Controls Operations Engineer

Peraton is seeking a Controls Operations Engineer in the Monrovia, CA office to support our Deep Space Network (DSN) and Maintenance M&O contract with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and NASA. The Deep Space Network is NASA’s international array of giant radio antennas that supports interplanetary spacecraft missions, plus a few that orbit the Earth. The DSN also provides radar and radio astronomy observations that improve our understanding of the solar system and larger universe.

The antennas of the Deep Space Network are the indispensable link to explorers venturing beyond Earth. 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.

The Controls Operations Engineer sustains and supports the controller assemblies in the Facilities and Antenna Subsystems at NASA's Deep Space Communications Complexes in California, Spain, and Australia. These assemblies span electrical, mechanical (HVAC), water, security, cybersecurity, and fire systems, and provide the infrastructure that delivers critical mission data to the Signal Processing Centers.

You will work alongside discipline operations and development engineers to maintain, update, and troubleshoot these systems, and will support planning, design review, analysis, cost estimating, and technical direction for the subsystem in support of DDOSO (Office 925) at JPL.

What you'll do:

• Support the Cognizant Development Engineer on repair and replacement projects, take the technical lead on smaller projects (including research and subcontractor coordination), and serve as a reviewer for the Controls Design Engineer on new projects.
• Diagnose ladder logic, debug PLC programs, and troubleshoot HMI/GUI issues.
• Troubleshoot unknowns during modification projects; read, mark up, and document wiring diagrams and schematics, including as-built changes.
• Provide technical guidance to operations and maintenance personnel, field technicians, and consultants on fiber optic, fire, security, surveillance video, and other facilities controllers.
• Interface with vendors and manufacturers on replacement solutions and build cost-benefit trade-off studies.
• Serve as test engineer during commissioning of new controls projects (occasional travel required).
• Maintain configuration records and operational data, and track automation improvements across the DSN.
• Identify spares and product obsolescence, monitor Field Service Bulletins and change logs, and forecast end-of-life support.
• Support the DSN Engineering Change Management Board: developing, evaluating, and costing ECRs; preparing and delivering ECOs and Modkits; and resolving and closing Discrepancy Reports.
• Assist site administrators with cybersecurity requirements as needed per assembly.

Required Qualifications:

• 0 years with BS/BA; 4 years no degree
• US citizenship with proof, and the ability to pass a trusted background check and a National Criminal Information Check (NCIC).
• Experience with at least one general-purpose programming language (C, C++, Python, Assembly, etc.).
• Hands-on experience with linear electrical components (resistors, capacitors, relays) and electro-mechanical components (actuators, AC/DC motors, VFDs/VSDs, motor controllers).
• Experience with serial and parallel communication protocols (I2C, Modbus, CAN bus, BACnet).
• Working knowledge of ladder logic and PLC programming, analog and discrete I/O, sensor equipment (pressure, flow, voltage, current), and computer networking.
• Familiarity with Building Management Systems such as Automated Logic (ALC) or Johnson Metasys.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on a current Windows operating system.

Desired Qualifications:

• HVAC component knowledge (fans, compressors, chillers, dampers, actuators, flowmeters) and the ability to follow a sequence of operations to identify issues.
• Understanding of power distribution, generation, and protection, including medium voltage, UPSs, and protection devices.
• Understanding of non-linear components (transistors, diodes, SCRs, AC-DC/DC-AC converters and inverters).
• Experience with DDC and DCS, industry codes and standards, maintenance reports, and trending analysis.
• EIT certification or PE license; PMP certification.
• Project and task management experience.
• Conversational Spanish.
• Strong written and verbal communication, comfort working independently with minimal direction, and a habit of tracking down answers and the people who have them.