Base Salary
$171k - $215k/yr
Responsibilities
- Design, implement, test, and ship iterations of the DSN uplink software package.
- Lead and mentor a small team of software and test engineers while managing technical dependencies.
- Own and define the software interface boundary with FPGA and mixed-signal hardware.
- Develop signal-processing capabilities including error correction, modulation, and signal generation for SDR systems.
- Architect and maintain high-rate data paths between hardware and software while ensuring data integrity and timing.
- Define subsystem verification strategies and build automated test capabilities.
- Manage software release schedules around mission milestones, team capabilities, and resources.
- Make technical architecture decisions and present project updates to program leadership.
- Test and evaluate software deployments in laboratory and field environments.
- Collaborate with DSN complexes in the United States, Spain, and Australia, including occasional travel of up to 5% for installation, checkout, or debugging.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline with typically at least 9 years of related experience; or a master’s degree with at least 7 years; or a PhD with at least 5 years.
- At least 2 years of experience leading or mentoring software engineering teams, or demonstrated technical leadership on complex projects.
- Strong C++ and working proficiency in Python.
- Experience developing software that interfaces directly with FPGA-based systems, data acquisition, embedded platforms, or instrumentation.
- Experience architecting high-rate data transport over PCIe, Ethernet, or comparable interfaces.
- Experience with timing, throughput, and data-integrity requirements; production signal-processing algorithms; structured engineering processes; and hardware-based testing and debugging.
- Preferred qualifications include SDR frameworks and drivers such as UHD and RFNoC, formal protocol implementation, communications and telemetry systems, CCSDS SLE, Jenkins or GitHub Actions, Git, software testing frameworks, Podman, Docker, Kubernetes, project planning, fielded-system support, and cross-domain root-cause investigations.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills are preferred; direct deep-space, DSN, or spacecraft communications experience is not required.
Benefits
- Health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans.
- Paid time off, parental leave, flexible scheduling, learning opportunities, rideshare, and childcare support.
- Work-life-balance and wellness programs.
- Benefits-eligible employees receive benefits effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following their start date.
- Pasadena, California position with occasional travel of up to 5% to DSN complexes in the United States, Spain, and Australia.
About NASA JPL
Founded in 1936, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). For nearly nine decades, JPL has helped define the frontier of exploration. The laboratory developed America's first Earth-orbiting science satellite, built the first successful interplanetary spacecraft, and pioneered robotic exploration across the solar system. These achievements helped establish U.S. leadership in space and laid the foundation for generations of scientific discovery. Today, on behalf of NASA and the nation, JPL advances science and innovation through robotic missions that explore Earth, the solar system, and the universe. Our engineers, scientists, technologists, and mission teams continue to push the boundaries of exploration while addressing scientific and technical challenges of national significance. We Dare Mighty Things. Visit http://jpl.jobs to explore our career opportunities.