Senior GNC Systems & Embedded Software Engineer

Ronald Broderick

Annapolis, MD

Security Clearance – Active DoD Secret Clearance

(Inactive Top Secret, CBP Suitability, TS/SAR and TS/SCI with poly)

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY:

Senior Systems and Software Engineer with extensive experience developing and integrating Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) systems for aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft applications.

Brings deep expertise in real-time embedded software, C/C++, Python, systems engineering, flight controls, autonomous systems, requirements, integration, verification, and validation.

Proven technical leadership across NASA, DoD, DARPA, DHS and aerospace programs, including electro-optical sensing and missile-detection capabilities, Patriot missile control software, NASA Gateway vehicle systems, adaptive flight controls, and classified defense programs.

EDUCATION:

Doctoral Coursework, Computer Information Systems from Nova Southeastern University

Published research on adaptive flight controls, neural networks, fuzzy logic, and adaptive system test/verify.

M.S., Engineering & Production Management from Loyola Marymount University

MBA Coursework from California State University

B.S., Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Northrop Institute of Technology

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION:

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP)

SKILLS:

Systems & Software Engineering

Avionics & Spacecraft GNC

Requirements Engineering

(DOORS)

Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)

Embedded Software Development (Fortran, Python, C/C++, Ada)

Precision ascent and orbit entry execution

Autonomous Systems Architecture

Risk Assessment & Mitigation

SEI CMMI, DO-178, MIL-STD 498, & 2167A/B/C Compliance

RFP & Proposal Writing Artificial Intelligence Applications, Avionics & Spacecraft GNC Algorithms

Requirements Analysis, Test Verification and Validation

Embedded Software Development – Jovial, Python, C/C++, Ada

Technical Documentation & Test Reporting

Systems & Software Engineering

Missile & Weapons Systems

GNC Algorithms

C/C++

Python

Java

Real-Time Embedded Systems

VxWorks

MBSE/Cameo/SysML

MOSA

MATLAB

DO-178

MIL-STD 498

Verification & Validation

Formal Qualification Testing

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

NASA Fellow, Annapolis, MD, Sep 2020 – Present

As a NASA Fellow and a student that has completed all course work for a PhD, mentor students engineers that are struggling with their life and academic challenges.

Currently working with an engineering student that attempted to commit suicide.

Mentoring and tutoring him in his course work of Heat Transfer and Engineering Statistics.

Randstad Federal, Simmonds Precision (Contract completed), Vergennes, VT Apr 2026 – Jul 2026

Software Engineer

Contract engineer at Simmonds Precision, developed and coded, using C++, the control software for the navigation fins of the Patriot Missile.

Effort was to change the missile from analog controls to digital controls to increase accuracy and lower cost.

Employment Gap Jun 2020 – Dec 2025

During this period, he started and operated his own business. The business is now well established and is being managed by a family member, allowing him to return to the job market and pursue new career opportunities.

NASA, Avenue Technology, Houston, TX Feb 2019 – Jun 2020

Senior Systems/Software Engineer

NASA Johnson Space Center experience:

Utilized MATLAB for analysis, modelling, simulation, and verification of adaptive flight-control and GNC concepts, including research involving neural-network and adaptive-control techniques.

The VMS provides the Gateway unprecedented autonomy from Earth-bound control and oversight including on-orbit navigation and control of the space station.

Contract engineer as senior staff performed systems/software engineering for NASA’s Lunar Space Station Program in the Robotics Systems Technology Branch at JSC.

Used model-based systems engineering (SysML) for the development of the functional software requirements and architecture and DOORS for requirements tracking of the Gateway Space Station Vehicle Systems Manager (VMS).

The VSM provides vehicle wide autonomous functionality for both normal and off-nominal operations including advanced control of robotic operations using open systems architecture.

Upon completion of the VSM document which became part of the Lunar Space Station Request for Proposal, I was awarded the Johnson Space Center ‘Engineer of the Month’ award.

ManTech International/DARPA, Washington D.C Nov 2003 – Jan 2019

Systems/Software Engineer

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

Perform DARPA government oversight of real-time software intensive engineering using VxWorks on a Dy4 Dual Power PC and C/C++ coding adhering to DOD development standards and DO-178 certification standards.

