Flight Software Engineer IV

citjpl; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena is seeking a Flight Software Engineer IV to lead development of embedded flight software for spacecraft and small satellites. You will contribute to the design, implementation, testing, and integration of flight software across CubeSats and instrument payloads.

The role requires strong C/C++, Python, and real-time embedded systems expertise, with leadership capabilities to mentor junior engineers and coordinate with mission teams on interfaces and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related discipline with a minimum of 9 years of related work experience; a Master's degree with 7 years; or a PhD with 5 years.
• Wide application of advanced principles and hands-on programming for real-time embedded software systems in aerospace.
• Experience with device drivers and hardware interfaces; IPC and distributed computing.

Responsibilities

• Develop embedded flight software for spacecraft and small satellites, including CubeSats.
• Lead software delivery activities: requirements, design, code, reviews, and testing.
• Collaborate with mission teams to ensure reliability and performance of flight software products.
• Mentor junior engineers and guide hardware/software interface specifications.

Skills

Embedded software

C/C++

Python

Linux

RTOS

Education

Bachelors in CS or related field

Masters in related field

PhD in related field

Tools

FreeRTOS

RTEMS

Zephyr

Wind River VxWorks

Linux

Job description

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. We provide leadership and specialized expertise in developing flight software and systems engineering for spacecraft, small satellites, and instrument payloads.As a Flight Software Engineer IV , you will be working for JPL's Flight Software and Systems Engineering Section , which provides leadership and specialized expertise in developing flight software and systems engineering for spacecraft, small satellites and instrument payloads.As a key member of the Flight Software Architecture and Infrastructure Group, you will perform software engineering activities associated with the delivery of embedded flight software products for small scale projects developing CubeSats, small satellites and spacecraft payloads where the typical flight software team sizes are between one and five people.Mostly a software engineering assignment would involve the development of complex and mission critical embedded software for spacecraft, including software requirements definition, software design, code development, peer review, documentation, thorough unit testing, integration testing using simulations and avionics hardware, and defect resolution to JPL flight mission customers.As a Flight Software Engineer IV, you would typically work independently with minimal guidance or lead a small team of software developers in planning a task, establishing requirements, preparing and presenting design solutions, managing resources, conducting reviews, reporting to upper management and mentoring fewer senior engineers.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, or related discipline with a minimum of 9 years of related work experience; a Master's degree in similar disciplines with a minimum of 7 years of related work experience; or a PhD in similar disciplines with a minimum of 5 years of related work experience.
• Other qualifications include:
• Extensive understanding and wide application of advanced principles, theories, concepts and hands-on programming techniques in: Architecting, developing, modifying, debugging, releasing and maintaining complex real-time embedded software systems for mission-critical, aerospace applications.
• Developing application programs for the various functional domains (e.g., CDH, GNC, System Fault Protection, etc.) for execution in an embedded flight processor.
• Device driver development and software/hardware interfaces for both custom and commercial hardware, with experience debugging software/hardware interactions and possible failure modes.
• Distributed computing and inter-process communication (IPC) mechanisms.
• Deep familiarity with communication buses and protocols: PCI/PCIe, UART, SPI, I2C, CAN bus, and SpaceWire.
• Real-time or embedded operating systems such as FreeRTOS, RTEMS, Zephyr, or WindRiver VxWorks
• AI tools and processes for software development
• Proven team leadership ability in the development and delivery of reliable, embedded real-time software applications that employs formal and structured lifecycle development process.
• An extensive background in software development and testing with specific experience in the following languages and operating systems: C++, C, Python, Linux, WindRiver VxWorks.
• Ability to guide in-development hardware towards efficient specifications for software interfaces.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with ability to work in a team environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Advanced knowledge of Laboratory policies and procedures, NASA policies and procedures, and government regulations across a range of applications.
• Extensive experience developing, deploying and maintaining software product lines.
• Hands-on knowledge with software development processes, standards, and practices.
• System engineering experience in generating, tracking and proving successful implementation of requirements.
• Deep understanding of NASA F Prime or cFS open-source frameworks
• Background in dynamics and contro