Deputy Team Lead – NASA HxCFS Flight Software Development
CACI International· Defense· Sep 28, 2026 · 1mo ago
Houston, TX, US
In office
Full-time
Lead/Staff
$90K–$190K
Job description
Job Title: Deputy Team Lead – NASA HxCFS Flight Software Development
Job Category: Engineering
Time Type: Full time
Minimum Clearance Required to Start: NACI
Employee Type: Regular
Percentage of Travel Required: Up to 10%
Type of Travel: Continental US
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The Opportunity:
CACI is looking for a deputy team lead to support the Flight Software Team Lead for Houston Human Exploration Core Flight Software (HxCFS) development.
HxCFS is a NASA flight software (FSW) cFS framework/application stack aligned with human‑exploration missions such as Moon Base. Deputy will support HxCFS at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) with project leadership and technical expertise in embedded software systems to support development of human-rated space vehicle subsystem software .
The candidate will assist the task lead in leading the team and will also continue to contribute to the prototyping, requirements definition, design, development, test and verification, integration, and certification of Flight Software. The position also includes interacting with users, developing, and prioritizing new features based on customer needs, customer service, managing schedule, and supporting presentations and demonstrations. Ideally the candidate would also take on the role of scrum master for the team.
This position requires a self-motivated, capable person with strong verbal and written communication skills. In addition to outstanding technical expertise, the individual must be very people savvy, have leadership experience and strong customer relationship skills, possess a positive team-player attitude, be flexible and willing to take on new assignments and responsibilities as they arise, and be an articulate speaker able to communicate complex technical ideas in a convincing manner. The individual must share our passion for our Nation s Space Program and share in the excitement of developing the next human-rated space vehicles.
This work takes place at NASA/JSC in Houston, TX, a highly stimulating and dynamic environment that is critical in human space flight and the space exploration initiative.
Responsibilities:
Serve as deputy to a CACI FSW Development Team Lead to assist in managing a 5-10 member software development team, developing and prioritizing new features based on customer needs, planning verification, interacting with and providing support to users, managing project schedule, and giving large presentations and demonstrations of product capabilities.
Serve as the team’s scrum master.
Perform team administrative duties, e.g., team member assignments, timesheet approval, performance feedback, etc.
Provide mentorship to junior engineers and support team development and training.
Support recruiting efforts.
Coordinate with stakeholders to determine software release content.
Set priority of software development.
Perform release planning and sprint planning, aligning with stakeholder needs.
Align developer skills, expertise, and individual development goals with task assignments.
Coordinate and monitor development progress, tracking metrics and reporting status to management and stakeholders.
Design and develop HxcFS Flight Software.
Perform systems engineering in support of software requirements and interface definitions, design, and performance analysis.
Perform software integration, test, and verification.
Integrate and test software/hardware in avionics test bed and flight certification environments.
Collaborate with engineering teams and contractors across multiple NASA programs and projects.
Ensure adherence to JSC standard software process practices.
Qualifications:
Required:
B.S. in Computer, Software, Aerospace, Electrical, or Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline required.
Prior experience in a software technical leadership role or evidence of desire to serve in a leadership capacity, e.g., serving as an Intern Mentor, participating in recruiting activities, developing / presenting project innovations, etc.
Must embrace a servant leadership model in supporting leadership of the project and serving the customer and team members.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Strong problem identification and problem-solving skills.
At least three years’ experience in software development for safety-critical software.
Experience can be for aerospace vehicles or in other industries, e.g., oil and gas. More experience is highly valued.
Strong C programming skills and experience with Linux.
Must have experience in the entire software life cycle.
Experience with software unit testing.
Must be flexible, open to new challenges in a dynamic environment, and possess strong technical expertise combined with strong verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities with little supervision.
Must be a highly responsible, team-oriented individual with strong work ethic.
Must have highly developed coordination and organization skills.
Desired:
M.S. in Computer, Software, Aerospace, Electrical, or Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline.
Experience in technical leadership of software development teams.
Experience in recruiting, personnel project assignments, team member development, and performance feedback.
Experience in human-rated space vehicles, e.g., Space Shuttle, Space Station, Orion, Commercial Crew, Gateway, and in specific vehicle software domains (e.g., C&T, C&DH, GN&C).
Experience in NASA Core Flight Software (CFS).
C programming and Object-Oriented Design and Analysis (OOAD) skills.
Python development skills.
Experience developing embedded software for Real-time Operating Systems, preferably VxWorks.
Experience in other bus communication protocols (e.g., 1553, RS-422, RS-232, USB, Ethernet).
Experience in software and systems integration.
Experience in automated testing.
Experience in verification testing.
Experience using GitLab and the Git version control system.
Experience using Jira.
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What You Can Expect:
A culture of integrity.
At CACI, we place character and innovation at the center of everything we do. As a valued team member, you’ll be part of a high-performing group dedicated to our customer’s missions and driven by a higher purpose – to ensure the safety of our nation.
An environment of trust.
CACI values the unique contributions that every employee brings to our company and our customers - every day. You’ll have the autonomy to take the time you need through a unique flexible time off benefit and have access to robust learning resources to make your ambitions a reality.
A focus on continuous growth.
Together, we will advance our nation s most critical missions, build on our lengthy track record of business success, and find opportunities to break new ground — in your career and in our legacy.
Pay Range :
There are a host of factors that can influence final salary including, but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education, and certifications. Our employees value the flexibility at CACI that allows them to balance quality work and their personal lives. We offer competitive compensation, benefits and learning and development opportunities. Our broad and competitive mix of benefits options is designed to support and protect employees and their families. At CACI, you will receive comprehensive benefits such as; healthcare, wellness, financial, retirement, family support, continuing education, and time off benefits.
The proposed salary range for this position is:
$90,300 - 189,600 USD
CACI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristic.
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