Software Engineer - Real-Time Geospatial Mapping for Planetary Exploration

KBR•Moffett Field, CA

11d•$145,000 - $230,900

About The Position

Join NASA Ames to develop software supporting lunar exploration and emerging Artemis, Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS), and future Moon-to-Mars missions. The role contributes to two coordinated work efforts: M2M CSDS (Moon to Mars Collaborative Science Data System) and WITME (Web-Based Integrated Terrain Model Estimation tool). These tools provide a reusable, science-centric collaboration platform for distributed science teams to visualize, analyze, and interpret mission data in support of time-critical decision-making, and will prototype uncertainty-aware fusion of orbital and surface terrain data for operational decision support. M2M CSDS builds on collaborative data systems and science operations architectures developed at NASA Ames and matured through the Exploration Ground Data Systems (xGDS) research project and VIPER mission science operations. The engineer will work closely with an active CLPS science team to populate the proof-of-concept system with mission-relevant data, and develop shared planning and replanning and execution-monitoring capabilities. The work also includes integrating FedRAMP- and NASA-approved AI tools, such as Google Gemini, to summarize and search deployed datasets and annotations, including generating shift-handover highlights for review and editing by science team members. WITME involves developing and applying statistically principled methods to fuse orbital and surface data according to their uncertainties and create unified 3D models with quantitative confidence estimates. The engineer will help develop interfaces and displays that communicate confidence in terrain-model data at different locations, enabling mission teams to assimilate new terrain data and improve traverse planning and decision-making through a collaborative web-based interface. Employment is strictly contingent upon continued contract funding, available tasking, and customer requirements. Employment may end if funding, contract requirements, tasking, or customer service requirements change.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Expertise in JavaScript, including at least one common JavaScript MVC framework such as Vue, React, Bootstrap, or Angular.
Experience designing and implementing user-facing applications; familiarity with modern UI design and development standards and practices, including responsive design and ADA compliance.
Proficiency with server-side services, APIs, and database tools, and understanding of how they interface with complex JavaScript applications.
Understanding of 2D geographic mapping libraries such as OpenLayers, CesiumJS, Three, Leaflet, or Google Maps API.
Familiarity with geographic map projections and coordinate systems.
Familiarity with map-layer services such as Google Maps, Bing Maps, MapBox, WMS data providers, or digital elevation models (DEMs).
Experience with 3D graphics, particularly terrain mapping such as DEMs, and practical understanding of the underlying mathematical concepts used in graphics.

Nice To Haves

Experience integrating AI tools into a user-facing application.
Interest in and understanding of the needs of working with robots; direct experience is a plus.
Experience with mobility systems (air, water, or ground) and their operational complexities.
Ability to gather end-user feedback and iteratively improve tool design based on that input.
Familiarity with GDAL and GeoTIFF files.
Server-side development skills with Python, Flask or Bottle, Docker, Redis, and PostGIS or Postgres.

Responsibilities

Develop software for the M2M CSDS and WITME work efforts supporting lunar exploration missions.
Work with an active CLPS science team to populate the M2M CSDS proof of concept with mission-relevant data.
Develop interactive, shared planning and replanning and execution-monitoring capabilities.
Integrate approved AI tools to provide summarization and search capabilities for system datasets and annotations.
Develop and apply methods for fusing orbital and surface terrain data according to uncertainty and producing unified 3D models with quantitative confidence estimates.
Develop user interfaces and displays that communicate confidence in terrain-model data.
Support collaborative, web-based terrain-data assimilation, traverse planning, and mission decision-making.

Benefits

401(k) plan with company match
Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Life insurance
AD&D coverage
Flexible spending account
Disability benefits
Paid time off
Flexible work schedule
Professional training and development
Potential sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, short-term incentives, long-term incentives, or discretionary performance payments, depending on job title or level and applicable policy or contract designation.