Senior Blanketing Engineer

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 Systems Engineering, Fabrication and Test 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 subject areas and is applied from architectural concept development through operations.

As a Senior Blanketing Engineer, you will be working for JPL's Propulsion, Thermal and Materials Engineering Section 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, analytical chemistry, geochemical instruments, physics-based modeling, and multiphase flow. The Senior Blanketing Engineer is essential in advising a uniquely niche group and is responsible for every single- and multi-layer insulation (SLI and MLI) delivery at JPL, thereby collaborating with every project on lab as well as external projects requiring JPL support. 

Responsibilities:

• Leads thermal MLI engineering, design, fabrication, and installation to produce and meet SLI and MLI goals for multiple flight projects across JPL. Responsibilities include:
• Collaborate with flight projects to design custom SLI and MLI blankets.
• Produce cost and schedule estimates for SLI and MLI design, fabrication, and installation.
• Coordinate blanket technicians’ access and logistics to flight hardware (payloads and spacecraft) with flight project leads.
• Plan logistics and technician support for various 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.
• Review project drawings and designs to ensure MLI support features are included.
• Work with JPL and JPL partners thermal system engineers to guide the material selection, design and implementation of thermal SLI and MLI.
• Responsible to work with the line management to maintain sufficient and competent talent to support ongoing flight project work. Train and mentor new members.
• Craft and make effective presentations at major reviews and for routine team meetings to explain the MLI capabilities, design and status to managers and peers; close all ensuing review action items.
• Create sophisticated MLI/SLI solutions from design requirements and CAD models.
• Responsible for leading the MLI team to completing significant project or assignment achievements.
• Recruit, train and retain technicians to implement designs and maintain standard processes.
• Lead the design, patterning, fabrication, bake-outs, delivery, and installation of flight MLI/SLI for all JPL spacecrafts.
• Create an MLI/SLI Guideline to bring together the process for MLI design, patterning, fabrication and installation which can be used institutionally. 
• Create and document MLI/SLI process improvements.
• Near-term responsibilities include:
• Lead MLI design trades that efficiently balance performance margins, resource use, risk, cost, and schedule.
• Lead the MLI team through multiple critical flight project deliveries.
• Partner with other engineers and subsystems to complete interface agreements.
• Plan and coordinate the bake-out of blankets prior to delivery.
• Maintain traceable records of all materials and part numbers produced.
• Remain cognizant of JPL heritage standard processes and industry practices and strive to improve JPL processes.
• Build strong working relationships between project customers, team members, and leadership.
• Develop and maintain extensive knowledge base of applicable industry and/or academic practices and standards.
• Develop and maintain extensive knowledge base of applicable Laboratory policies and procedures, NASA policies and procedures, and government regulations

Required Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in a related engineering field such as Aerospace, Industrial, Mechanical, Chemical, Engineering or Applied Physics with 9 years of related experience; master’s degree with 7 years of related experience; or PhD with 5 years of related experience.
• Comprehensive understanding of space thermal architecture, systems, design & hardware.
• Understanding of radiative heat transfer and material science.
• Subject Matter Expert in MLI design, fabrication, installation, and spacecraft integration.
• Proven experience as the thermal systems lead engineer responsible for delivering MLI blankets for various spacecrafts that are critical deliveries for an organization.
• Demonstrated experience in leading and mentoring a niche team through MLI design, patterning, fabrication, and installation/integration in multiple spacecrafts.
• Demonstrated experience and/or education with leading plans and coordinating logistics while working with highly dynamic schedules for various flight projects at a time.
• Experience with communicating MLI design solutions and schedule to project and line management.
• Experienced with computer aided design for MLI design/pattern capabilities (examples: NX, SolidWorks, AutoCAD)
• Capability to develop conceptual designs, perform trade studies and select a design baseline.
• Capability to establish thermal requirements and collaborate with projects inside and outside JPL.
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating MLI blanket interfaces, accommodations, reviews, design, and installation with subsystems and engineers.
• Experience in creating solutions to sophisticated MLI designs vital for unique spacecraft geometries.
• Experience with developing and documenting MLI Guidelines and Process Improvements.
• Excellent leadership, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Willingness to travel extensively to support MLI installations across the country and internationally on short notice.

Desired Skills: 

• Knowledge in flight thermal balance tests (instrument, spacecraft).
• Familiarity with thermal environments across the solar system for flight system development.
• Familiarity with typical instrumentation and ground support equipment used in thermal tests.

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.

$145,184 - $175,136

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.