Vehicle Emulator Software Engineer

Are you passionate about human space exploration, understanding the origins of the universe, and working with a passionate and diverse team to make a difference? If you are, we need you!

We need your talent, teamwork, and energy to help us achieve great things that inspire people all over the globe. We need you to bring creative ideas and diverse backgrounds to help us envision, shape, and deliver systems that will enable the exploration of space while benefiting people here on Earth. We are excited about what we do, and we need you on our team as we take on exciting challenges for NASA's pursuits in deep space exploration.

As NASA's largest engineering solutions provider working together with NASA at centers across the United States.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Vehicle Emulator Software Engineer to join the JETSII contract.

The Vehicle Emulator Software Engineer will:

As a Vehicle Emulator Software Engineer, you will develop high fidelity software emulators that replicate the behavior, dynamics, and interfaces of spacecraft during birthing and docking operations. Your work will support mission design, subsystem verification, operator training, hardware in the loop testing, and integrated simulations used across human spaceflight programs.

This hands on engineering role requires strong skills in simulation, modeling, C++/Python development and tools related to real time simulation environments.

Core Responsibilities

Spacecraft Docking & Birthing Simulation

Develop physics based models and behaviors representing spacecraft docking, berthing/birthing mechanisms, close proximity operations, and contact dynamics.

Implement docking system logic (e.g., latching sequences, alignment cues, force moment interactions) in simulation/emulator environments.

Collaborate with docking system SMEs and review findings from docking relevant meetings, to ensure emulator fidelity aligns with current system design and integration expectations.

Software & Emulator Development

Build and maintain real time vehicle emulators via simulation frameworks.

Develop C/C++ and Python modules that interface with flight software environments, GNC simulations, autonomy prototypes, or operator consoles.

Design emulated subsystems such as propulsion, docking sensors, avionics, guidance and relative navigation, joint mechanisms, and system health interfaces.

Integration & Test Support

Integrate emulators into larger software in the loop (SIL) and hardware in the loop (HIL) testbeds used by mission operations, subsystem teams, and integrated product teams.

Support verification scenarios, timing synchronization, fault injection, and operational edge cases relevant to docking/berthing.

Diagnose emulator to flight software integration issues and provide robust technical solutions.

Documentation & Collaboration

Create detailed emulator documentation including model assumptions, interface definitions, execution steps, and limitations.

Maintain clear and thorough code comments, Git README files, and configuration guides.

Track development items and respond to time sensitive work through JIRA.

Generate technical content for design reviews, emulator demonstrations, and integration tag ups.

Agile & Cross Team Coordination

Work in a high tempo Agile environment supporting multiple parallel test efforts.

Communicate effectively with subsystem engineers, simulation architects, systems engineers, and test leads.

Provide rapid, high quality updates and maintain a strong customer support attitude for internal simulator users.

Requisition

Qualifications:

* Typically requires a bachelor's degree in Engineering and a minimum of 2- 5 years of experience in the field or in a related area.

BS, MS, or PhD in engineering or computer science with relevant software or simulation experience (seniority level flexible depending on experience).

Experience developing or integrating spacecraft simulations, safety critical software, or high fidelity modeling tools.

Experience with real time or near real time simulation frameworks and custom environments.

Strong skills in C/C++ (Linux), Python, and software architecture for simulation.

Familiarity with web based collaboration and Agile development tools.

Requisition Preferences:

Experience with spacecraft docking systems, berthing mechanisms, robotics interfaces, or proximity operations algorithms.

NASA ecosystem experience (Gateway, MAST, Orion related systems, ISS docking standards, or NASA STD software processes).

Experience with Git Lab, Confluence, JIRA, SQL, QT, MS Teams, or Slack.

Background in safety critical or flight critical simulation or software development.

Experience with automated testing frameworks and time synchronized simulation testing.

Experience with AI and Software Development.

Why Join Our Team?

In addition to exciting career opportunities, we also have:

* Excellent personal and professional career growth

* 9/80 work schedule (every other Friday off), when applicable

* Onsite cafeteria (breakfast & lunch)

* Much, much more!

For more…