We are seeking a Microwave Operations Engineer to support our Deep Space Network (DSN) Operations and Maintenance O&M contract with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and NASA in Monrovia, CA.

The Deep Space Network is NASA’s international array of giant radio antennas that supports interplanetary spacecraft missions, plus a few that orbit Earth. The DSN also provides radar and radio astronomy observations that improve our understanding of the solar system and the larger universe. The antennas of the Deep Space Network are the indispensable link to explorers venturing beyond the moon. They provide the crucial connection for commanding our spacecraft and receiving their never-before-seen images and scientific information on Earth, propelling our understanding of the universe, our solar system and ultimately, our place within it.

Our group performs operations engineering activities for DSN antenna microwave transmitters (klystrons and solid state), cryogenically-cooled low-noise microwave amplifiers, associated refrigeration and cooling equipment, and automated instrumentation systems. The operations engineer position is responsible for supporting engineering design and delivery reviews; designing, planning, conducting, analyzing, interpreting and reporting acceptance tests; and providing sustaining engineering and maintenance support for assigned DSN antenna software, firmware, and electronic-based control systems.

Responsibilities:

• Daily activities will include analysis of equipment performance logs and discrepancy reports
• Conduct evaluation as to cause and recommended corrective actions for discrepancy reports
• Follow-up investigation and resolution with the operational and maintenance personnel at the antenna sites.
• Advocate for the installed infrastructure on the behalf of the maintenance staffs and the antenna operators, for ease of use, reliability and maintainability.
• Understand the deficiencies associated with operability and maintainability of delivered systems and advocate for appropriate improvements and upgrades.
• Facilitate the transfer of new hardware and software from development engineering to operations, including processing the shipment for delivery to the appropriate antenna location.
• Be responsible for negotiating adequate sparing of new deliveries and the oversight of adequate spares at each antenna location, including research, recommendation, and justification of new parts or equipment for obsolete or soon-to-be-obsolete parts or equipment and phase-out plans.
• Conduct acceptance testing on hardware in the subsystems assigned. Some of this testing is performed at JPL (Pasadena, CA), while other testing is performed on the antennas at the tracking stations in Goldstone, California; Canberra, Australia and Madrid, Spain including possible required activities during nights and weekends.
• It is anticipated that there will be up to twice a month travel to Goldstone for one day activities, 6 times a year overnight and one or two 1-4 week trips to each of the two overseas complexes each year.
• Additional duties will be assigned, as required.

Required Qualifications

• HS Diploma with a minimum of 4 years of experience.
• Experience using desktop software for data analysis and presentation and be able to troubleshoot and analyze digital and analog control circuits, whether composed of discrete components or ICs.
• Experience supporting field installations with maintenance and troubleshooting and performing sparing analyses.
• Experience with microwave transmitters (klystrons and solid state), cryogenically cooled, low-noise microwave amplifiers, associated refrigeration and cooling equipment, and automated instrumentation systems.
• Ability to climb 100' to 200' structures via ladders and stairs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to multi-task, adapt to change quickly, and are an analytical thinker with strong attention to detail.
• Can produce clear, convincing presentations based on analysis of numerical information.
• Facility with Linux and Unix operating systems
• Direct DSN experience.