Early Career NASA Space Reactor – 1 Freedom Flight Software Development Engineer

CACI International Inc; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 64,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

CACI is seeking an early career Flight Software Development Engineer to design, develop, and verify safety-critical embedded software for the Space Reactor – 1 Freedom Program at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. You will prototype, define requirements, design, test, and certify flight software within a fast-paced, collaborative team.

The role emphasizes working with the NASA Core Flight Software framework, integrating software with hardware, and coordinating across programs while

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizen or permanent resident for facility access.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, CS, or related field.
• Strong C programming skills and Linux experience.
• Experience with software unit testing.
• Internship or 1–2 years of professional software experience in relevant project.
• Able to manage multiple priorities with minimal supervision.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; team-oriented.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop SR-1 flight software and supporting software tools.
• Develop and maintain software using the NASA Core Flight Software (cFS) framework.
• Perform systems engineering in support of software requirements, interface definitions, and performance analysis.
• Perform software integration, test, and verification.
• Integrate and test software/hardware in avionics test bed and flight certification environments.
• Collaborate with engineering teams and contractors across multiple NASA programs and projects.
• Ensure adherence to JSC standard software process practices.

Skills

C programming

Linux

Software unit testing

Communication skills

Multitasking/priority management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Computer Science

Master's degree in Computer Science / Software Engineering / Engineering

Tools

GitLab

Jira

Job description

Job Title: Early Career NASA Space Reactor – 1 Freedom Flight Software Development Engineer

Job Category: Engineering

Time Type: Full time

Minimum Clearance Required to Start: NACI

Employee Type: Regular

Percentage of Travel Required: Up to 10%

Type of Travel: Continental US

* * *

The Opportunity

CACI is looking for an early career Flight Software Development Engineer to support the Space Reactor – 1 Freedom Program at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC). This exciting position includes design and development of safety‑critical embedded flight software and supporting software tools for Space Reactor – 1 Freedom Integrated flight software. This software engineering position includes prototyping, requirements definition, design, development, test and verification, integration, and certification of flight software.

This position requires a self‑motivated engineer with strong technical depth, communication skills, problem‑solving ability, and a collaborative, customer‑focused mindset. The strongest candidates will be flexible, team‑oriented, and able to explain complex technical ideas clearly and convincingly while sharing our passion for the nation's space program and the development of the next generation of space vehicles. This work is performed onsite at NASA/JSC in Houston, Texas, in a highly dynamic environment that is central to human spaceflight and space exploration.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop SR-1 flight software and supporting software tools.
• Develop and maintain software using the NASA Core Flight Software (cFS) framework.
• Perform systems engineering in support of software requirements, interface definitions, and performance analysis.
• Perform software integration, test, and verification.
• Integrate and test software/hardware in avionics test bed and flight certification environments.
• Collaborate with engineering teams and contractors across multiple NASA programs and projects.
• Ensure adherence to JSC standard software process practices.

Qualifications

Required:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident to facilitate access to USG facilities.
• B.S. in Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, Software, Computer or Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or related disciplines.
• Strong C programming skills and experience with Linux.
• Experience with software unit testing.
• Relevant intern experience if new graduate or one to two years professional software experience in relevant project. Greater experience is valued.
• Must be flexible, open to new challenges in a dynamic environment, and possess strong technical expertise combined with strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Requires the ability to manage multiple priorities with little supervision.
• Must be a highly responsible, team‑oriented individual with strong work ethic.

Desired

• M.S. in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, Computer or Systems Engineering, or related discipline.
• Experience in human-rated space vehicles, e.g., Space Shuttle, Space Station, Orion, Commercial Crew, Gateway, and in specific vehicle software domains (e.g., C&T, C&DH, GN&C).
• Experience in software development for safety‑critical software. Experience can be for aerospace vehicles or in other industries, e.g., oil and gas.
• Experience in NASA Core Flight Software (CFS).
• Python development skills.
• Experience in the entire software life cycle.
• Experience developing embedded software for Real‑time Operating Systems, preferably VxWorks.
• Experience in bus communication protocols (e.g., 1553, RS-422, RS-232, USB, Ethernet).
• Experience in software and systems integration.
• Experience in automated testing.
• Experience in verification testing.
• Experience using GitLab and the Git version control system.
• Experience using Jira.
• Experience working in an Agile software development environment.

This position is contingent on funding and may not be filled immediately. However, this position is representative of positions within CACI that are consistently available. Individuals who apply may also be considered for other positions at CACI.

What You Can Expect

A culture of integrity.

At CACI, we place character and innovation at the center of everything we do. As a valued team member, you’ll be part of a high-performing group dedicated to our customer’s missions and driven by a higher purpose – to ensure the safety of our nation.

An environment of trust.

CACI values the unique contributions that every employee brings to our company and our customers - every day. You’ll have the autonomy to take the time you need through a unique flexible time off benefit and have access to robust learning resources to make your ambitions a reality.

A focus on continuous growth.

Together, we will advance our nation's most critical missions, build on our lengthy track record of business success, and find opportunities to break new ground — in your career and in our legacy.

Pay Range

There are a host of factors that can influence final salary including, but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education, and certifications. Our employees value the flexibility at CACI that allows them to balance quality work and their personal lives. We offer competitive compensation, benefits and learning and development opportunities. Our broad and competitive mix of benefits options is designed to support and protect employees and their families. At CACI, you will receive comprehensive benefits such as; healthcare, wellness, financial, retirement, family support, continuing education, and time off benefits.

The Proposed Salary Range For This Position Is

$63,800 - 127,500 USD

CACI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristic.