To apply go to one of the URL's listed and apply through USRA's Career page.
Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is inviting applications as a part of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) program.
SOFIA is a premier observatory for infrared and submillimeter astronomy. The SOFIA 747-SP aircraft carries a 2.5-meter telescope designed to make sensitive infrared measurements on a variety of astronomical objects. SOFIA is a joint project between NASA and German Aerospace Center, DLR. USRA operates the SOFIA Science Center at NASA’s Ames Research Center for NASA. The aircraft observatory is based at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base. The SOFIA science center offers an exciting research environment and close proximity to astrophysics, planetary science, and astrobiology groups at NASA Ames and the SETI Institute.
USRA is seeking a Flight Management Infrastructure (FMI) Senior Software Engineer to lead the development of the flight planning system of the SOFIA airborne observatory, NASA's most powerful infrared telescope that is housed in a modified Boeing 747SP jet airliner. Flight planning on SOFIA represents a unique challenge, as automated scheduling techniques suitable for ground-based or space-based observatories are not appropriate for this observatory. The flight planning system consists of three software subsystems in various states of design and development. These cover long-term, short-term and in-flight planning.
The Cycle Scheduler (Java) works on yearlong observing cycles. It generates or updates the observatory long-term schedule, based upon constraints, pre-existing schedules and user-specified parameters. It lays out the science instrument schedule (blocks of time in which the same science instrument will be mounted) and assigns proposed observations to weekly blocks. The Cycle Scheduler tool has had one major release and is currently in use. It is anticipated that updates and new feature requests will be needed for this tool.
The Short-Term Scheduler (Java) will use the output of observation candidates returned by the Cycle Scheduler to automatically generate sequences of observations and maneuvers based on input constraints in order to create flight plans. This software is still in the design phase and development of this tool will be a critical part of this job.
Finally, the In-Flight Planner/Executor (C++ / Java) is used for manual flight planning, in-flight plan repair and to display of the aircraft course over ground during flights. It is integrated to the aircraft platform Mission Controls and Communication System. This tool is designed to ease the manual flight planning process, making it easy to create, edit and save flight plans. The In-Flight Executor accumulates the actual track of the aircraft from the on-board avionics during a flight and displays it against the planned track. This tool is currently heavily used and has a list of feature requests that need to be implemented.
This position is based at NASA AMES Research Center Moffett Field, CA; travel may be required to the home institutions of the instrument teams and to Dryden Flight Research Center.
Qualifications and experience required for this position:
Master’s degree or higher in software engineering, computer science, math/physics, or a related science/engineering field
Five + years object-oriented development experience with C++, Java and XML
Experience in automated planning and scheduling, experience with astronomical observation scheduling, either ground or space-based, highly desirable
Strong math background
Experience with astronomical telescope operations highly desirable
Background in the full software lifecycle, from requirements analysis to formal system delivery
Working knowledge in the application of software systems in the execution of scientific research
Please provide: cover letter, Resume/Curriculum Vita, names and contact information of three references
