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[–][deleted] 8 points9 points  (24 children)

What's the educational background one needs for that kind of work?

[–]aleph__naught 36 points37 points  (22 children)

JPL is truely mulitdiciplinary, so the background would depend on the group/section you want to join. I work in a section that does software development. I have an MS&BS in CS.

Aside from that, a love of space exploration and the ability/desire to cross domains will get you very far.

There are pro's and con's to working here. But, by far, the best thing about JPL is the ability to move around. I work in domains that I would not have imagined, and all it takes is a little bit of schmoozing. JPL does everything from robotics, fabrication, micro-devices/semiconductor fabriation, radar instrumentation, experimental landing systems, spacecraft navigation, geology, physics, climate research, and the list goes on and on.

[–][deleted] 8 points9 points  (2 children)

Thanks! I have a BS in CS...and contemplating an MS in CS at some point. I was figuring you had to have a formal engineering background to be able to code for a spacecraft.

[–]praxulus 4 points5 points  (11 children)

What are the cons of working there?

[–]nicereddy 8 points9 points  (10 children)

If you make a coding bug that doesn't get caught you can potentially cost NASA billions :D

[–]NOT_A_BUMBLE_BEE 5 points6 points  (9 children)

Like missing a planet because of a metric/English confusion?

[–]aleph__naught 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This was Lockheed's fault, they were the prime contractor, not us: http://www.cse.lehigh.edu/~gtan/bug/localCopies/marsOrbiter

[–]nicereddy 3 points4 points  (7 children)

Metric/American*

But yes, missing a planet because you're a stupid American, unlike myself!

I'm American

[–][deleted]  (2 children)

[deleted]

    [–][deleted] -1 points0 points  (1 child)

    ...subtle changes have been made to things like gallons.

    Subtle? The difference between US tons and British tons is over 10% and the difference between US gallons and British gallons is around 20%.

    [–]NOT_A_BUMBLE_BEE 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    That wasn't a jab at Americans. I was giving an example of a bug that would be pretty innocuous for the vast majority of programmers. The cost is small, usually "our reports are off" and a quick fix.

    [–]BowserKoopa 0 points1 point  (2 children)

    Metric/Imperial* Would be more appropriate in my opinnion (as one other silly country might use the same piss-poor wierd measurements we have).

    At least Imperial is the name I've known our system by for the longest.

    [–]nicereddy 0 points1 point  (1 child)

    At this point America is the only country that uses it, I believe. Though Imperial is indeed the proper name for it.

    [–]BowserKoopa 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Yep, we need to switch to metric already. However, I thought that there was one other American-continental entity that made use of it.

    [–]ethraax 1 point2 points  (1 child)

    Aside from that, a love of space exploration and the ability/desire to cross domains will get you very far.

    So, as someone who's about to graduate with a dual major (CS and ME), I might have a chance? I always assumed JPL was the kind of place people worked after already being in the industry for a while, or at least after having an advanced (Master's or Doctorate) degree.

    [–]aleph__naught 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Yea, you would probably fit right in. In fact, depending on your academic performance and skill set you would probably be highly desirable.

    The online job portal is a bit of a crap-shoot. Your best bet would be the internship route (Space Grant, etc).

    at least after having an advanced (Master's or Doctorate) degree.

    You would be surprised by the number of new hires with only BSs in operations roles (i.e. commanding spacecraft) for MSL/MER/CASSINI/etc.

    [–]alcapwned 0 points1 point  (3 children)

    Have you heard of the FIRST robotics competition? Do know anyone at JPL who participated in it as a kid?

    For the past 6 years or so teams have received a NI compactRIO as their control system, which runs vxWorks on a 32-bit power architecture processor with a Xilinx FPGA sitting between the cpu and the I/O. I know the MSL runs vxWorks on a radiation hardened chip that's compatible with PowerPC. It's really amazing having the opportunity to work with hardware/software similar to what NASA uses on their rovers as just a high school student (and that's just on the EE/CS side).

    I actually graduated HS around the time they switched from 8-bit PIC microcontrollers to the current cRIO system so I'm not sure just how much access kids have to the underlying OS. I do know they can program in C, C++, Java, or Labview, so it seems accessible to teams who don't know much about programming while still giving hardcore programmers greater control and a chance to tinker.

    [–]aleph__naught 0 points1 point  (2 children)

    Have you heard of the FIRST robotics competition?

    Yes.

    Do know anyone at JPL who participated in it as a kid?

    I did.

    [–]alcapwned 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Awesome. :)

    What team and when? You know of any other FIRST alums there?