Principal Simulation Engineer – Modeling & Simulation

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Conceive and execute mission- and campaign-level simulation capabilities utilizing modern C++ and Python.

• Develop and enhance event-driven, discrete-event, agent-based, and constructive simulation frameworks.

• Oversee event scheduling, simulation time, state transitions, platform abstractions, scenario execution, data collection, and deterministic replay.

• Create models for platforms, sensors, weapons, communications, electronic warfare, jamming, command and control, logistics, and environmental impacts.

• Augment AFSIM and similar simulation environments via C++ plugins, framework services, SDK integrations, new platform types, and reusable model interfaces.

• Convert operational concepts, system specifications, and domain expertise into maintainable software models with clear assumptions and verifiable behavior.

• Update legacy campaign and mission-analysis tools and merge them into a unified simulation architecture.

• Develop workflows for scenario generation, Monte Carlo simulations, sensitivity analysis, campaign execution, and evaluation.

• Scale simulations across workstations, on-premises infrastructure, and cloud computing while ensuring reproducibility and model traceability.

• Link constructive simulations with distributed, operational, hardware-in-the-loop, or human-in-the-loop environments.

• Establish verification and validation protocols, reference scenarios, regression suites, and quantitative assessments of model credibility.

• Collaborate directly with government, Air Force, and broader DoD stakeholders to address acquisition inquiries and deliver functional capabilities.

• Work alongside physics, backend, geospatial, AI, and product teams to integrate the simulation kernel into a comprehensive interactive platform.

• Lead design and code reviews, mentor colleagues, and enhance architecture, documentation, testing, and release protocols.

• Set quality and correctness standards across the department, offer architectural guidance, define major initiatives, lead architectural reviews, and mentor staff at scale.

⛳️ Requirements

• A minimum of five years of professional software development experience focused on simulation, autonomy, robotics, game engines, digital twins, or similarly complex systems.

• Principal-level expectation: 10+ years of experience.

• Extensive production experience in modern C++, with a strong command of Python for tooling, orchestration, analysis, or automation.

• Practical experience in developing or extending a simulation framework.

• Familiarity with event-driven, discrete-event, agent-based, constructive, or distributed simulation architectures.

• Capability to represent intricate real-world entities, interactions, rules, and edge cases as clear software abstractions.

• Experience in constructing plugins, SDKs, reusable model interfaces, framework services, platform types, or similar extension mechanisms.

• Solid grasp of software architecture, data structures, algorithms, APIs, testing, debugging, and performance engineering.

• Proven ability to implement significant changes within a large existing codebase while ensuring continuous delivery.

• Background in model verification, validation, calibration, or regression testing.

• Competence in transforming vague operational or technical requirements into actionable engineering plans.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document model assumptions, limitations, interfaces, and intended use.

• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in computer science, engineering, applied mathematics, operations research, physics, or a related field.

• Active Secret clearance or the eligibility to obtain one.

• Highly preferred: direct AFSIM experience; familiarity with behavior trees, finite state machines, and PDDL; experience in Air Force, Space Force, joint, or broader DoD acquisition and mission analysis; modeling in sensors, weapons, electronic warfare, jamming, communications, logistics, or command-and-control; modernization of legacy systems into C++; design of simulation frameworks or campaign systems; knowledge of HLA, DIS, OneSAF, JSAF, NGTS, STK, or other simulation environments; operational and constructive simulation experience; active TS/SCI clearance.

• U.S. work authorization may be necessary for certain project assignments requiring security clearance.

🏝️ Benefits

• Comprehensive health care plan with 100% premium coverage, including medical, dental, and vision.

• 401k with 5% matching.

• Paid Time Off (unlimited vacation, plus sick leave and public holidays).

• Flexible hybrid or remote work arrangement.

• Relocation assistance for eligible employees.

• Competitive salary targeting the upper range of compensation.