Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Mission Software Engineer

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Mission Software Engineer

• 10004632
• Fairfax, VA
• Postdoctoral Faculty
• Opening on: Oct 7 2026

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Department: College of Science

Classification: Post Doc 12 month

Job Category: Postdoctoral Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Restricted: Yes

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

George Mason University (GMU), a Carnegie Research I institution, is Virginia's largest and most diverse university with more than 38,000 students. Located in Fairfax, Virginia, Mason is part of the Washington DC metropolitan area offering easy access to the scientific and political resources of the nation's capital.

George Mason University is committed to advancing inclusion, access, and equal opportunity throughout our community. We believe that a broad range of voices, cultures, and perspectives brings vibrancy, innovation, and growth to an academic community.

The Landolt Mission team is responsible for developing and executing a NASA space-based mission through coordinated work across science, payload, spacecraft bus, software, systems engineering, integration and test, mission assurance, and project management functions. The unit provides an interdisciplinary research and training environment for faculty, postdoctoral researchers, engineers, staff, and students working collaboratively with federal, academic, commercial, and other external partners.

The Landolt Mission team supports mission formulation, systems engineering, subsystem coordination, technical trade studies, requirements development, verification and validation planning, assembly, integration and testing, technical documentation, mission reviews, and mission operations planning. The unit works collaboratively across payload, spacecraft bus, software, ground systems, mission operations, science, and programmatic interfaces to advance mission objectives and meet NASA requirements.

Statement on Building an All-Inclusive Culture: George Mason University College of Science (Mason Science) is committed to advancing inclusive excellence and fostering an environment free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation throughout our STEM community. At Mason Science, our values include cultivating an organizational culture that promotes belonging, respect, and civility. We believe that varied opinions, cultures, and perspectives are what provides vibrancy, innovation, and growth to an academic community. By prioritizing cultural responsiveness in academics, teaching, research, and global engagement, we strive to attract faculty and staff who exemplify the Mason Science mission and vision.

About the Position:

This position is sponsored by the NASA Landolt mission. The Mission Software Engineer (SE) duties include (at a different level of involvement and responsibility):

• Contribute to all aspects of mission software design and development, including creating, reviewing, testing, verifying, documenting, and integrating code as part of the mission software team.;
• Participate in documentation, integration, and testing of elements of mission software alongside personnel from other mission teams, including the payload team, the bus hardware team, and systems engineering team.;
• Perform data collection, analysis, and simulation studies as needed to predict, verify, and analyze functions of the mission software.  Communicate key outcomes and findings to other members and leadership of the Landolt Mission;
• Document activities for the Landolt Mission through mission reviews, mission reports, mission documentation, and technical publications in a manner consistent with space-based projects and published results in professional scientific journals;
• Work collaboratively and effectively in a team environment composed of scientists, engineers, students, project management and support staff at multiple institutions, and federal, academic and commercial partners; and
• Foster a culture of engagement, diversity, inclusiveness, excellence and innovation. Champion GMU's commitment to Access, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion to create an inclusive and welcoming environment that promotes a commitment to safety, integrity, and teamwork.

Responsibilities:

Mission Software Development

• Generate, debug, and integrate code leading to the delivery of a flight-ready mission software package;
• Assist in software testing, verification, and integration; and
• Comply with NASA space systems requirements and procedures.

Reporting and Coordinating

• Assist in the writing and production of formal technical reports, progress reports, and reviews for NASA (e.g. PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR, ORR) in a manner consistent with NASA's documentation requirements, standards and guidelines (e.g. NPR 7120.5/8);
• Write or co-write papers for professional journals and conferences;
• Attend meetings with sponsors and collaborators, federal, commercial and academic partners, when necessary, occasionally requiring travel outside of the DC metropolitan area; and
• Assist in the pursuit of new and continued GMU Space Center projects and funding support (e.g. new, extended, and follow-on missions/projects).

Required Qualifications:

• Terminal degree in Computer/Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field with emphasis on space systems development;
• Experience producing working code in a relevant language (C, Python, JavaScript, etc.).; and
• Familiarity with industry best practices in software development.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with hybrid missions, operations planning, space hardware, rad-hard electronics, embedded system development, and/or NASA procedures and practices;
• Experience in practical software design, development, and testing including hardware systems or embedded systems is desirable;
• Familiarity with software development process in space mission context, including knowledge of or experience with NASA procedures and practices (or procedures and practices for other spacefaring organizations); and
• Knowledge of space environment, spacecraft subsystems, or optical payloads - especially laser systems.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Mission Software Engineer at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a CV with a Statement of Interest and Experience for review.

Posting Open Date: October 7, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by: November 1, 2026

Open Until Filled: Yes