{"id":3992748,"url":"https://alion.io/job/nasa-flight-software-engineer-iii","title":"Flight Software Engineer III","company":{"id":12944,"name":"NASA","domain":"nasa.gov","url":"https://alion.io/company/nasa","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":13,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":25,"computed_at":"2026-11-09T06:03:00Z"}},"role":"Hardware","role_family":"Hardware","seniority":"middle","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":144664,"max":176488,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":176488},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":6,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"FreeRTOS","optional":false},{"name":"Linux","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"RTEMS","optional":false},{"name":"SpaceWire","optional":false},{"name":"F Prime","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-11-09T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-11-09","last_verified_at":"2026-11-10T00:07:35Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":1,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":1},"description":"Job Details\nNew 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.\nLocated 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.\nResponsibilities:\nIf 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.\nAs a Flight Software Engineer III, 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.\nAs 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.\nA typical software engineering assignment would include 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.\nThe software engineer would typically work under the guidance of a Cognizant Engineer to develop a solid understanding of the required capabilities of the software system. The engineer would then be responsible for determining the software approach for the development and ultimately be responsible for the final coded capability. This work includes support of software level peer reviews and would also include formal testing of peer developed capabilities.\nQualifications:\nBachelor’s degree in Computer Science, or related discipline with a minimum of 6 years of related work experience; a Master’s degree in similar disciplines with a minimum of 4 year of related experience; or a PhD in similar disciplines with a minimum of 2 years related experience.\nOther qualifications include:\nUnderstanding and application of advanced 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.\nDeveloping application programs for the various functional domains (e.g., CDH, GNC, System Fault Protection, etc.) for execution in an embedded flight processor.\nExperience with distributed computing and inter-process communication (IPC) mechanisms.\nFamiliarity with communication buses and protocols: PCI/PCIe, UART, SPI, I2C, CAN bus, and SpaceWire.\nDemonstrate ability to show knowledge of UDP / TCP network protocols\nFamiliarity or experience with real-time or embedded operating systems such as FreeRTOS, RTEMS, Zephyr, or WindRiver VxWorks\nExperience with static code analysis toolsets\n\nDemonstrated ability in the development and delivery of reliable, embedded real-time software applications that employs formal and structured lifecycle development process.\nFamiliarity with software development and testing with experience in the following languages and operating systems: C++, C, Python, Linux.\nAbility to work with in-development hardware undergoing changing interface specifications.\nStrong verbal and written communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with ability to work in a team environment. \nPreferred Skills:\nKnowledge of Laboratory policies and procedures, NASA policies and procedures, and government regulations across a range of applications.\nExperience with device driver development and software/hardware interfaces for both custom and commercial hardware, with experience debugging software/hardware interactions and possible failure modes.\nExperience developing, deploying and maintaining software product lines. \nKnowledge with software development processes, standards, and practices. \nSystem engineering experience in generating, tracking and proving successful implementation of requirements.\nUnderstand of NASA F Prime or cFS open-source frameworks\nHardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) & Testbeds: Hands-on lab debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers.\nJPL 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.\nFor further benefits information click Benefits and Perks\nThe 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.\nThe typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California.\n$144,664 - $176,488JPL 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.\nIn addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.\nEEO is the Law.\nEEO is the Law Supplement\nPay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision\nThe Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. 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.","description_format":"text","description_chars":7059,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":6,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Flexible schedule","Parental leave","Retirement plans"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Space & Aerospace","Launch Services","Earth Observation","Ground Systems"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-11-10T00:07:35Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"adverts_offering_sponsorship_24m":0,"sanctioned_now":false,"evidence":"H-1B filings in 12 months: 1","filings_12m":1,"filings_prev_12m":0,"green_card_filings_12m":0,"median_offered_wage_usd":172500,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-11-09T07:32:21+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":1,"expected_fill_days":25,"reasons":["conf:2","win:early","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-11-10T02:12:55Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":176488,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/nasa-flight-software-engineer-iii","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/nasa-flight-software-engineer-iii.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-10T02:12:55Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":5223,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-11T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.1,"usd":0.01,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":12944},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=12944"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fnasa-flight-software-engineer-iii"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":2,"usd":0.2},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fnasa-flight-software-engineer-iii"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.1,"usd":0.01},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fnasa-flight-software-engineer-iii"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/nasa-flight-software-engineer-iii\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fnasa-flight-software-engineer-iii"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3992748}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"nasa.gov","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3992748},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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