Jobs at Mars Science Laboratory

Leads the Mechanical Structures & Articulation group at JPL, managing approximately 10–15 engineers. Responsibilities include recruiting, mentoring, workforce planning, staffing, technical leadership, project scheduling, costing, quality, and delivery of flight hardware. The role provides end-to-end leadership for mechanical structures, mechanisms, robotic systems, and spacecraft payload development, while coordinating across projects, disciplines, customers, and institutional management.

Supports chemical spacecraft propulsion system design, analysis, assembly, integration, testing, verification, operations, and anomaly resolution. Performs fluid, pressure-drop, sizing, blowdown, and waterhammer analyses; develops and validates analytical models and tools; analyzes test data; supports vendors and hardware deliveries; and communicates technical results. The role requires aerospace or mechanical engineering expertise, propulsion testing experience, CAD/PDM proficiency, programming ability, and strong technical communication.

Develop algorithms and software for simulating aerospace, planetary, military, and terrestrial robotic vehicles. Configure simulations for multidisciplinary projects and implement capabilities supporting robotics and space-flight missions. Apply software engineering, machine vision, deep learning, state estimation, mapping, localization, motion estimation, and planning techniques. Collaborate across teams, communicate technical information, support product reviews, and contribute to embedded robotic applications.

Supports business administration for JPL’s Robotic Mobility & Manipulation section, including budgeting, financial analysis, reporting, workforce administration, facilities, safety, communications, compliance, and process improvement. Develops dashboards and automated reports, manages administrative procedures, supports onboarding and offboarding, coordinates with laboratory organizations, and serves as a subject matter expert for facilities and safety. Handles confidential information and independently manages special assignments and operational priorities.

Develops advanced RF and microwave systems for atomic clocks, frequency references, Deep Space Network equipment, and metrology devices. Responsibilities include designing low-noise oscillators, synthesizers, analog electronics, resonant drivers, microwave assemblies, and mixed-signal circuitry; taking hardware from concept through flight deployment; and assembling, testing, and troubleshooting precision circuits using advanced measurement equipment.

Supports JPL’s Financial Strategy, Planning & Analysis Office with financial modeling, forecasting, budgeting, performance analysis, reporting, documentation, data validation, process improvement, and AI-enabled automation initiatives. The intern will analyze financial and operational data, prepare reports and presentations, maintain records, support strategic and operational projects, and collaborate with cross-functional teams. This is a fully onsite, part-time academic internship in Pasadena, California.

Supports Mars rover missions through tactical flight operations and strategic systems engineering. Responsibilities include telemetry and health analysis, engineering commanding, flight-sequence development, testbed validation, spacecraft power optimization, ground-tool automation, and leading multidisciplinary anomaly investigations across hardware and software systems.

Develop simulation software, operational tools, and algorithms for aerospace and planetary robotic systems. Integrate software and hardware, support flight-software-in-the-loop testing, create operator tools for validating command sequences, and operate Mars rovers including Perseverance and Curiosity. The role requires software development, robotics simulation, 3D visualization, effective teamwork, and collaboration with experienced engineering staff.

Reviews engineering drawings and CAD models for format, technical content, configuration control, and institutional compliance. Processes engineering change orders, facilitates vendor drawing releases, advises engineers and designers on standards, and develops process guides. The role applies configuration and change management principles, PLM systems, drawing standards, part and revision controls, export marking requirements, and engineering documentation practices.

Develops media relations and communications for JPL planetary science missions. Translates complex science, engineering, and mission information into news releases, features, blogs, press kits, video scripts, messaging, and Q&As. Manages media inquiries, pitches journalists, prepares experts for interviews, coordinates campaigns and news conferences, navigates JPL/NASA approval workflows, and supports crisis communications.

Manage the full subcontract lifecycle for JPL, including market research, solicitation, source selection, negotiation, award, performance oversight, modifications, and closeout. Serve as the primary subcontractor interface, develop acquisition solutions, manage cost, schedule, and quality, and ensure compliance with NASA, JPL, and Federal Acquisition Regulations. The role requires expertise in strategic sourcing, supply chain and contract management, and government or research-and-development subcontracting.

Develop AI and machine learning systems for autonomous space and vehicle operations. Build planning, scheduling, resource allocation, constraint-solving, optimization, and execution algorithms. Develop deep learning and large-model pipelines for remote-sensing imagery interpretation, including training, deployment, compression, evaluation, and testing of VLMs, LLMs, and foundation models. Support automation of spacecraft, aerial, marine, and communications missions.

Supports task order management through contract documentation, compliance tracking, deadline monitoring, data audits, status reporting, and administrative workflow coordination. The intern will organize task plans and agreements, track funding and performance dates, maintain records and trackers, assist with deliverable follow-up and formal letters, and explore AI or automation tools to improve efficiency. The role provides experience in contract administration, data organization, process improvement, and operational decision support.

Develop and validate machine-learning and signal-processing algorithms for NASA’s multi-sensor ocean surface wind products. Build tested, documented, open-source Python software for satellite remote-sensing data, including retrieval, correction, harmonization, gap filling, regridding, and uncertainty modeling. Collaborate with international science and engineering teams, validate results against buoy, satellite, and reanalysis datasets, document algorithms, and support operational production releases and stakeholder reviews.

Designs, fabricates, tests, debugs, documents, and delivers prototype and flight power electronics hardware for space applications. Responsibilities include designing power subsystems and test equipment, coordinating hardware fabrication, conducting environmental and laboratory testing, developing engineering documentation, resolving technical issues, and supporting project schedules and high-reliability procedures.

Supports business administration for an avionics electronics organization, including budgeting, financial planning, workforce analysis, reporting, facilities and safety coordination, HR activities, and service center management. Develops financial analyses, dashboards, business metrics, and process improvements using multiple data sources. Maintains websites and databases, collaborates with business partners, handles confidential information, and serves as backup to the Section Business Manager.

Leads power electronics development for space flight hardware from concept through design, build, testing, and delivery. Responsibilities include developing board and system requirements, designing analog, digital, mixed-signal, power, and sensor electronics, creating task plans and budgets, conducting hardware and test reviews, documenting analyses and assemblies, and reporting technical progress. The role also supports advanced electronics technology development and mission proposals.

Design, implement, and test workstation-based and hardware-in-the-loop simulation software for avionics systems. Develop C/C++ and Python components, real-time embedded applications, and software interfacing with low-level hardware. Collaborate with project leads, systems engineers, and users to define requirements and designs. Conduct unit, functional, requirements, design, code, and test reviews while applying continuous integration and modern source control practices.

Supports the Avionics, Power & Instrument Electronics organization with budgeting, financial planning, reporting, workforce analysis, HR activities, facilities coordination, safety, and office or lab management. Develops reports, dashboards, and business metrics; maintains websites and repository databases; supports process improvements and business systems; collaborates with internal partners; and may assist with management of a multimillion-dollar service center.

Supports telecom systems engineering for spacecraft and deep-space missions across design, requirements, link analysis, testing, verification, operations, and anomaly response. Develops interfaces, simulations, test plans, operational procedures, telemetry tools, dashboards, and technical documentation. Collaborates with spacecraft engineers and ground-station providers, supports mission operations and reviews, and contributes to proposals, trade studies, risk management, and flight readiness activities.