Mechanical Technician – Near Space Corporation – Palestine, TX

We Are Seeking Mechanical Technicians

As a Mechanical Technician, you’ll provide technical skills to design, fabricate, assemble, and test mechanical support equipment or flight systems from pre-launch, launch, flight and recovery activities. You will need to demonstrate technical abilities in areas of mechanical fabrication, installation, and test of mechanical systems or subsystems. Senior levels must have experience working with engineers in the rigging functions to support the launch of scientific balloons and payload.

How You Will Contribute (Essential Functions)

Standard Duties

• Assist in the fabrication, installation, and test of mechanical units, systems, subsystems or models from specific drawings and schematic diagrams. Operate standard test equipment and instruments. Operate and maintain heavy equipment and record data. Weld and fabricate aluminum and steel for construction and support of scientific payloads.
• Repair and maintain launch vehicles, calibrate and test electronic ballast releasing valves, test and repair parachutes and construct crush pads
• Operate applicable equipment and perform functions to assist with the launch and recovery of scientific payloads and balloons. Operate launch vehicles during balloon launch operations. Support extended operations in remote locations.
• Perform preventative maintenance on flight vehicles and equipment, document and file records for same. Provide design input and improve reliability of mechanical assemblies. Fabricate, install, and test mechanical units, systems, subsystems, or models from specific drawings and schematic diagrams.
• Support visiting science groups in design and fabrication of assemblies and fixtures for balloon flights. Assist payload pickup, equipment layout, gas computation, and inspection of flight hardware prior to inflation.
• Responsible for support to logistics: inventory list requirements, packing, and shipping of all equipment to remote locations. Assign duties to prepare hardware and various equipment for remote locations.
• Responsible for procurement and inventory of machine shop supplies and equipment. Ensure the safety of the equipment and personnel in the operation of the machine shop. Maintain and repair equipment as needed for safe and efficient operation.

What You Need To Be Successful

• High School Diploma or GED Certificate (Junior) and AA or AS in related field (Mid-level and Senior)
• Knowledge/experience with stick and heli-arc welding and forklift and heavy equipment operation desired
• Skill in the use of hand and power tools, especially industrial sewing machine desired
• Skill in the use of mechanical test equipment, i.e. pressure gauges, load cells, and scales
• Ability to perform and document preventative maintenance on light equipment
• Knowledge of methods and techniques involved with assembly and testing of mechanical hardware
• Ability to perform strenuous physical activities, i.e. recurrent walking, bending, climbing, lifting >50 pounds
• Knowledge of Word, Excel, and Windows is desired

Other Requirements:

• Ability to pass the RPSC Physical (Medical) requirements to work in Antarctica

Special Requirements

This position requires access to or use of information which is subject to the federal International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). All applicants for this position must be U.S. Persons within the meaning of ITAR and EAR. ITAR and EAR define “U.S. Person” as any individual who is a citizen of the United States, a permanent resident alien of the United States, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)

• Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. – unable to provide sponsorship

What You’ll Appreciate About Us

• Exceptional Culture.
• Niche Development.

Why Us?

We are the epitome of how science and technology will change the world. Located west of Portland on the beautiful Oregon Coast, Near Space Corporation values innovation, teamwork, safety and offers an environment of growth and commitment. Specializing in the testing and maturing of space and aviation technologies, NSC has extensive experience providing relevant space like environments for maturing new technologies and testing concepts of operations using high altitude balloons and UAVs. For over 25 years, we’ve been successfully operating as a small high-altitude ballooning company and more recently NSC began operating the Tillamook UAS Test Range, which is an instrumental piece of integrating manned and unmanned aircraft into the NAS. This is why we need you, the best of the best. If you enjoy aerospace, unmanned systems, and flight testing… you are in the right place! This is where ideas fly!

Equal Employment Opportunity

NSC is an equal opportunity employer who focuses on building a culture where differences are valued. Our mission of leveraging new technology is achieved by embracing diversity and providing an inclusive workforce. NSC employment is based on competence, qualifications, merit, performance, and business need.

In connection with an application for employment and as a condition of continuing employment, investigative background inquiries may be made on including previous employers, schools, consumer credit, criminal convictions, motor vehicle, and other reports. As a condition of employment, all candidates must successfully complete and pass a background check and a pre-employment drug screen. Candidates who refuse to complete contingencies of an offer, including the pre-employment drug screen, will not be hired by Near Space Corporation. In connection with this application, you release and agree to hold harmless any individual, company, business institution or government agency from all liability with regard to furnishing information to Near Space Corporation. I agree to release and hold harmless Near Space Corporation from all liability with respect to the receipt of such information.