Meteorological Measurement System (MMS) airborne instrument Engineer

Classification: Position is exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

Job Summary:

This position serves as an MMS Engineer for the Bay Area Environmental Research (BAER)

Institute, a non-profit organization focused on enabling research in earth and space science

through collaboration with federal scientists, primarily at the NASA Ames Research Center.

The MMS Engineer works with the MMS team that operates and maintains cutting edge

airborne observational systems (specifically the meteorological state parameters on a variety

of different platforms) for use in large scientific community research programs. The

instrument/payload work task is an engineering application at the intersection of hardware,

software, physical science, thermodynamics, and sensing system. After initial training period

under supervision of senior staff, the successful candidate oversees and maintains electronic

hardware, physical sensors, and software employed in state-of-the-art instrumentation for the

measurement of in situ airborne meteorological variables. Continuing advancement in

measurement technique and technology will provide opportunity for future design, fabrication,

construction, and development of next generation instrumentation. The incumbent will help to

foster a culture of engineering excellence within NASA Ames and helps support the scientific

community.

Report to/Supervision Received:

Direct Supervisor: Dr. Robert Bergstrom, BAER Institute’s Director of Research

Guidance from and Coordination with:

MMS PI: Rei Ueyama, NASA Ames Research Center

Essential Functions:

 Design, troubleshoot and maintain research-grade instruments and subsystems for

laboratory and field deployment for different airborne research platforms (aircraft: ER-

2, DC-8, WB-57, ALPHA-JET, UAS and others)

 Apply basic sample theories, aerodynamics, thermodynamics and physical science

principles to maximize measurement quality and performance.

 Design, documentation, fabrication and prototyping of printed circuit boards, wire

harnesses and mechanical assemblies for instruments and instrument subsystems.

 Develop and maintain acquisition software to operate the payload as well as for

telemetry and graphical display.

 Support installation, operation and troubleshooting of airborne instrument deployments

through travel and phone/email/media consultations.

 Keep abreast with latest electrical engineering technologies and works to implement

them on NASA instruments.

Supervisory Responsibility:

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Competencies Required:

 Proficient with analog and digital circuit design. Experience with data acquisition and

control of instrument systems using digital I/O, ADCs and DACs. Sensor interface,

amplifier, power supply design, noise reduction design, microcontroller and

programming skills required.

 Experienced in the troubleshooting of electronic systems using standard benchtop

tools like oscilloscopes, Spectrum Analyzers, DVMs.

 Experience with schematic capture and PCB routing with software such as Orcad or

others

 Willingness to travel for extended periods of time to participate in field projects.

 Ability to work around NASA aircraft in a safe manner.

 Ability to work in a team environment.

 Experience with National Instruments LabVIEW, Matlab, IGOR is highly desirable

 Familiar with embedded programming (C/C++ & Linux OS)

 Knowledge of sensing physics, related sensor types and analytical instrumentation

development desirable.

Required Education and Experience:

Bachelors degree in a scientific discipline pertinent to the NASA Earth Science endeavor

(engineering, chemistry, physics, atmospheric science or other related field) and at least

three years of engineering experience;

or a Masters degree in Engineering and at least one

year of experience;

or a Ph.D. degree, or an equivalent combination of education and

experience. Electrical engineering experience should emphasize development and design of

instruments and instrument systems.

Travel:

This position requires travel, approximately 8-16 weeks a year (typically 1-4 weeks per trip) to

various (domestic or international) field campaign sites. During travel, long hours, sometimes

at odd hours of the day, are the norm. When not traveling, the Engineer will work at NASA

Ames Research Center (ARC) as part of the MMS team. The position will require an on-site

presence in the MMS lab at least 3 days a week when not traveling.

Security Clearance:

Employee must be a U.S. citizen, and able to acquire a passport and must be able to pass

personal background checks for working with the military, TSA, and the State Department.

Physical Demands:

Must be physically fit and be able to move supplies and small equipment.