Engineering Development Technician III

An Engineering Development Technician position just opened up in Pasadena, CA at the JPL/NASA facility. In this role you will perform complex mechanical assembly, integration, and testing for flight and prototype hardware. This role requires deep technical expertise, strong judgement, leadership, and the ability to mentor less-experienced personnel.
Must have a High School diploma with 8 years of aerospace experience specializing in mechanical assembly; OR Associate’s degree with 4 years of related experience; OR Bachelor’s degree with 1 year of related experience.

Location:
Pasadena, CA 91109
Position:
Engineering Development Technician III
Compensation: $32.20 – $67.21/hour DOE
Duration: 24 months
Schedule: 1st Shift 9/80

We do offer PTO, holidays, 401k, medical, dental, and vision benefits.

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 an Engineering Development Technician, within the Manufacturing, Packaging, and Test Services Section, which supports the mechanical and electronic fabrication, assembly, packaging, and testing needs of all JPL projects. As a technician, you will perform complex mechanical assembly, integration, and testing for flight and prototype hardware. This role requires deep technical expertise, strong judgement, leadership, and the ability to mentor less-experienced personnel.

• Perform high-quality assembly and integration of flight hardware, including payloads, subsystems, instruments, and spacecraft components.
• Read and follow engineering drawings and assembly procedures; select appropriate tools for precision mechanical 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.
• Support environmental testing (e.g., 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 work spaces, toolboxes, and calibrated tools.
• Provide accurate labor estimates, identify schedule impacts, and collaborate with cognizant engineers on workflow planning, storyboards, and assembly processes.
• Routinely lift, carry, and move materials or equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Work in confined positions for extended periods, including kneeling, squatting, reaching, and twisting as required by hardware access.
• Mentor and support the development of less-experienced technicians.

****** IMPORTANT
* ****** This position, because of its associated job duties, has been determined by JPL to be safety-sensitive as defined in JPL’s Drug Free Workplace Requirement. An employee holding this position will be subject to periodic, unannounced, random drug testing. Please refer to JPL’s Drug Free Workplace Requirement for more information. Candidates who are hired into designated safety-sensitive positions will be included in a pool from…