Client: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Role: Software Developer III (contract via CACI & Gridiron IT)
Duration: October 2024 – October 2025

Overview

Working on NASA.gov was one of the highlights of my career. Rather than building a single website, I became part of the team responsible for maintaining and improving one of the most recognizable government web platforms in the world. Every update, enhancement, and bug fix had the potential to impact millions of visitors looking for the latest space exploration news, scientific discoveries, educational resources, and mission updates.

My responsibilities spanned both NASA.gov and Plus.NASA.gov, supporting an ecosystem of WordPress and Drupal websites that required a strong focus on accessibility, performance, security, and long-term maintainability. It was rewarding to help improve a platform whose mission extends far beyond technology by making scientific information available to people around the globe.

My Role

As a Software Developer III, I worked closely with designers, content strategists, accessibility specialists, QA engineers, and fellow developers in a fully remote Agile environment. My day-to-day work involved enhancing existing functionality, resolving production issues, implementing new features, and helping ensure the platform remained stable and accessible.

A significant portion of my work centered around custom WordPress development. I maintained and expanded themes and plugins, implemented enhancements requested by stakeholders, and helped streamline the publishing experience for NASA’s content teams. I also supported Drupal-powered properties when needed, allowing the broader web ecosystem to remain consistent across multiple platforms.

Accessibility was another major focus throughout the project. Federal websites must meet rigorous accessibility requirements, and I regularly worked to improve semantic markup, keyboard navigation, ARIA implementation, heading structure, and overall usability. Every improvement helped ensure NASA’s content could be accessed by as many people as possible regardless of ability.

Performance and quality were equally important. Whether optimizing frontend code, troubleshooting issues, reviewing pull requests, or participating in testing before deployment, I always approached changes with the understanding that reliability mattered. Even relatively small improvements contributed to a better experience for the millions of people who rely on NASA.gov every year.

I also had the opportunity to contribute to Plus.NASA.gov, NASA’s long-form storytelling platform, helping deliver immersive editorial experiences that combined photography, video, and interactive content in a modern publishing environment.

Technologies Used

  • WordPress VIP
  • WordPress
  • Drupal
  • PHP
  • JavaScript (ES6)
  • React
  • MySQL
  • Git
  • HDS Design System
  • Gravity Forms
  • axe DevTools
  • Lighthouse
  • WCAG 2.1 Accessibility Standards

Highlights

  • Helped maintain one of the world’s highest-profile government websites serving millions of visitors each year.
  • Reduced accessibility errors on NASA.gov by more than 40% through ongoing remediation and code improvements.
  • Developed reusable enhancements for custom WordPress themes and plugins shared across multiple NASA web properties.
  • Contributed to the continued evolution of Plus.NASA.gov, supporting immersive digital storytelling experiences.
  • Worked within a multidisciplinary Agile team to deliver secure, accessible, and maintainable solutions for NASA’s public web presence.

Looking Back

One of the things I appreciated most about working with NASA was the opportunity to combine technical problem solving with a meaningful mission. Every feature I built and every issue I resolved ultimately supported scientists, educators, students, journalists, and space enthusiasts around the world.

The project reinforced many of the principles that have guided my career: writing maintainable code, prioritizing accessibility from the beginning, collaborating across disciplines, and building digital experiences that continue to serve users long after they’re deployed. It’s an experience I’m proud to have been part of, and one that strengthened both my technical skills and my appreciation for developing software at enterprise scale.

Disclaimer

This project was completed while serving as a Software Developer III contractor supporting NASA web properties. The views expressed here are my own and do not necessarily represent those of NASA or the U.S. Government.