NASA Moon Base Flight Software and Cybersecurity Systems Engineer

CACI is seeking an experienced Flight Software Systems Engineer to support NASA Moon Base flight software development at Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. The position combines flight software systems engineering with a cybersecurity perspective across the software life cycle, including risk, vulnerability identification, and documentation needed for safety-critical development.

This onsite role will help advance requirements, interfaces, milestone execution, and verification support, while aligning development activities with applicable NASA and cybersecurity frameworks.

Core Responsibilities

• Support development and analysis of flight software requirements.
• Coordinate flight software documentation and review technical artifacts such as requirements, architecture, and design.
• Identify risk and vulnerabilities in implemented flight software and develop mitigation plans that include recommended cybersecurity controls.
• Develop 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 needed to resolve issues and develop flight software.
• 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 in 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.

Minimum Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.
• B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer or Software Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
• At least 5 years of related software systems engineering experience in real-time safety-critical software in aerospace or other industries (examples provided include commercial software and oil and gas).
• Strong technical expertise plus strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with little supervision.
• Highly responsible, team-oriented approach with strong work ethic.
• Highly developed coordination and organization skills.

Preferred / Desired Qualifications

• 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, conducting 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 developing flight software for human-rated space vehicles (examples provided include Space Shuttle, International Space Station, SpaceX Crew Dragon, Boeing Starliner, Orion, and Lunar Gateway).
• Object-oriented C++ development and Python development.
• Experience with hardware/software integration, flight software verification, and flight software development.
• Experience with NASA core Flight System (cFS) and software configuration management tools.
• Vehicle-wide knowledge of space vehicle systems (examples include 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 (examples provided include aircraft, space vehicle, satellite, and submarine).

Technologies and Standards

• NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5
• Risk Management Framework (RMF), 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)

Pay, Location, and Logistics

• Location: Houston, TX (onsite)
• Pay range: USD 76,000 - 155,700 per year
• Minimum clearance to start: NACI
• Travel: Up to 10% (Continental US)

Benefits

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

What You Can Expect

• A culture of integrity
• An environment of trust
• A focus on continuous growth