CORE FLIGHT SYSTEM (cFS) PRINCIPAL TESTER

MCSG Technologies • Greenbelt, MD

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Software Test Engineer (Principal) will provide senior-level expertise in operations engineering, operations planning, and mission systems validation to ensure optimal operability of Flight, Ground, Science, and Information Systems. This position supports NASA’s core Flight System (cFS) Project at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing end-to-end testing of mission systems and reusable flight software components. This role will lead pre-launch end-to-end simulations of launch and early orbit scenarios, develop and coordinate test procedures, recognize and resolve failures and set-up issues, and provide objective evidence supporting verification and validation activities. The Software Test Engineer will also assist in the preparation of test reports and release documentation to support cFS major releases and customer deployments. Location: This position is located at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD with a hybrid schedule.

Requirements

• Strong software testing experience supporting complex embedded and mission systems.
• Demonstrate the ability to lead test planning and execution across multiple stakeholders.
• Understanding of basic software engineering principles and development life cycle processes.
• Experience planning and executing requirements-based verification and validation activities.
• Ability to follow formal test procedures and collect required test data.
• Experience with embedded software programming techniques and flight software development.
• Strong command of the C programming language.
• Proficient knowledge of Linux operating systems.
• Proficient knowledge of real-time operating systems (RTOS).
• Ability to plan and coordinate test execution across multiple teams and stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including failure recognition and troubleshooting.
• Basic mathematical ability to assist in test data reduction and analysis.
• Ability to present test results in written, tabular, or graphical format.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment supporting mission-critical objectives.
• Strong communication skills to coordinate with engineering teams, project leadership, and government personnel.
• Must be a US Citizen and able to pass a National Agency Check investigation w/ Inquiries (NAC-I) for badging and on-boarding.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with continuous integration (CI) techniques preferred.
• Experience with application programming interface (API) definition and development preferred.
• Knowledge of systems engineering processes is helpful.
• Preferred knowledge and experience using VxWorks and/or RTEMS.
• Preferred experience with cybersecurity policies and implementation best practices.
• Preferred experience with artificial intelligence, machine learning, and/or data architecture technologies.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and take responsibility for end-to-end test activities supporting flight software, ground software, and mission operations systems.
• Develop and execute pre-launch end-to-end simulations, including launch and early orbit scenarios.
• Coordinate test execution with developers, systems engineers, operations personnel, and customer stakeholders.
• Recognize failures, configuration issues, and set-up problems and determine procedures for appropriate verification and corrective action.
• Develop, review, and execute test procedures in support of formal integration and system-level testing.
• Collect required test data and assist in test data reduction and analysis.
• Ensure test execution provides objective evidence for verification of requirements and operational readiness.
• Support troubleshooting, defect identification, root-cause analysis, and closure.
• Support testing activities prior to each major cFS release, ensuring stability, regression coverage, and operational suitability.
• Assist in generation of release documentation and support audits and reviews.
• Provide sustaining engineering support for cFS reusable components and support customer integration efforts.
• Provide customer support through email, meetings, phone calls, and technical coordination.
• Support integration and testing of embedded flight software components written in C.
• Work within Linux development environments and support testing on real-time operating systems (RTOS).
• Support or validate deployments using VxWorks and/or RTEMS as applicable.
• Support configuration management and requirements management activities in accordance with NASA processes.
• Provide support for systems engineering activities, including architecture and technology studies to help form the future direction of cFS.
• Support improvements to the cyber protection posture of cFS and related applications by applying cybersecurity best practices.
• Assist in identifying risks, validating mitigations, and ensuring operational robustness of mission software products.
• Prepare test reports and summarize results in text, tabular, and graphical formats.
• Provide status reporting and participate in weekly developer meetings and product demonstrations.
• Support technical presentations, reviews, and demos as requested by the cFS Product Development Lead (PDL) and customer stakeholders.
• Complete mandatory training and ensure compliance with NASA and contract requirements.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, parental leave, paid time off, holidays and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior