David Watson
Glendale
Summary
Accomplished software engineer with strong technical leadership and collaboration skills. Notable experience in managing software projects from conception to completion, driving significant improvements in scheduling optimization and mission resource allocation.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead Software Engineer
NASA - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Pasadena, CA
01.2026 - Current
- Promoted to DSN Scheduling office lead software engineer, tasked with leading multiple projects from conception to completion to optimize Space Operations workflows
- Collaborated with different teams to integrate new technologies into long used core software to keep it modern and lightweight
- Design and code full stack web-servers using node.js, React, Typescript with quick concept to production turnaround times heavily reliant upon user feedback
- Maintain full coverage test suites as project scales ensuring reliability and user confidence
Software Systems Engineer
NASA - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Pasadena, CA
09.2022 - 01.2026
- Full-stack developer for DSN scheduling software
- Manage data storage and retrieval with MongoDB and PostreSQL
- Technical lead of scheduling optimization software which reduced turnaround time for mission critical events by 20%
- Executed extensive regression testing before major updates and provided detailed, actionable feedback to management
- Developed robust automated test suite for CI/CD pipeline using vitest and TestRail
- Served as lead scheduler for GO19 and Europa Clipper launches, collaborating directly with mission planning and sequencing teams to ensure mission resource allocation requirements were met.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Computer Science And Engineering
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CAAssociate of Science - Physics, Mathematics
Los Angeles Valley College
Van Nuys, CASkills
- Software architecture design
- Advanced debugging
- Javascript/Typescript
- C/C
- Python
- Quick Learner
- Deep dive problem solving
- Technical leadership
Languages
English - Native
Spanish - Professional Working
Timeline
Lead Software Engineer
NASA - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
01.2026 - Current
Software Systems Engineer
NASA - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
09.2022 - 01.2026
Bachelor of Science - Computer Science And Engineering
University of California, Los Angeles
Associate of Science - Physics, Mathematics
Los Angeles Valley College