Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Mission Software Engineer

George Mason University; Chantilly (VA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

NASA Landolt mission project

Job summary

George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, sponsors a NASA Landolt mission position for a Mission Software Engineer. The role develops, tests, and integrates flight software, collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams across NASA and partner institutions.

A terminal degree in a space-related field is required, with experience in C, Python, or JavaScript and familiarity with software development practices. The position is full-time with hybrid eligibility, offering opportunities to contribute to

Qualifications

• Terminal degree in a relevant field with emphasis on space systems development.
• Experience producing working code in a relevant language (C, Python, JavaScript, etc.).
• Familiarity with industry best practices in software development.

Responsibilities

• Generate, debug, and integrate code for flight-ready mission software.
• Assist in software testing, verification, and integration.
• Comply with NASA space systems requirements and procedures.
• Write or co-write papers and deliverables for NASA and professional journals.

Skills

C

Python

JavaScript

Education

Terminal degree in Computer/Software Eng; Aerospace Eng; Systems Eng or related field (space systems)

Job description

Department: College of Science

Classification: Post Doc 12 month

Job Category: Postdoctoral Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visasponsorship

Salary: Salary commensurate with education andexperience

Restricted: Yes

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department

George Mason University (GMU), a CarnegieResearch Iinstitution,is Virginia’s largest and most diverse university with morethan38,000 students. Located in Fairfax, Virginia, Mason is partof the Washington DC metropolitan area offering easy access to thescientific and political resources of the nation’s capital.

George Mason University is committed to advancing inclusion,access, and equal opportunity throughout our community. We believethat a broad range of voices, cultures, and perspectives bringsvibrancy, innovation, and growth to an academic community.

The Landolt Mission teamis responsible fordeveloping andexecuting a NASA space-based mission through coordinated workacross science, payload, spacecraft bus, software, systemsengineering, integration and test, mission assurance, and projectmanagement functions. The unit provides an interdisciplinaryresearch and training environment for faculty, postdoctoralresearchers, engineers, staff, and students working collaborativelywith federal, academic, commercial, and other external partners.

The Landolt Mission team supports mission formulation, systemsengineering, subsystem coordination, technical trade studies,requirements development, verification and validation planning,assembly, integration and testing, technical documentation, missionreviews, and mission operations planning. The unit workscollaboratively across payload, spacecraft bus, software, groundsystems, mission operations, science, and programmatic interfacesto advance missionobjectivesand meet NASA requirements.

Statement on Building an All-Inclusive Culture: George MasonUniversity College of Science (Mason Science) is committed toadvancing inclusive excellence and fostering an environment freefrom discrimination, harassment, and retaliation throughout ourSTEM community. At Mason Science, our values include cultivating anorganizational culture that promotes belonging, respect, andcivility. We believe that varied opinions, cultures, andperspectives are what provides vibrancy, innovation, and growth toan academic community. By prioritizing cultural responsiveness inacademics, teaching, research, and global engagement, we strive toattract faculty and staff who exemplify the Mason Science missionand vision.

About the Position

This position is sponsored by the NASA Landolt mission.

The MissionSoftware Engineer (SE) duties include (at a different level ofinvolvement and responsibility):

• Contribute to all aspects of mission software design anddevelopment, including creating, reviewing, testing, verifying,documenting, and integrating code as part of the mission softwareteam.;
• Participate in documentation, integration, andtestingofelements of mission software alongside personnel from othermission teams, including the payload team, the bus hardware team,and systems engineering team.;
• Perform data collection, analysis, and simulation studies asneeded to predict, verify, and analyzefunctionsof the missionsoftware. Communicate key outcomes and findings to other membersand leadership of the Landolt Mission;
• Document activities for the Landolt Mission through missionreviews, mission reports, mission documentation, and technicalpublications in a manner consistent with space-based projects andpublished results in professional scientific journals;
• Work collaboratively and effectively in a team environmentcomposed of scientists, engineers, students, project management andsupport staff at multiple institutions, andfederal,academicandcommercial partners; and
• Foster a culture of engagement, diversity,inclusiveness,excellenceand innovation. Champion GMU’s commitmentto Access, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion to create aninclusive and welcoming environment that promotes a commitment tosafety, integrity, and teamwork.

Responsibilities

Mission Software Development

• Generate, debug, and integrate code leading to the delivery ofa flight-ready mission software package;
• Assistin software testing, verification, and integration;and
• Comply withNASA space systems requirements andprocedures.

Reporting and Coordinating

• Assistin the writing and production of formal technicalreports, progress reports, and reviews for NASA (e.g.PDR, CDR,TRR, FRR, ORR) in a manner consistent with NASA’s documentationrequirements,standardsand guidelines (e.g.NPR 7120.5/8);
• Write or co-write papers for professional journals andconferences;
• Attend meetings with sponsors and collaborators,federal,commercialand academicpartners,when necessary,occasionally requiring travel outside of the DC metropolitan area;and
• Assistin the pursuit of new and continued GMU Space Centerprojects and funding support (e.g.new, extended, and follow-onmissions/projects).

Required Qualifications

• Terminal degree in Computer/Software Engineering, AerospaceEngineering, Systems Engineering, or related field with emphasis onspace systems development;
• Experience producing working code ina relevant language(C,Python,JavaScript, etc.).; and
• Familiarity with industry best practices in softwaredevelopment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with hybrid missions, operations planning, spacehardware, rad-hard electronics, embedded system development, and/orNASA procedures and practices;
• Experience in practical software design, development,andtestingincluding hardware systems or embeddedsystemsisdesirable;
• Familiarity with software development process in space missioncontext, including knowledge of or experience withNASAproceduresand practices (or procedures and practices for other spacefaringorganizations); and
• Knowledge of space environment, spacecraft subsystems, oroptical payloads - especially laser systems.

Mason Ad Statement

George Mason University is a nationally ranked R1 researchuniversity committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperousworld. With 40,000 enrolled students, George Mason is the largestand most diverse public research university in Virginia, offeringdegree programs at the master's, doctoral, and professional level,along with certificates and credentials.

George Mason fosters an All Together Different environment forstudents, faculty, and staff, driven by our core beliefs. Webelieve in inclusivity over exclusivity; we believe in advancingour mission by being willing to take risks, not avoiding them; andwe believe our best work is possible when we apply our diversity oforigin, identity, circumstance, and thought.

Equity Statement

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative actionemployer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in itscommunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration foretreatment of employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexualorientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability orveteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.

Campus Safety Information

Mason’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available athttp://police.gmu.edu/annual-security-report/