Electrical Engineer (Power Electronics)

O VERVIEW
Must be a US Citizen
Duration - 11 month contract position with potential to be extended or converted
W2 with full benefits, 9/80 Work Schedule
Customer and contract specific training will be required and provided.
Location - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA (onsite)
Offer contingent on ability to successfully pass a background check and drug screen
The US base pay range for this full-time position is $50-80/hr + benefits. Salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

JOB DESCRIPTION

This role supports integration and test (I&T) of the Skyfall power subsystem and development of its supporting Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE). The engineer works on-Lab at JPL as an embedded member of the power subsystem team under the technical direction of the Power Product Delivery Manager & V&V Lead. The role spans test hardware and software development through flight hardware test execution and product delivery support. The ideal candidate takes ownership of problems end-to-end and drives them to closure with minimal oversight.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Architect, plan, and execute power subsystem test campaigns - from defining test objectives and sequencing through EGSE readiness, procedure development, execution, and delivery of verification evidence. The ideal candidate will own the campaign; at minimum, they will be a core participant in its planning and execution.
• Develop and check out power EGSE: custom electronics, breakout boxes, harnessing, and integration of commercial instrumentation (sources, loads, simulators) into working test stations.
• Automate test stations and instrument control in software (Python or similar).
• Conduct hands-on I&T of flight power hardware from board level through subsystem delivery, including first power-on and functional/performance testing.
• Author and execute test procedures; maintain disciplined as-run records and test data packages.
• Investigate anomalies: isolate faults, analyze data, and drive root cause and resolution.
• Coordinate with cognizant engineers, I&T leadership, and vendors; report status, risks, and results.

REQUIRED SKILLS

The ideal candidate is an engineer who can figure things out - a resourceful, hands-on problem solver with sound fundamentals, not necessarily prior experience with every specific instrument or interface.

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering or related field with relevant hands-on experience.
• Strong circuit fundamentals and comfort at the bench: powering up unfamiliar hardware safely, instrumenting a measurement, and debugging to root cause.
• Working knowledge of power electronics (converters, batteries, distribution, solar array interfacing) sufficient to design meaningful tests and interpret results.
• Ability to script instrument control and test automation preferably in Python.
• Disciplined test documentation habits and comfort operating in a formal, procedure-driven flight hardware environment.
• Demonstrated initiative: a history of independently taking on ambiguous problems and delivering.
• Role may include troubleshooting and debugging both product hardware and GSE.

DESIRED SKILLS

• Spacecraft power or flight hardware I&T experience.
• EGSE or test station development.
• Environmental test campaign experience.
• PCB/harness design.
• Altium Layout.
• Significant experience in automation and test scripting.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action

Columbus is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, marital status, age, national origin, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. As a federal contractor, Columbus participates in the E-Verify Program to confirm eligibility to work in the United States.