On the subject of constructing spaceflight missions, the software program is a minimum of as necessary because the {hardware}. For pc engineer Nargess Memarsadeghi, having a hand within the programming is like attending to go alongside for the journey.
Identify: Nargess Memarsadeghi
Title: Affiliate Department Head, Software program Methods Engineering Department
Formal Job Classification: Supervisory Pc Engineer
Group: Software program Methods Engineering Department, Software program Engineering Division, Engineering Directorate (Code 581)
What do you do and what’s most fascinating about your function right here at Goddard?
As affiliate department head for the Software program Methods Engineering Department, I spend half of my time supporting the department head on inside features, completely different planning actions, and supervising our workers who’re senior software program techniques engineers and infrequently workforce leads themselves.
For the opposite half of my time, I work on a technical challenge. At present, I’m supporting the Human Touchdown Methods (HLS) challenge. I’m a member of NASA HLS Software program Perception Crew working with NASA’s Marshall Area Flight Heart in Huntsville, Alabama, and Johnson Area Heart in Houston, and business companions SpaceX and Blue Origin to satisfy software program necessities and milestones, and to make sure the Artemis marketing campaign succeeds in taking astronauts to the Moon.
I take pleasure in studying about varied NASA missions and being a part of them both by supporting our department workers who work on these missions or by being a challenge workforce member and making technical contributions straight.
Why did you change into a software program engineer?
I at all times beloved math and sciences. Software program engineering appeared like a very good and sensible option to apply math to completely different scientific and engineering functions.
What’s your instructional background?
I bought my bachelor’s (2001), grasp’s (2004), and doctorate (2007) levels in pc science from the College of Maryland at Faculty Park.
How did you come to Goddard?
I joined Goddard in 2001 proper after school. The college had a recruitment occasion at its profession heart. I signed up for an interview with NASA, which went properly. I then bought an invite for an onsite interview, after which a proposal to affix Goddard as a pc engineer.
What’s your supervisory type?
I’ve been supervising on common 10 workers. Now we have tag-ups each two weeks to study their work and see if they’ve any points or want something from administration. We hold in fixed communication which matches each methods. I’ve an open-door coverage. I attempt to match an worker’s pursuits and experience to their work. I’m keen to listen to their considerations and deal with them to one of the best of my capability or placing them involved with those that can. I take pleasure in studying about their work and celebrating the achievements.
What are a number of the most enjoyable initiatives and missions that the Software program Methods Engineering Department is concerned with?
We offer end-to-end software program techniques engineering assist to many high-impact missions, just like the upcoming flagship astrophysics Roman Area Telescope mission. We assist Roman’s software program techniques, in addition to its testing and meeting with one among our software program merchandise, the Goddard Dynamic Simulator.
Our workforce additionally helps quite a lot of Earth science missions, such because the Joint Polar Satellite tv for pc Methods (JPSS), GOES-R, and GOES-U, all of which NASA helps on behalf of the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). We additionally develop and handle completely different floor section software program techniques for various missions together with PACE, TSIS-II, and others.
What are a few of your profession highlights to date?
One was being a part of the James Webb Area Telescope workforce and dealing on stability testing of microshutters. Webb is a large, multinational observatory making many scientific discoveries.
One other is being a part of the Daybreak mission’s satellite tv for pc working group looking for moons of the asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres. I labored on this from prelaunch by way of launch and operations. We had been a number of the first to see the scientific photographs quickly after being downlinked. It felt like happening a journey with the spacecraft itself.
I’d add my more moderen work on the Roman Area Telescope.
Normally, I actually loved engaged on varied missions throughout their completely different phases of their life cycle. I bought to see the entire image of how software program is used for missions, from expertise growth to post-launch.
What recommendation do you give your graduate college students and interns as a mentor?
I emphasize that in addition they must work on their communication abilities, management abilities, and workforce constructing. I inform them to focus not simply on their technical abilities but additionally on their interpersonal abilities each written and oral. NASA has lots of collaborative initiatives and having the ability to successfully talk throughout completely different ranges is essential for mission success.
Whom do you want to thank?
I want to thank my household for his or her assist. I’d additionally wish to thank my previous academics and mentors who made a giant distinction in me and positively impacted my life.
What do you do to chill out?
I like going for lengthy walks, spending time with household and associates, and doing actions with my son together with attending his piano recitals.
Who’s your favourite creator?
As a younger reader, I loved studying Jules Verne. I additionally take pleasure in studying poetry. My favorites are Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, and Persian poets Sohrab Sepehri and Saadi Shirazi.
What motto do you reside by?
Be the change you wish to see on the earth.
By Elizabeth M. Jarrell
NASA’s Goddard Area Flight Heart, Greenbelt, Md.
Conversations With Goddard is a group of Q&A profiles highlighting the breadth and depth of NASA’s Goddard Area Flight Heart’s gifted and various workforce. The Conversations have been printed twice a month on common since Might 2011. Learn previous editions on Goddard’s “Our Individuals” webpage.
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Sourcing information and pictures from nasa.gov/information
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