Flight Software Engineer I

California Institute Of Technology Jet Propulsion Laboratory; United States; On-site; USD 97,000 - 117,000; Full time

Job summary

Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA, seeks an Embedded Flight Software Engineer I for the Instrument Flight Software Group. You will implement and test real-time software for spacecraft instruments, from drivers to high-level behaviors, collaborating with engineers to meet mission requirements.

Responsibilities include designing real-time flight software components, building test plans, and debugging in an integrated system with a multi-disciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s 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 real-time embedded software for mission-critical aerospace applications
• Developing embedded real-time application programs utilizing RTOS
• Device driver and software/hardware interface development
• Distributed computing and IPC in space-partitioned software architectures
• Knowledge of Space Wire, PCI/PCIe, UART, Ethernet

Responsibilities

• Design and implement real-time flight software for science instruments
• Work with Instrument engineers to generate software requirements and design
• Create modules for flight system functions, interfaces, boot process, and DF/CS such as data handling, fault protection, thermal control
• Develop test plans, unit tests, and regression tests; evaluate results
• Run tests against simulators and testbeds
• Identify and troubleshoot issues in an integrated flight-software environment
• Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team of experienced developers

Skills

C/C++ programming

Multithreading

Embedded RTOS

Device drivers

Inter-process IPC

Python

Git / CI/CD

Education

Bachelor's in CS/CE or related

Master’s or PhD (advantage)

Tools

Git

CI/CD

Linux

Job description

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.

• 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.

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

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.

Formed in 1936, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech.) JPL joined NASA as an FFRDC when the agency was founded in 1958. JPL helped open the Space Age by developing America’s first Earth-orbiting science satellite, creating the first successful interplanetary spacecraft, and sending robotic missions to the solar system. Today JPL continues its world-leading innovation, implementing programs in planetary exploration, Earth science, space-based astronomy and technology development while applying its capabilities to technical and scientific problems of national significance. Above all, we are explorers. At JPL we promote collaboration, innovation, integrity, and excellence in distinct academic areas. We turn ideas for science investigation into the reality of groundbreaking space missions, partnering with our strategic business teams to guide JPL into the future.