Welder/Fabricator

Welder/Fabricator
Mechanical Technician, Junior
NASA Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility 
Palestine, Texas

HX5 is an award-winning provider of engineering, research and development, and technical services to clients such as NASA and the Department of Defense. Founded in 2004, HX5 is a fast-growing veteran- and woman-owned company with locations nationwide.

HX5 is currently seeking a Mechanical Technician to join our team in Palestine, Texas at NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility.

The NASA Balloon Program Office (BPO) provides management of NASA's high altitude scientific balloon activities funded by the Astrophysics Division within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• 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.

Education and Experience

This position has been posted at multiple levels. Depending on the candidate's experience, requirements, and business needs, we reserve the right to consider candidates at any level for which this position has been advertised.

• Must have a High School Diploma or GED Certificate.
• Demonstrated technical abilities in areas of mechanical fabrication, installation, and test of mechanical systems or subsystems.
• Skill in the use of mechanical test equipment. (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. (recurrent walking, bending, climbing, lifting over 50 pounds)

Preferences

• Knowledge and experience with stick and heli-arc welding.
• Forklift and heavy equipment operation experience.
• Knowledge of Word, Excel, and Windows.

Extended travel is required. (Approximately 50-60% of the time)

International travel is required. (Must be able to obtain and maintain a passport within two weeks of the date of hire.)

Launch sites include Antarctica, Sweden, New Zealand, and New Mexico.

Must be able to pass Antarctica physical.

Must be able to pass NASA background check.

Must be able to obtain CDL. (Not required by date of hire)

Must be able to pass the RPSC physical (medical) requirements to work in Antarctica.

Proof of U.S. Citizenship or US Permanent Residency is a requirement for this position.

COVID-19 Regulations:  As a federal government contractor, HX5 complies with all customer, federal, state, and local requirements regarding COVID-19 regulations, including COVID-19 vaccinations and testing requirements. This means that our employees and new hires, whether working at a customer site, working remotely, or working in an HX5 facility, will need to adhere to applicable COVID-19 requirements. These requirements may include vaccination, attestations regarding your vaccination status and/or COVID-19 testing, and you may be required to show proof of vaccination and/or negative test results as a condition of your employment. Requests for an accommodation will be reviewed and assessed under applicable laws and regulations.

HX5 offers a competitive salary and benefits package to include:

• Medical/dental/vision insurance
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Paid holidays
• Accrued Paid Time Off

HX5, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.

HX5 is a Drug Free Workplace Employer.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process due to a physical or mental disability  call (850) 362-6551.

CJ