Safety Engineering Technician (NASA Balloon Program)

Peraton provides management and technical support for NASA’s scientific balloon program which supports enabling science missions for NASA and universities across the United States and foreign scientific communities. Scientific balloon missions provide researchers inexpensive, relatively quick, long duration access to near space altitudes and environments. Balloon missions cost orders of magnitude less than satellite missions and provide platforms for heavy experiments (some greater than 5000-lbs) to operate for weeks and even months. Balloon missions have provided significant science theories and discoveries about cosmic rays, gamma ray and x-ray astronomy, optical and UV astronomy, atmospheric sciences, and cosmic microwave background studies.

Our staff are located at the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF) in Palestine, TX where we design, analyze, build and assembly the support hardware and balloon gondola payloads for the missions. We launch the balloons from locations within the United States (Texas, New Mexico, and Hawaii) and around the world including Antarctica, Sweden, New Zealand, and Australia. Our engineers and technician staff support the launches and balloon and payload recoveries in the US and many worldwide locations. Peraton’s NASA Balloon Operations Contract (NBOC) program is seeking a Quality Assurance Engineering Technician to join our team in Palestine, Texas.

Our rural campus offers the ability to work in a low-cost of living area, but within an easy drive of Tyler, Dallas and Houston.    

Responsibilities of the position: 

• Conduct and deliver safety briefings including pre‑campaign briefings, annual all‑hands safety briefings, and new‑hire safety orientation.
• Deliver operator and safety training including forklift, MEWP, overhead crane, fall protection, lockout/tagout (LOTO), and fire warden training. (Training responsibilities shared with Safety Manager.) 
• Perform required facility inspections. 
• Maintain all chemical inventory and SDS management.
• Assist the Safety Manager in ensuring timely submission of required NASA and Peraton safety reporting.
• Oversee hazardous operations onsite during balloon launch preparations, payload handling, and ground operations. 
• Investigate close calls and mishaps, prepare and submit findings and corrective actions, and support implementation and closure of corrective actions. 
• Serve as a Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) when radioactive sources are onsite and support radiation safety program activities. 
• Act as the primary Safety Point of Contact for the Palestine facility when the Safety Manager is supporting remote campaigns. 
• Support mission travel as required, including travel to Fort Sumner for inspections and pre‑launch/launch operations and to other balloon campaign locations for OSS coverage. 
• Participate in safety meetings, emergency drills, campaign readiness activities, and program safety initiatives in alignment with Peraton’s NBOC II Safety and Health Plan.

Required Qualifications:

• High School or GED
• Four years of related experience in safety, flight operations, or similar environment
• Equivalency- Completion of a post-secondary degree or certificate may substitute for years of experience.
• Strong documentation and reporting skills
• Strong verbal communication skills; ability to deliver safety briefings and conduct safety training
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Must be a US Citizen
• Must be able to pass a background check to obtain a NASA Personal Identity Verification card (PIV) background check and drug screen required.

Desired Qualifications:

• OSHA 30 for General Industry
• Experience conducting incident/near-miss investigations
• Experience operating forklifts, mobile work platforms, and overhead cranes
• First Aid / CPR / AED certification
• Experience with SDS management and chemical inventories

Specific Requirements / Licensing Special Requirements:

• Must be able to travel to support campaigns in various locations around the world
• Must have or be able to obtain a passport
• Must pass the National Science Foundation Physical (Medical) requirement to work in Antarctica