Software Product Assurance Engineer

at  The Exploration Company

Here at The Exploration Company, we are developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle that can eventually be refuelled in orbit and that can carry cargo - and potentially humans in the longer run.
We are seeking an experienced Software Product Assurance Engineer to manage the quality of our space projects from a software perspective. This role is integral to the Software team, ensuring that our software products meet the highest standards of reliability, performance, and compliance with contractual requirements.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

As a Software Product Assurance (SW PA) Engineer, you will hold a crucial position within the Software Team. You will serve as the SW quality focal point for space projects, with a primary focus on the Nyx Earth project. Your duties will encompass a wide range of responsibilities, including but not limited to:

• Establishing and maintaining the project’s SW PA&S requirements baseline in compliance with applicable NASA/ESA requirements and best market practices.
• Developing and implementing a SW Quality Assurance Program in accordance with NASA-STD-8739.8, intended to cover the SW quality activities across all the project lifecycle phases.
• Developing, implementing, monitoring, and reviewing SW QA plans.
• Conducting independent evaluations of software development processes to ensure compliance with organizational standards and safety requirements.
• Participating in the analysis and evaluation of software design, including change impact analysis and regression testing, particularly for COTS software.
• Overseeing and participating in verification and validation (V&V) activities according to a defined V&V plan, ensuring traceability of all requirements and exclusion of unauthorized functions.
• Supporting Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) activities, working in coordination with IV&V personnel to mitigate software risks and enhance safety and quality.
• Managing SW nonconformities, deviations, alerts, and assessing their impact.
• Contributing to the risk management process and managing SW Critical Items.
• Managing and applying SW lessons learned.
• Planning, conducting and following up on project SW audits.
• Overseeing configuration management processes to ensure alignment with approved plans, including identification, status accounting, change control, verification, and delivery.
• Ensuring software reliability and maintainability requirements are met and traceable to system requirements.
• Conducting software trade studies to ensure consideration of safety, reliability, maintainability, and quality assurance requirements.
• Supporting HSIA analysis.
• Overseeing SW integration with hardware.

In the role of SW Product Assurance Engineer ideally, you will have the following:

• A bachelor in engineering or technical sciences
• Experience in software assurance, quality assurance, or a related field, particularly within aerospace, aviation or defense industries.
• Strong analytical skills and experience with software lifecycle evaluation, configuration management, and V&V activities.
• Programming Languages: Proficiency in C/C++ and Python for software development and scripting tasks.
• Proficiency in managing non-conformances and corrective actions.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work independently as well as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to conduct rigorous audits, evaluations, and reviews.
• Detail and solution-oriented mindset with a strong ability to work independently,
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a team environment while exhibiting strong leadership skills,
• Working fluency in English