NASA Moon Base Flight Software and Cybersecurity Systems Engineer

CACI is supporting NASA’s Moon Base flight software development at Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX, bringing an engineering focus that spans flight software delivery and cybersecurity throughout the software life cycle. This role combines flight software systems engineering with risk and vulnerability analysis, documentation, and verification support for class A safety-critical development in alignment with NASA processes.

Role Overview

As a Flight Software Systems Engineer, you will support the development and analysis of flight software requirements and documentation, assess risk and vulnerabilities with mitigation plans, and contribute to interface definition between flight software subsystems and spacecraft or ground systems. You will also support milestone reviews, defect tracking, and integration in test and verification facilities, along with development of tools and scripts as needed.

Responsibilities

• Support development and analysis of flight software requirements.
• Coordinate development of flight software documentation.
• Review flight software documents, including requirements, architecture, and design artifacts.
• Identify risk and vulnerabilities in implemented flight software and develop risk mitigation plans, including recommended cybersecurity controls.
• Support development of Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and Interface Requirements Documents (IRDs) to define interfaces between flight software subsystems and other spacecraft or ground systems.
• Facilitate project milestone reviews and coordinate closure of Review Item Dispositions (RIDs).
• Track and coordinate resolution of flight software bugs and defects.
• Support trade studies, analyses, and assessments to develop flight software and resolve issues.
• Provide guidance and oversight of process adherence to NASA Spacecraft Software Engineering Team (SSET) standards and processes for class A safety-critical flight software development.
• Develop and maintain a Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM) to ensure requirements are met.
• Interface with NASA and prime contractor engineering teams across flight software subsystem domains and NASA programs.
• Participate and present at NASA software boards as needed.
• Support integration of flight software in test and verification facilities.
• Develop and maintain software tools and scripts as needed.

Required Qualifications

• U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.
• B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer or Software Engineering, Computer Science, or related disciplines.
• At least five years of related software systems engineering experience in real-time safety-critical software in aerospace or other industries (for example, commercial software, oil and gas).
• Strong technical expertise combined with strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with little supervision.
• Highly responsible, team-oriented mindset with strong work ethic.
• Highly developed coordination and organization skills.

Technologies and Frameworks

• NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5
• Risk Management Framework (RMF) as defined in NIST SP 800-37 Rev. 2
• C++, Python
• Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) level 3 or higher
• NASA Spacecraft Software Engineering Team (SSET) standards
• NASA core Flight System (cFS)

Clearance, Travel, and Work Location

• Location: Houston, TX (onsite)
• Minimum clearance required to start: NACI
• Travel: Up to 10%
• Type of travel: Continental US

Benefits

• Healthcare
• Wellness
• Financial
• Retirement
• Family support
• Continuing education
• Time off benefits
• Flexible time off benefit

Salary Range

The proposed salary range for this position is $76,000 - $155,700 USD per year.

What You May Be Looking For (Desired)

• M.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer or Software Engineering, Computer Science, or related disciplines.
• Cybersecurity experience (or willingness to learn), including performing assessments for compliance with cybersecurity standards and processes, performing threat modeling and applying countermeasures, and determining and reporting cybersecurity risk posture.
• Experience implementing, assessing, and documenting security controls in NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5.
• Proficiency in Risk Management Framework (RMF) as defined in NIST SP 800-37 Rev. 2.
• Experience conducting security control testing, documenting evidence of compliance, and preparing assessment findings.
• Experience in the full life cycle of safety-critical human-rated software for aerospace or non-aerospace applications.
• Familiarity with NASA SSET standards and processes for class A safety-critical flight software and/or experience with CMMI level 3 or higher.
• Experience in flight software development for human-rated space vehicles, such as Space Shuttle, International Space Station, SpaceX Crew Dragon, Boeing Starliner, Orion, or Lunar Gateway.
• Experience developing object-oriented C++ code.
• Experience developing Python code.
• Experience with hardware/software integration.
• Experience with NASA core Flight System (cFS).
• Experience performing flight software verification.
• Vehicle-wide knowledge of space vehicle systems, including avionics; command and telemetry; command and control; timeline/vehicle management; systems management; displays; power; environmental control and life support; and communications.
• Knowledge of aerospace or similar vehicle operations, such as aircraft, space vehicle, satellite, or submarine.
• Experience with software configuration management tools.