This engineering effort required my ability to initiate a mathematical and software solution and finalize it with the help other technical experts.

Provided technical oversight of DARPA electro-optical system development involving camera-based sensing and translation of camera information to an LED display; evaluated engineering approaches and mathematical modelling requirements and directed corrective actions when technical deliverables did not meet program expectations.

Upon operation, I was awarded a letter of Appreciation from the U. S. Army Special Operations Forces.

Counter MANPADS Program experience:

Directed DO-178 testing regulation requirements for static and dynamic testing to include stimulator testing of in-flight system attached to a 747 and live-fire testing of MANPADS missiles at a simulated aircraft with actual system attached.

Provided technical oversight of electro-optical sensing and missile-detection capabilities supporting the Counter-MANPADS system; coordinated engineering activities related to sensor integration, missile detection, and laser-based threat defeat.

Perform systems/software engineering for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Counter MANPADS Program Office. Lead Software Engineer and Government liaison for Northrop Grumman/ FedEx contractor team.

Responsible for the government oversight of the program requirements development (DOORS), software and test plan development. Witnessed Test execution and evaluated test reports.

Performed government oversight of real-time software-intensive engineering using VxWorks on a Dy4 Dual Power PC, including C/C++ development in accordance with DoD development standards and DO-178 certification standards.

Applied Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) principles to support modular, interoperable, reusable, and maintainable software architectures for complex defense and aerospace systems.

Supported definition and integration of standardized interfaces and modular software components to facilitate system interoperability and future technology insertion.

Lead the development of a working relationship with Los Almos Anti-Tamper (AT) Laboratories including special secure foundries. Together, developed anti-tamper system requirements using my AT and program protection expertise. I interacted with senior personnel to design creative AT solutions for the Counter MANPADS system.

Lead Adaptive Controls engineering and research efforts for DHS in partnership with NASA, United Airlines and Boeing. Develop a Propulsion Control System based on augmentation of flight control authority using engine thrust to recover damage aircraft when existing flight control is degraded.

Signed DO-178 certification documents that were delivered to the FAA office that were responsible for the commercial operation of the Counter MANPADS system. Directed DO-178 testing requirements, including static and dynamic testing, stimulator testing of an in-flight system, and live-fire testing of MANPADS missiles.

Served as Lead Software Engineer and Government Liaison for the Northrop Grumman/FedEx contractor team.

Responsible for software test plan development, witnessing test execution, and evaluating test reports.

Approved and signed DO-178 certification documents submitted to the FAA.

Customs and Border Control (CBP) experience:

As senior staff to the Border Patrol Executive Director, wrote the RVSS Test and Evaluation Master Plan used in the RVSS RFP and after contract award, used by vendor to conduct their system test and requirements verification programs.

Develop and perform system/software/security test engineering. Develop test plans to test system requirements of the radars and cameras on CBP mobile vehicles.

As Requirements and Architecture lead responsible for the development of Functional Requirements Documents (FRDs) using DOORS for the department’s Requests for Proposals using Model Based Systems Engineering (SPARX EA). Managed program requirement baselines of program CONOPS, ORDs and FRDs before and after contract award.

Developed and performed system/software/security test engineering, including test plans for system requirements of radars and cameras on CBP mobile vehicles.

As Requirements and Architecture Lead, developed Functional Requirements Documents using Model-Based Systems Engineering (SPARX EA) and managed requirements baselines using DOORS.

As Software Engineering Lead, evaluated and system-tested software written in Python, C++ and Java, with responsibility for Formal Qualification Testing of operational software integrating GIS maps, video analytics, and sensor components.

As Software Engineering lead, wrote the Software Acquisition Management Guidebook that described the software acquisition management process used for the Departments acquisition of software intensive programs. The evaluated and tested operational software written in Python, C++ and Java that combines GIS maps and video analytics with system sensor components.

