, payloads, and ground-based systems. In this role, you will:

• Support mechanical hardware development and mechanical systems engineering activities for payloads, instruments, and spacecraft during all mission phases including proposal, concept/system architecture development, detailed design, integration & test (I&T), and flight operations.
• Perform design and analysis, generate and maintain engineering documentation, and participate in the build and delivery of mechanical engineering products for spaceflight missions.
• Support trade studies, contribute to verification and validation (V&V) activities, and define, document, and manage technical requirements, interfaces, and other mechanical systems engineering products for spaceflight missions.
• Ensure that delivered products meet all technical requirements and programmatic commitments.
• Contribute to cost and schedule estimation and implementation planning of engineering components.
• Support and present at team, line management, and subsystem level technical reviews.
• Provide technical guidance to support engineers, designers, and structural analysts.
• Contribute to the mentorship and training of junior technical team members.
• Perform tasks under the direction of the group supervisor, project management, and project technical leads, work independently and within a team environment, and collaborate on tasks that span a spectrum of disciplines.

Required Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline with a minimum of 3 years of related experience; Master’s degree with a minimum of 1 year related experience or PhD in similar disciplines.

• Experience with research, development, design, analysis, assembly, integration, test, or verification of mechanical engineering products.
• Knowledge and experience translating design and performance requirements into hardware configurations and development plans.
• Experience with task planning, managing schedules and deliverables, and meeting commitments.

Desired Skills:

• Experience developing and delivering spaceflight hardware or other relevant spaceflight project experience.
• Experience managing, implementing, and verifying project and institutional requirements at the subsystem or system levels.
• Practical experience using CAD modeling software (preferably Unigraphics/Siemens NX, SolidWorks, and Teamcenter) used in a Product Delivery Management (PDM) or similar Concurrent Engineering environment.
• Practical experience performing analysis of mechanical elements using classical hand-calculation methods or Finite Element Analysis (FEA).
• Knowledge of Standards for Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) per American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Y14.5.
• Ability to develop innovative solutions and/or troubleshoot design and implementation challenges.
• Knowledge of academic and industry practices and standards across a range of applications related to the development, analysis, production, testing, verification, and safety of spaceflight hardware and systems.
• Experience managing, implementing, and verifying project and institutional requirements at the subsystem or system levels.
• Experience working across organizations and subject areas, and with outside companies and vendors.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent collaboration skills and ability to work across subject areas and organizations.

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.

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.

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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.