Modeling & Simulation Software Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation's space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space- delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you'll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators.

Join us and take your place in space.

The Vehicle Systems Division (VSD) sits at the center of the ideas and data behind current and future systems supplying innovative research and development; technical evaluations during the acquisition process; conceptual and detailed design; assembly, integration, and test; and operational support. Comprised primarily of highly-trained mechanical and aerospace engineers, VSD provides national expertise in the areas of vehicle engineering; guidance, navigation, and controls;

robotics; electro-mechanical devices; embedded systems; fluid mechanics; propulsion; thermal control; orbital mechanics; mechanisms; structures; structural dynamics; and dynamic environments.

The Vehicle Engineering & Integration Department (VEID) is part of VSD, the premier satellite and launch vehicle technical organization within the Aerospace Corporation. The Vehicle Modeling and Analysis Section within VEID is responsible for implementing multi-disciplinary analytical models and developing software tools required to execute the desired analyses with respect to satellite, ground, and launch vehicle development and operations. We are seeking a Modeling & Simulation Software Engineer (Engineering Specialist - Modeling & Simulation and Systems Software Engineering) who has outstanding technical and programming skills, an understanding of physics/physical hardware systems, is inquisitive and motivated to learn, and has uncompromising integrity and objectivity.

Work Model

This is a full-time position on-site position based in Chantilly, VA with some consideration given to the El Segundo, CA, location for strong candidates.

What You'll Be Doing

* Develop advanced, high-performance, production-quality modeling and simulation (M&S) software to help support challenging problems posed by Aerospace's customers

* Develop and modify algorithms to enhance simulation capabilities to support studies for future satellite systems and architectures and interface with flight and flight-like satellite hardware, software, and system emulators to enable modular spacecraft HIL/SIL testing

* Port scientific, engineering, and physics-based modeling code, calculations, and algorithms from technical documents, Matlab, Python, and Excel to Java based software and interface legacy C, C++, and Fortran codes together into tool chains or distributed simulation frameworks

* Maintain and enhance Java-based distributed simulation frameworks with multi-threaded architectures and develop new distributed simulation federates, pre- and post-simulation data processing, and visualization tools

* Support and/or perform analysis using software developed within VMAS to answer questions about future satellite systems and architectures

* Participate and collaborate with other developers in full software development life cycle activities including design, implementation, and maintenance activities and assist in the creation of technical documentation and user guides

* Participate in cross-disciplinary teams to solve complex and challenging problems and may need to help guide, advise, instruct, and mentor staff with expertise in non-software fields and little to no software engineering background

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements:

* Bachelor's or graduate degree from an accredited program in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or other engineering discipline

* 6 years of experience in a software engineering role

* Experience in Java with Object-Oriented design and development skill and knowledge of multi-threaded, multi-processor networked and distributed systems and architectures

* Experience with Hardware-Software interfaces, embedded software / embedded system development, and/or robotic systems

* Experience developing physics-based vehicle or sub-system level simulations including component simulation/emulation as well as physics, dynamics, orbital mechanics simulation.

* Basic knowledge of space systems including spacecraft subsystems and interactions (GN&C, CDH/flight computer, power systems, comms, payloads, etc.)

* Knowledge of, or willingness to learn Python, C, C++, FORTRAN, and/or Matlab to extract or port critical code, as well as JSON and XML files often used for data exchange and API definitions

* Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

How You Can Stand Out

It would be impressive if…