Senior Electronics Technician

Science Systems and Applications Inc. (SSAI) is seeking an Instrument Calibration Technician to calibrate, maintain, and deploy domestic and international remote sensing instrumentation for a ground-based atmospheric aerosol monitoring project.  The instruments generate data that is processed, archived, and distributed publicly by NASA and used in a range of research and operational applications worldwide.   

The Technician will interface with laboratory personnel, project programmers, and science team members to maintain the instrument calibration, monitor instrument health and performance, and troubleshoot issues at calibration facilities and field sites worldwide.  The Technician will need to communicate with instrument sponsors from around the world.  Good oral and written communication skills are necessary, and a “customer service voice” is desirable. 

The need for real-time data transfer will include some hardware and (limited) software development, testing, and maintenance of data acquisition and transfer systems.  Tasks also include interacting with scientific and operational database systems. 

The Technician will need some experience in servicing electronics and should be familiar with electronics laboratory equipment such as soldering irons, oscilloscopes, multimeters, and other tools. 

Duties Include but no limited to: 

• Deployment of instrumentation in the field domestically and internationally. 
• Processing incoming and outgoing instrumentation and equipment including packing/unpacking and shipping. 
• Performing instrument radiance calibration on NIST-traceable integrating spheres. 
• Routinely installing and removing instruments on the NASA calibration platform. 
• Assembling and disassembling instrument components. 
• Analyzing instrument data to find causes of errors and address the issues to resolve the problem. 
• Detecting and correcting errors found in software and hardware. 
• Working collaboratively in a dynamic, highly team-oriented environment. 
• Effectively communicating with the team and external partners. 
  
• Domestic or international travel needed to install or remove instrumentation from long-term field sites or temporary field campaign sites. 
• Participate in related workshops and meetings. 
• Communicating troubleshooting instruction over the phone and via email with site sponsors across the world. 
• Troubleshooting and repairing robotics and electronics. 

Requirements: 

• Associates degree in a technical discipline or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Strong foundation in laboratory work or strong ability to follow instructions and pay attention to details. 
• Independently work through hardware issues using problem-solving skills. 
• Capable of working both independently and collaboratively. 
• Familiarity with electronics test equipment including power supplies, oscilloscopes, meters. 
• Performed solder technician duties such as solder cable assemblies to connectors, through-hole and PCB. 
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally. 
• US Citizen or US Permanent Resident required. 

EOE, including disability/vets

Physical Requirements:  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and use hands to touch, handle or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee frequently is required to talk and hear and occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.