Software Assurance Engineer - Goddard SMAS II

This position supports the Safety and Mission Assurance Services II contract at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. 

Current incumbents are encouraged to apply

Provides coordination and guidance in preparation of technical appraisals of programming languages and systems, computational software and related technology, and the integration of computers into the overall functions of scientific computation, and data acquisition, transmission, and processing.  Ensures that corrective measures are carried out appropriately and that they meet acceptable reliability standards.  Develops overall operating criteria to ensure implementation of the software quality programs according to project, process, contract requirements, and objectives.  Reviews software design, change specifications, and plans against contractual and/or process requirements.  Reviews applicable specifications, materials, tools, techniques, and methodologies.  Performs or directs verification of software requirement allocations, traceability, and testability.  Interacts with customer representatives concerning the status of assigned tasks.  Administers and coordinates tasks for assigned project work activities.

• Ensure that software assurance requirements are being levied via RFP’s, implemented via plans.
• Develop a plan of action towards ensuring compliance with system safety, reliability and quality assurance requirements.  Identify key actions, milestones, deliverables, and value. 
• Evaluate the vendor proposals to verify that the software assurance requirements in the RFP have been addressed
• Ensure that each Software Assurance Classification Assessment is documented and retained as part of the records for the project
• Verify that the provider’s software assurance plan meets contractual requirements
• Perform surveillance tasks to ensure compliance with the software lifecycle processes and product requirements.
• Verify that the provider has developed and maintained processes that are compliant with the Flight Project requirements for off-the-shelf software to be integrated into the intended system
• Assess and approve software certification/acceptance criteria and objective evidence prior to delivery for all software in support of the project acceptance review
• Assure that any acquirer facilities (for example, test rigs, test stand, lab, development environment, and hardware) are prepared to receive and install the software
• Assure that all acquisition lessons learned are recorded and entered into the NASA lessons learned database
• Ensure that software assurance processes are in place for operation of the software developed or acquired by NASA. 
• Perform periodic operational assessments, at a minimum of 24 months, to ensure baseline management of software requirements, design, code, and documentation and to ensure review and approval of software changes or software induced operational workarounds
• Assure that software assurance processes are in place for software maintenance
• Assure the transfer and maintenance of any licenses, simulators, models, and test suites from the provider/developer to NASA, or the designated maintenance contractor
• Assure that any metrics collected relative to the software, along with any trending and reliability data are transferred to the maintenance organization and maintained in order to better understand and predict problem areas in the software
• Assure that software engineering and management prepare, approve, and execute a retirement plan
• Assure that the provider develops and maintains a software assurance plan that implements a software assurance program covering the entire lifecycle.  This Plan includes documentation of software assurance procedures, processes, deliverables, tools, techniques, and methods to be used.  (Note: This plan can be a standalone Software Assurance Plan or part of another SR&QA Plan.)
• Assure that the provider’s software assurance program describes what metrics will be collected and reported in regards to the software assurance program activities
• Assure that the provider provides software assurance status reports to the acquirer SR&QA Manager as defined in the acquirer software assurance plan
• Coordinate quality activities with software safety and V&V activities
• Work with the provider to assure the following:

1. Software code meets requirements.
2. Error handling and fault detection have been addressed
3. Verification and validation plans and procedures contain provisions to determine if fault tolerance and safety criteria are met
4. Plans are complete and mutually consistent
5. Software requirements meet flight project requirements.
6. Project documentation is reviewed for quality impact
7. Functional configuration and physical configuration maintained in accordance with certification requirements
8. Software development plans specify the standards and procedures for management, acquisition, engineering, and assurance activities
9. Problems with products are reported during participation in formal and informal reviews and meeting.
10. Changes to the software have been reviewed and approved

 Work with project contractors to assure the following:

1. Software engineering practices, development environment, test environment, and libraries employed for the project adhere to applicable standards and procedures.
2. Formal reviews and inspections have independent presentations by the provider / acquirer SR&QA Manager to address software issues.  Formal inspections are performed per NASA-STD-2202-93.
3. The software quality metrics processes are implemented according to requirements.
4. Software is developed according to an approved process.
5. Trends in software quality metrics are reported to assist in risk mitigation.
6. Status and quality of the software are presented at formal reviews.

Requirements  

5 or more years of directly related experience.  In lieu of degree and 3 years experience, 11 years of directly related work experience may be substituted.  Previous experience at NASA GSFC is a plus.  5-10% travel required.

Desired Skills

• Knowledge of quality processes such as AS9100, ISO9001, CMMI and Six Sigma/Lean Six Sigma
• Experience with Corporate quality systems and implementation of quality management
• Leadership experience and experience leading integrated product teams in development and/or assessment activities
• Experience with project management tools such as DOORS, program control tools, and risk management tools.

Education
BA/BS degree in a technical discipline (i.e., engineering, computer science, quality assurance).Masters degree a plus.

Clearance None required.  

Millennium offers a comprehensive benefits package. Millennium is An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Millennium does not discriminate on any basis prohibited by applicable law including race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, citizenship status, or Vietnam era or special disabled veteran's status in recruitment, employment, promotion, compensation, benefits, or training. It is also Millennium's policy to maintain a work environment free from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Millennium participates in the E-Verify program.