Flight Software Engineer I
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
About the role
Job Details
New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL.
Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.
Responsibilities:
If you are passionate about spacecraft design, we invite you to join the Flight Software & Systems Engineering Section. We provide flight software and systems engineering for the design and implementation of spacecraft for the laboratory's key flight projects. Our work spans spacecraft systems engineering, flight software, fault protection and autonomy design, and landing systems design.
The Instrument Flight Software Group is the lab-wide leader in embedded real-time software systems definition and implementation, responsible for the design, development, testing and delivery of embedded flight software for instruments needed by JPL/NASA to enable missions in astrophysics, and planetary, Earth and remote sensing experiments and observations with highly complex or specialized operations and science requirements.
As an embedded Flight Software Engineer I for the Instrument Flight Software Group, you will have the opportunity to implement or test science instruments and spacecraft capabilities including command, communication, data management, instrument managers, and fault protection. From low-level device drivers to high-level behaviors, you’ll find many interesting programming and testing opportunities.
Tasks include but are not limited to:
Design and implement real-time flight software for science instruments
Work with Instrument engineers to generate software requirements and design of the flight software components that meet the project requirements
Design software modules that implement the functions of the flight system, hardware/software interfaces, boot process, C&DH functions such as Instrument operations, Science data Acquisition and control, Engineering and Science data handling, Fault Protection, Thermal Power Control in both nominal and off-nominal scenarios
Develop test plans, unit tests, regression test and evaluate test results. Run tests against simulators and testbeds
Identify and troubleshoot technical issues with flight software in an integrated system
Work with multi-disciplinary team and experienced flight software developers
Qualifications:
Bachelors in Computer Science or Computer Engineering or related technical discipline with a minimum of 1 year of related experience; Master’s degree in similar disciplines; or PhD in similar disciplines with zero years of related experience.
Strong C/C++ programming skills
Multi-threaded programming
Coursework in operating systems, computer architecture, algorithms, and data structures
Knowledge of principles, theories, concepts and hands-on programming techniques in:
Developing, modifying, debugging, releasing and maintaining real-time embedded software systems for mission-critical, aerospace applications.
Developing embedded real-time application programs utilizing RTOS
Developing device driver and software/hardware interfaces for both custom and commercial hardware.
Distributed computing and inter-process communication mechanisms in a space partitioned software architecture.
Communication buses and protocols: Space Wire, PCI/PCIe,UART, Ethernet
Continues Integration, development flow, git flow process
Internship or experience with significant C or C++ programming
Internship or experience with embedded processors or microcontrollers programming or development process on CubeSats
Preferred Skills:
Coursework in programming languages, software engineering, computer science theory, embedded programming
Python, C++, or Java
Experience of applying artificial intelligence tools to technical projects
JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work-life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.
For further benefits information click Benefits and Perks
The hiring range displayed below is specifically for those who will work in or reside in the location listed. In extending an offer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory considers factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s job related skills, experience, knowledge, and relevant education/training.
The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California.
$96,616 - $117,104
JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state or local law.
In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
EEO is the Law.
EEO is the Law Supplement
Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here.
Responsibilities
- Design and implement real-time flight software for science instruments.
- Develop software requirements and designs with instrument engineers.
- Implement flight system functions, hardware/software interfaces, and instrument operations.
- Develop test plans and unit and regression tests, and evaluate results.
- Run tests on simulators and testbeds and troubleshoot integrated flight software.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related technical discipline with at least 1 year of related experience; alternatively, a similar master’s degree or a PhD with no experience.
- Strong C/C++ programming skills and multithreaded programming knowledge.
- Knowledge of real-time embedded software, RTOS, device drivers, and hardware/software interfaces.
- Knowledge of distributed computing, inter-process communication, and communication buses and protocols.
- Coursework in operating systems, computer architecture, algorithms, and data structures.
- Internship or experience with significant C/C++ programming or embedded processors and microcontrollers.
Benefits
- Health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans.
- Paid time off, learning opportunities, rideshare, and childcare.
- Flexible schedules and parental leave.
Skills mentioned
About NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Founded in 1936, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). For nearly nine decades, JPL has helped define the frontier of exploration. The laboratory developed America's first Earth-orbiting science satellite, built the first successful interplanetary spacecraft, and pioneered robotic exploration across the solar system. These achievements helped establish U.S. leadership in space and laid the foundation for generations of scientific discovery. Today, on behalf of NASA and the nation, JPL advances science and innovation through robotic missions that explore Earth, the solar system, and the universe. Our engineers, scientists, technologists, and mission teams continue to push the boundaries of exploration while addressing scientific and technical challenges of national significance. We Dare Mighty Things. Visit http://jpl.jobs to explore our career opportunities.