System Test Engineer

Job Description

The Contract for Organizing Spaceflight Mission Operations and Systems (COSMOS), NASA’s next-generation mission operations contract, has an excellent opportunity for a System Test Engineer to join the team of testers responsible for testing the baseline software releases used in NASA Johnson Space Center’s Mission Control Center (MCC). In particular, the successful candidate will develop testing capabilities within the test team for testing of the MCC Trajectory Services (MTS). The applicant will work in a dynamic team environment and will be responsible for working with the NASA customer, users, software engineers, and commercial and international partners to capture and understand system requirements, operations concepts, and develop test plans and procedures for execution. Travel required 1–2 times per year, typically lasting several days per trip. COSMOS ensures the continuity of critical human spaceflight support by providing mission control services, advanced training systems, and full-scale spacecraft mockups for astronaut preparation and engineering analysis.

Description of Duties

The MTS System Test Engineer is responsible for working in a dynamic team environment and will be responsible for working with the NASA customer, other systems engineers, users, and software engineers to test the MCC Trajectory Services (MTS) software. The candidate will perform patch testing, system release testing, procedure and document reviews, as well as participate in the decomposition of system architecture requirements and development of test procedures to verify those requirements, and plan test objectives for test runs. The candidate should have a good understanding of the full software development life cycle from planning, design, building, testing, deployment and maintenance.

Successful candidates will:

Be curious and willing to learn

Decompose system architecture requirements and developing test procedures to verify those

requirements, as well as plan test objectives for test runs

Develop test plans to support detailed test procedures

Execute test procedures, and documenting actual test results against expected results

Perform systems requirements analysis, functional analysis, timeline analysis, requirements allocation,

and interface definition

Perform technical management and integration tasks

Develop new automated and manual test plans

Make improvements and suggestions to advance overall system test capabilities

Participate in peer reviews of test products to ensure quality results (Quality assurance)

Perform script creation and maintenance, as well as process improvement/automation

Possess strong team-building skills across multi-functional areas that establish a collaborative operational structure including active listening, prompt service and follow-up

Exhibit proven track record of working under tight deadlines

Have a high degree of self-motivation and the ability to work independently

Have a keen attention to detail/be detail-oriented

Have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.

Exhibit professional behavior that promotes teamwork, fosters cooperation, and enhances productivity in the workplace.

Be well organized with the ability to coordinate, prioritize and execute multiple tasks simultaneously in a high-pressure environment.

Job Requirements

Must have one of the following combinations of education and experience: Bachelor’s/master’s degree and 2 to 5 years of general experience.

Preferred candidates will hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Astronautics, or other related fields, Physics, Math or equivalent experience with 0 – 2 years of direct experience in orbital mechanics software testing

Must have previous experience with scripting and/or automation

Must have previous experience with the SDLC

Strong coordination and communication skills, both oral and written

Capability to support schedules and meet deadlines

Ability to work as part of a team or as an individual contributor

Excellent interpersonal skills

Be able to work a flexible and dynamic work schedule

• •Test events frequently require 8+ hours
• •Test events occasionally scheduled for night and weekend shifts due to availability of MCCS and/or lab resources

• •Strong initiative, teamwork and problem-solving skills
• •Ability to plan, maintain schedules, and push to meet deadlines
• •Good understanding of Linux, JAVA, C#, Windows and Windows applications
• •Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and professionally represent the program
• •Highly motivated individual willing to learn and apply new concepts, tools, and software
• •Good problem solving and analytical skills; detail-oriented
• •Must be able to obtain a NASA Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Badge for NASA credentials

The individual should possess strong initiative, be a team player (teamwork), be flexible to changing program needs, and possess strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills. The job requires close communication and collaboration with other engineers, the software development community and members of the user community to successfully perform analysis and test preparation. The successful candidate will be a self-learner, curious and familiar with SW engineering; will be detail oriented and have clear concise communication (able to explain technical concepts and test status up and out). To be successful, the candidate shall have the ability to work towards deadlines and deliver quality products.

Desired Requirements

Experience with Office 365 Tools

Understanding of orbital mechanics is a plus

Test documentation experience

Previous experience with automation, Git, and Python

Familiarity with scripting languages and tools

Operational experience with software testing

Familiarity with Requirements verification methodologies

Familiarity with Service Now

Leadership skills

This position is expected to pay $92 - $120k annually; depending on experience, education, and any certifications that are directly related to the position.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or other legally protected status.

Final compensation is determined through a comprehensive evaluation of several key factors, including the candidate’s educational background, specialized technical expertise, and relevant professional experience. We also consider internal equity, prevailing market data, and specific contractual or funding requirements to ensure competitive and equitable offer alignment.

Compensation Details:

Salary starts at $92k. Final pay will be commensurate with the candidate's experience, skills, and qualifications.

The compensation range or hourly rate listed for this position is provided as a good-faith estimate of what the company intends to offer for this role at the time this posting was issued. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as job responsibilities, education, experience, skills, internal equity, market data, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and relevant laws.

Benefits Overview:

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to support you and your priorities. Offerings include:

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off and holidays

Retirement benefits (including 401(k) matching)

Educational reimbursement

Parental leave

Employee stock purchase plan

Tax-saving options

Disability and life insurance

Pet insurance

Note: Benefits may vary based on employment type, location, and applicable agreements. Positions governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), or other employment