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.

As a Structural Dynamics Engineer IV you will be a member of JPL’s Spacecraft Mechanical Engineering Section 352 reporting administratively to the Technical Group Supervisor for the Dynamics Environments & Aerospace Nuclear Safety Engineering Group. You would work with a team leading the development of mission enabling technology and end-to-end mechanical systems for JPL projects and missions. You would support projects as large as the Mars Sample Return Sample Retrieval Lander and Capture Containment and Return System, as well instruments and CubeSats.

Section 352 creates innovative, technically excellent products in an inclusive team environment that offer creative and novel solutions for JPL’s boldest missions.

We value diverse skills, perspectives, and experiences. Your qualification could add tremendous value to our team. We also provide industry-leading flexibility for partial telework accommodations contingent on project requirements.

In this role you would:

• Work independently as an Engineer in the Dynamics Environments and Aerospace Nuclear Safety Engineering Group, and under the direction of the group supervisor, project management, technical leads, and proposal managers as required, on multiple assignments.

• Provide oversight and contribute to the mentorship and training of junior technical team members.
• Derive and formally document dynamics environments analysis and test levels, criteria, plans and reports.
• Collaborate with engineers across multiple disciplines, subject matter experts, contractors, and other team. members to verify compliance with requirements and customer expectations through all phases of a project.
• Lead assigned projects in the derivation and verification of system and component level dynamics environments requirements through structural dynamic analysis and test.
• Review design analysis for accuracy and completeness and provide results in support of design and test readiness reviews.
• Create finite element models and perform finite element, boundary element, and statistical energy analyses.
• Perform pre-test analysis (ensuring test configurations are appropriately flight-like), monitor, and conduct dynamics testing, including random and sine vibration, sine burst, acoustic and pyroshock.

Required Qualifications:

• Must have a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering or related technical discipline with typically a minimum of 9 years of related experience; or a Masters degree in similar disciplines with a minimum of 7 years of related experience; or PhD in similar disciplines with a minimum of 5 years related experience.
• Extensive knowledge of verification requirements for structural analyses combined with experience performing dynamic testing.
• Extensive experience in conducting random and sine vibration, sine burst, acoustic, and/or pyroshock tests.
• Excellent communication (oral, written, presentation), interpersonal, negotiation and organizational skills and proactive attitude.
• Proven ability to lead and work in a team environment with internal and external stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with JPL and NASA policies and procedures, and government regulations for a range of applications.
• Experience with structural measurements, including data acquisition and digital signal processing.
• Experience with structural, stress, and coupled loads analysis, and rigid body dynamics.
• Experience with finite element model development.
• Proficient with FEMAP, MATLAB, Nastran, VAOne, and classical hand calculations.

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.

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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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 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.