Engineering Services Group Sep 1997 – Oct 2003

Systems/Software Engineer

Contract engineer to Northrop Grumman ESSD, Lithium, Maryland. Perform system/ software engineering on the Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Management (ISRM) System including System Engineering and Software Engineering portion of the Air Force Block 10.2 proposal efforts. Northrop won the contract and I received a letter of appreciation.

Contract engineer to Boeing Company, Huntsville AL at the Prime Contractor for the National Missile Defense Program. Provide systems engineering support for Test Bed test plans.

Perform verification and validation tests of system software requirements. Wrote system test reports and presented test results to government.

Performed systems test and analysis for the Shuttle Launch Complex, CSOC, Milstar, and MILSATCOM systems.

Supported the National Missile Defense Program through test-bed test planning, software requirements verification and validation, test reporting, and presentation of results to government customers.

Contract engineer to Computer Sciences Corporation, Morristown, NJ developer of the AEGIS Command and Decision System using C++ code. Utilizing Motorola multiprocessor system architecture, programmed new enhancements in C++, in a SEI CMM Level 5 environment.

Contract engineer to Smiths Industries Aerospace, Parsippany, NJ. Development and unit test of real-time embedded SPARK Ada 83 software for the operational flight program of the British Aerospace Nimrod. Software development and test using the DEC VAX-based XDAda compiler for the Motorola 68040 microprocessor and the Praxis Critical Systems SPARK Ada Examiner for Ada 83.

Developed and performed unit testing of real-time embedded SPARK Ada 83 software for the British Aerospace Nimrod operational flight program.

Contract engineer to Northrop Grumman, Lithium, MD. Perform system/ software engineering on the Extending the Littoral Battlespace and the Tactical Control System proposal efforts.

Logicon Ultrasystems, El Segundo, CA 1988 – 1996

Senior System Engineer

Systems engineer MILSATCOM Air Force contracts with office at customer site.

Systems engineer responsible for the development of Milstar/Milsatcom requirements, design trade studies, code development, testing and integration of portions of the Milstar ground system command and control real-time embedded software using Ada83 in a DEC Ada Development Environment per MIL-STD 498 and 2167A.

Directed systems software certification of Milstar command and control systems including multi-agency participation resulting in the discovery of operational software errors.

Supervised software engineering support for verification and validation of satellite spacecraft and payload assembly language software.

Trident Data Systems, El Segundo, CA 1985 – 1988

Systems Engineer

Responsible for systems analysis of the Shuttle Launch Complex at VAFB, Consolidated Space Operations Center (CSOC), Milstar, MILSATCOM communications, and various other clients.

Performed classified system architecture studies. Wrote portions of RFP for Air Force Shuttle Payload Support System.

Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA 1979 – 1985

Project Engineer

Developed real-time embedded assembly language GNC flight software for the SCP-234 flight computer in support of Defence Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP).

Lead project engineer for the TDRSS Network Ground System Upgrade Project for Air Force-Space Division (AF/SD) that developed an Orange Book Class A1 kernel guard.

Developed system requirements, SATCOM requirements, monitored systems design progress and developed trade-offs.

TRW Defense and Space Systems

Software Analyst

Performed software development including design, code, test, integration and documentation of real time embedded GNC avionics software including the Minuteman III and Interim Upper Stage flight programs.

Awards:

23rd and 24th Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC) as part of my PhD discretion effort

Best Paper each year, Flight Critical Track

23rd DASC “Statistical and Adaptive Approach for Verification of a Neural-Based Flight Control System”

24th DASC “Adaptive Verification for an Online Learning Neural-Based Flight Control System.”

NASA:

Graduate Student Research Grant NGT4-52401, Knowledge-Based Aircraft Automation

Awarded the NASA Knowledge-Based Aircraft Automation Research Grant to help NASA understand the use of artificial intelligence in military aircraft.

The Grant paid for my tuition while studying for my Master degree at Loyola Marymount. I received a letter of appreciation from the dean of the university.

9th AIAA ATIO Conference:

“Manual Throttles-Only Control Effectiveness for Emergency Flight Control of Transport Aircraft”

This paper, plus demonstration of actual flights with airline pilots using engines only to control a 757, which I supervised, motivated the FAA to include throttles only testing in the pilots yearly certification tests.

Contact this candidate