NASA Commercial Spacecraft Flight Software Systems Engineer

Description

The team supports NASA on commercial spacecraft: Commercial Crew Vehicles that carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station, the Human Landing System that carries astronauts to and from the lunar surface, and the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle that will bring the ISS down safely once it is retired.

You will oversee and review flight software for human-rated vehicles, checking concepts, requirements, design, architecture, code, verification tests and certification. Software safety, process compliance, verification and flight-readiness certification get particular attention.

Focus areas include data networks and channelization, fault management, mission sequencing, aborts, emergency response and redundancy management. Vehicle domains span crew systems, displays, avionics, command and data handling, ECLSS, power, propulsion, thermal, GNC, communications and tracking, and docking.

You will work with the prime contractors on the commercial spacecraft.

The role suits a self-driven person who writes and speaks clearly, explains complex technical ideas persuasively, builds strong customer relationships, and adapts when new assignments appear. Deep technical skill is expected, along with people skills and a genuine interest in the nation's space program and in building future human-rated vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Review and oversee flight software requirements, design, integration, production, verification, validation and certification.
• Carry out systems engineering work, including hazard analysis, on vehicle subsystems.
• Coordinate flight software issues and their resolution across programs and vehicle systems engineering teams.
• Spot flight software risks early and guide contractors through corrective actions.
• Assess prime contractor flight software architecture, design and implementation.
• Oversee flight software integration in test and verification facilities.
• Act as an interface between NASA and prime contractor engineering teams.
• Contribute inputs to Certification of Flight Readiness (COFR) recommendations.
• Support missions by monitoring and evaluating flight operations and troubleshooting anomalies during commercial spacecraft flights from the Mission Evaluation Room (MER).

Requirements

• Required: U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Required: B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer or Software Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Required: Current or past experience in software development or systems engineering.
• Required: At least 3 years in real-time safety-critical software, internships included. Aerospace vehicles or other industries such as oil and gas both count.
• Required: Flexible and open to new challenges in a changing environment, with strong technical skill and strong written and verbal communication.
• Required: Ability to juggle several priorities with little supervision.
• Required: Highly responsible, team-oriented, with a strong work ethic.
• Required: Highly developed coordination and organization skills.
• Desired: M.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer or Software Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Desired: Full life cycle safety-critical software experience in aerospace or other fields.
• Desired: Flight software development for human-rated vehicles, such as Space Shuttle, ISS, SpaceX Crew Dragon, Boeing Starliner, Orion or Gateway.
• Desired: Broad knowledge of space vehicle systems, such as avionics, command and telemetry, command and control, displays, power, propulsion, thermal, ECLSS, GNC, and communications and tracking.
• Desired: Knowledge of operating aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, submarines or similar vehicles.
• Desired: Experience developing C/C++ and/or Python code.
• Desired: Project management skills.
• Desired: Familiarity with NASA's Commercial Crew Vehicles.

Conditions

Full-time, regular position.

Minimum clearance required to start: NACI.

Travel of up to 10%, within the continental US.

Based at NASA/JSC in Houston, TX.

The position depends on funding and may not be filled right away. Similar roles are consistently open at the company, and applicants may be considered for those too.

Salary depends on factors including location, federal government contract labor categories and wage rates, prior experience, skills, education and certifications.

Proposed salary range: $76,000 - 155,700 USD.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation, benefits, and learning and development opportunities.
• Healthcare, wellness, financial, retirement, family support, continuing education and time off benefits.
• Flexible time off so you can take the time you need.
• Access to robust learning resources to help you reach your goals.
• Flexibility that helps you balance quality work with your personal life.