Standard Job Description

We are seeking a Lead Modeling & Simulation (M&S) Engineer to spearhead the integration, development, and scaling of the Space Based Interceptor (SBI) end-to-end missile simulation. In this role, you will lead a highly technical engineering team tasked with integrating and anchoring existing simulations and models into a unified, high-fidelity simulation architecture. The boundary of this simulation covers the complete SBI mission, fire control, guidance, navigation, and control (GNC), dynamic seeker phenomenology, threat modeling, and interceptor terminal dynamics. The ideal candidate will bridge the gap between high-level mission engineering requirements and granular physics-based code, serving as the technical authority for framework scaling, validation, and real-time execution optimization.

In this role you will:

• Architect, scale, and maintain the end-to-end interceptor simulation framework, seamlessly unifying existing legacy plant models, simulations, and flight software.
• Oversee the development and integration of low-to-high fidelity interceptor terminal dynamics, including 6-DoF rigid/flexible body physics and thruster/actuator dynamics.
• Incorporate threat behavior and seeker tracking loops, ensuring highly accurate modeling of threat phenomenology and endgame intercept physics.
• Establish robust pipelines to benchmark, calibrate, and validate simulation outputs against hardware testing and flight test.
• Drive code quality, use modern software architecture principles, and configuration control across the simulation team. Interface directly with Systems Engineering, Chief Engineers, and Government stakeholders to translate system performance data into clear actionable insights.

Successful applicants generally have at least 9+ years of related experience and may have a post-secondary degree or training in a related discipline, such as Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering,or related field. 

Designs, develops, implements, verifies and tests algorithms to perform guidance, navigation and control of aircraft, spacecraft, launch vehicles and upper stages during powered and coast phases of flight, earth orbit, interplanetary cruise and orbital insertion, as well as during staging events. Navigation functions include the statistical processing of measured data points and their substitution into algorithms simulating physical reality. Guidance functions include the formulation of specific equations and control laws to achieve a desired position in space. Control design and analyses processes consist of the development of the control requirements for aircraft, launch vehicles and/or spacecraft.

Basic Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience developing 6-DoF missile or satellite simulations.
• Experience leading simulation software development workstreams, small technical teams, and driving on-time execution.
• Demonstrated proficiency in programming languages and applications such as C/C++, FORTRAN, Python, and MATLAB/Simulink.
• Strong written/verbal communication and organizational and interpersonal skills

Desired Skills

• Professional experience with 9+ years applicable GNC and/or Simulation focus associated with missile or satellite product lifecycle. 
• Comprehensive domain mastery of 6-DoF simulation architectures, aerospace coordinate transformations, control loops, target tracking algorithms, and missile guidance laws.
• Ability to translate mission objectives, operational scenarios, constraints, and stakeholder input into modeling and simulation requirements and implementation.
• Design and execute simulation experiments, trade studies, Monte Carlo analyses, and sensitivity assessments to evaluate concepts, architectures, technologies, and capability alternatives.
• Experience verifying and validating simulation models, document assumptions and limitations, manage configuration, and data traceability.
• Experience with developing and debugging physics-based modeling and simulation tools.
• Familiarity of defense industry (e.g., Missile Defense Agency) simulation frameworks and architectures, framework standards, and V&V policies.
• Experience with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) or Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) real-time laboratory environments.
• Knowledge of modern software collaboration and testing stacks (Git, Docker, CI/CD automated test pipelines).
• Familiar with agile development methodologies and processes.