Thermal Engineer III

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.

Responsibilities:

The Instruments Division provides engineering and technology leadership in the development of scientific instruments to explore the Earth, planets, and the cosmos. Applications include ground based, airborne, and space-based instruments and systems. Division capabilities range from instrument conceptual design through implementation, deployment, and calibration.

The Instruments Systems Section provides the Laboratory with centers of expertise in system formulation and implementation of scientific and national instruments, including in-situ, ground, space based, airborne/suborbital and cryogenic instruments. Our section provides support from concept through delivery of instruments for program offices that include Earth Science, Planetary Science, and Astronomy. We partner with academic institutions and science communities. Instruments supported in our section include, but are not limited to: spectrometers, radiometers, magnetometers, microwave radiometers, Ultraviolet (UV)/Visible (VIS)/Infrared (IR)/Far-IR imagers.

We invite you to join the Instrument Systems Section within the Cryogenic Systems Engineering to serve as a Thermal Engineer III. The Cryogenic Systems Thermal Engineer will be a member of the Cryogenic Systems Engineering group and will report to the Group Supervisor.

In this role, you will be responsible for:

• Provides sustained thermal and cryogenic engineering support on a flight project or technology development tasks by yourself or as a lead of a small team to meet thermal element deliverables, including competed mission proposals.
• Major responsibilities include architecting cryogenic tests and identifying viable thermal vacuum hardware designs, assessing cryogenic performance, procuring and integrating cryogenic hardware and conducting tests.
• Responsible for cryocooler modelling, analysis and testing using SAGE for Cooler modeling and optimization software.
• Responsible for modelling very low temperature refrigeration cycles down to 100mK including heat switch technology needed below 1K for the Continuous Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator (CADR).
• Using thermal and cryogenic modeling skills, including knowledge of low-temperature material and fluid properties and 3He and 4He adsorption technology will model cryogenic cooling chains from room temperature to 100mK.
• The application of two-phase heat transport technology, including variable conductance and cryogenic heat pipes to architect heat rejection systems for cryocoolers.
• Interfaces with JPL engineering team members, and vendors as needed to aid and hasten development.
• Helps architect cryogenic tests, write cryogenic test plans and reports, setup test, conduct test review and test, and perform any required pre-test and post-test thermal analyses.
• Crafts and makes effective presentations at major reviews or routine team meetings to tell credible thermal and cryogenic story to managers and peers, close all ensuing review action items.
• Builds trusting relationships between customer, team members, and line management
• Mentors junior team members as needed.
• Partners with other engineers and project personnel to evaluate tests and verify cryogenic products or systems.
• Conducts complex design analyses and oversees assembly and test of cryogenic components.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering (thermal focus) or related technical discipline with typically a minimum of 6 years of related experience; Master's degree in similar discipline with a minimum of 4 years of experience; or PhD degree in similar discipline with a minimum of 2 years of experience.
• Broad knowledge in one or more of the following areas: mechanical and electrical design, cryogenic systems, vacuum systems, environmental test chambers, clean room facility practices and standards, pressure vessels and piping systems, and their operations.
• Extensive understanding of use of general laboratory equipment including laboratory electronics, leak detectors, vacuum pumps, GM coolers, vacuum chambers, chillers, temperature controllers, and process safety management, hazardous materials.
• Extensive knowledge of applicable industry and/or academic practices and standards across a range of applications related to thermal vacuum chambers, pressure vessel systems, piping system safety, and their operations.
• Demonstrated experience working on mechanical and electrical engineering designs, vacuum and pressure systems engineering, effectively interfacing with all levels of management, operations personnel and technical activities.A self-starter and task-oriented team player with strong customer service skills and excellent interpersonal, organizational, communication, presentation and planning skills.
• Capability to identify creative designs within available project resources to meet requirements without appreciable line management oversight.
• Demonstrated capability of task ownership and commitment to working extra hours to meet key milestones.
• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Must have general understanding and application of standard principles, theories, concepts and techniques in heat transfer (especially fundamental radiation heat-transfer principles), fluid dynamics and thermal engineering.

Preferred Skills:

• Extensive knowledge and experience with cryogenic refrigeration cycles, including Joule-Thomson, Stirling, Pulse Tube, Gifford-McMahon, and Continuous Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator (CADR).
• Expertise in using computational fluid dynamic (CFD) codes (Fluent and/or equivalent).
• Thermal software experience (Thermal Desktop and/or NX Space Systems Thermal and/or equivalent).
• Analytical and empirical experience with cryocoolers and cryogenic hardware, including instrumentation.
• Thermal and cryogenic technology development and the maturation along with risk-reduction strategies to implement on flight programs.
• Expertise with mechanical and electrical designs, fabrication and assembly of cryogenic test hardware to support on-going projects within the Group.
• Experience with thermal control of flight systems for space-based cryogenic instruments.
• Strong working knowledge and experience in vacuum chamber operations and cryogenic systems.
• Proficiency in mechanical CAD (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, and/or NX and/or ANSYS Workbench).
• Experience with data acquisition and processing software tools (LabVIEW and/or MATLAB).
• Experience writing procedures, releasing drawings, and negotiating/implementing cross-domain interfaces (manufacturing, mechanical stress, vendors/collaborators).
• Working knowledge of typical instrumentation and ground support equipment used in thermal tests.
• Extensive knowledge of applicable Laboratory policies and procedures, NASA policies and procedures, and government regulations.
• Demonstrated record in open-ended, long-term problem-solving.
• Flexibility to take on assignments outside the area of expertise.
• Experience working with hazardous materials.

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. Hiring range for this job may be adjusted based on primary work location outside of Pasadena, California. This adjusted range will be provided to candidates by the Recruiter when applicable.

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

$125,528 - $153,192

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.

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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.