Spacecraft Flight Software Engineer P2 – Space Systems

Are you passionate about solving complex problems? Join our dynamic team as a Spacecraft Flight Software Engineer and become a vital contributor to support NASA as an Oceaneering Teammate on the JSC Engineering, Technology, and Science (JETS) II contract. As an integral part of our organization, you'll play a crucial role in the Software Engineering II and Dev Ops section in the Engineering Department on the NASA JSC Engineering, Technology and Science II (JETS II) Contract.

This role will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the thrilling world of human spaceflight and deep space exploration programs. Your contributions will ensure that our services not only meet - but outperform all standards and expectations. As a Spacecraft Flight Software Engineer, you'll find yourself at the forefront of innovation, collaborating with a passionate team who shares your dedication to excellence. If you're seeking to immerse yourself in an environment where your skills and expertise will make a genuine impact, we invite you to join our team!

We are seeking someone with a keen eye for detail, a strong commitment to owning their work, and providing superior quality. You should be a person who thrives in a diverse environment and who is comfortable communicating at all levels of the organization. To be successful in this role, you should have a sense of genuine, engaging curiosity, and a desire for growth and continuous learning.

Someone in this role would typically have a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and normally possess a minimum of 2 years of experience. This position can be hired at any level in our professional career framework, depending on business need at the time of hire.

**International travel may be required. Possible straight time overtime and a 9/80 work schedule (every other Friday off) **

The Spacecraft Flight Software Development Engineer supports development, refactoring, integration, and sustainment of human rated flight software for NASA’s Space vehicle under the JETS II contract. This senior role is responsible for implementing, modernizing, and verifying embedded flight software that ensures crew safety, vehicle operability, and mission execution across all phases of human spaceflight.

Engineers in this role work closely with NASA discipline leads to evolve Orion’s flight software architecture, integrate subsystem updates, participate in hardware in the loop testing, and deliver certifiable Class A software aligned with NASA’s safety and assurance standards.

The position requires strong embedded software expertise, real time systems experience, disciplined engineering practices, and the ability to collaborate effectively within integrated NASA/multi contractor teams.

Primary responsibilities include developing deterministic C/C++ code, refactoring legacy modules, supporting subsystem interface updates, contributing to fault management logic improvements, participating in verification campaigns, analyzing anomalies, and ensuring software readiness for flight certification.

Required

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Computer, Software, Electrical, Aerospace) from an accredited engineering school with minimum of 2 years of experience in the field or related area.
• 5 years professional experience developing real time, safety critical embedded software (aerospace or comparable high reliability domains).
• Proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems and experience with real time OS frameworks (RTEMS, VxWorks, cFS, or equivalent).
• Ability to implement deterministic scheduling, rate group execution, interrupt handling, low level drivers, and subsystem interfaces.
• Experience with flight hardware integration, avionics benches, HWIL environments, or distributed lab systems.
• Familiarity with software safety and assurance principles (NASA STD 8739.8, NPR 7150.2 or similar safety critical standards).
• Experience developing, refactoring, or maintaining mission critical code bases, including requirements traceability, design documentation, and verification artifacts.
• Ability to support fault management, redundancy logic, mode transitions, safe mode behaviors, and emergency/abort response sequences.
• Proficiency with Python for tooling, test automation, analysis scripts, or verification utilities.
• Strong problem solving ability, technical clarity, and communication skills suitable for NASA engineering and certification environments.
• Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary engineering teams and participate in subsystem integration discussions.
• Willingness to work onsite at NASA JSC and complete Government background investigations.
• U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Permanent Residency required.

Preferred

• Hands on work with human rated flight software (Orion, ISS, CCP, Gateway, Shuttle, or commercial crew vehicles).
• Experience with flight software refactoring, architectural modernization, or migrating legacy modules into updated frameworks.
• Exposure to fault tolerant architectures, redundancy management, and high reliability communication buses (1553, SpaceWire, Ethernet/CDH).
• Familiarity with formal verification, static analysis tools, and software safety audits.
• Experience supporting integrated test events, mission simulations, SIL/HWIL campaigns, or operational readiness events.
• Understanding of GNC algorithms, avionics sequencing, or subsystem specific behaviors (power, thermal, ECLSS, comm, docking).
• Knowledge of DevOps pipelines, CI/CD workflows, or automated test frameworks for embedded systems.
• Prior experience working within NASA JSC engineering processes, configuration management environments, and program review cycles (SRR/PDR/CDR).
• Ability to create technical documentation, interface control descriptions, and certification artifacts for flight readiness.

Proof of U.S. Citizenship or US Permanent Residency is a requirement for this position.
Must be able to complete a U.S. government background investigation.
Management has the prerogative to select at any level for which the position is advertised.

Essential Functions

• Work Environment - Generally, an office environment, but can involve inside or outside work depending on task.
• Physical Requirements - Work may involve sitting or standing for extended periods (90% of time). May require lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs. (5% of time).
• Equipment and Machines - Standard office equipment (PC, telephone, printer, etc.).
• Attendance - Regular attendance in accordance with established work schedule is critical. Ability to work outside normal schedule and adjust schedule to meet peak periods and surge requirements.
• Other Essential Functions - Professional behavior that enhances productivity and promotes teamwork and cooperation. Grooming and dress must be appropriate for the position and must not impose a safety risk/hazard to the employee or others.

All qualified candidates will receive consideration for all positions without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other non-merit factors.