Engineering Manager, Software (Modeling and Simulation)

Description

The company builds autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software and space-based interceptors that help the U.S. and its Allies secure space and counter threats there.

Space is treated as a warfighting domain, and the team builds the technology that protects it.

This role leads the modeling and simulation group, which builds high-fidelity, physics-based models and digital twins for spacecraft design, testing and operations.

Simulation links design, testing, operations and training, from spacecraft engineering to the real-time situational awareness provided by the company's ground software.

The team's simulation tools need to be validated, scalable and updated with real-world data.

Responsibilities

• Give technical direction on modeling architecture, validation strategy and integration approaches.
• Review and approve technical designs, major architecture decisions and model validation plans.
• Set modeling standards, best practices and documentation requirements so simulation is part of every stage of the product lifecycle.
• Stay involved in design, implementation and verification across projects, setting the bar for technical work (approximately 35% of your time).
• Own the team roadmap with the Head of Simulation, balancing near-term delivery against long-term capability.
• Turn strategy and technical vision into team objectives and quarterly goals.
• Set priorities and allocate resources across competing demands.
• Manage dependencies and coordinate with other engineering managers on cross-functional delivery.
• Report team progress, risks and blockers to leadership and stakeholders.
• Improve team processes, tools and workflows to raise speed and quality.
• Work with technical program managers to scope projects, estimate timelines and commit to deliverables.
• Recruit, hire, onboard and retain modeling and simulation engineers, and grow the team.
• Manage people directly, including 1-on-1s, performance reviews, goal setting and career development.
• Build a culture of technical excellence, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Mentor and coach individual contributors into technical leaders.
• Handle team dynamics, resolve conflicts and keep communication healthy.
• Encourage knowledge sharing, cross-training and documentation so the team stays resilient.

Requirements

• Education: a Master's degree in aerospace, mechanical or systems engineering, physics, applied mathematics or a related technical field. A Ph.D., or a Bachelor's degree with equivalent professional experience, is also accepted.
• Experience: 8+ years in modeling, simulation or aerospace engineering, including at least 4 years managing teams of 4+ engineers.
• People management: a proven record of building and developing high-performing engineering teams, including hiring, performance management and career development.
• Leadership: you lead through influence, manage stakeholder expectations, execute in ambiguous situations and get results through others.
• Technical foundation: strong spacecraft system modeling and simulation skills, with depth in at least one area such as orbital mechanics, attitude dynamics, thermal analysis, power systems or propulsion, enough to give credible technical oversight.
• Domain knowledge: experience with physics-based modeling, simulation frameworks and validation methods for complex aerospace or defense systems.
• Communication: excellent written and verbal skills, including influencing senior leaders and translating between technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strategy: you turn business goals into team strategy and make trade-offs between technical excellence and delivery.
• Process: you have defined processes, set team norms and driven operational excellence in fast-paced settings.
• Collaboration: you build relationships across functions, resolve conflict and reach consensus.
• Clearance: U.S. citizen, eligible for a DoD Secret or TS/SCI clearance.
• Preferred: experience managing geographically distributed or hybrid teams.
• Preferred: experience taking teams through full product lifecycles, from concept to operations.
• Preferred: a record of delivering complex, multi-quarter work that spans several teams.
• Preferred: experience with agile methods, sprint planning and iterative delivery in engineering environments.
• Preferred: background in spacecraft flight dynamics, mission design, GNC algorithm development or digital twin development.
• Preferred: experience with modeling and simulation for space domain awareness, proximity operations or constellation management.
• Preferred: experience working with product management to define requirements and set priorities.
• Preferred: experience with resource planning, capacity modeling and headcount justification.

Conditions

Base salary is $160,000 - $250,000.

Final level and base salary are decided case by case, based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, location and experience.

This is a fully onsite role. You must live in or be able to commute daily to the Denver or Long Beach office.

Because of U.S. space export rules, including ITAR, you must be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident, a protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

The role stays open until it is filled.

Fixed-term and temporary applicants are not being considered.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and makes accommodations for disabilities or other needs on request.

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision coverage at 100% company cost for you and your dependents, with HSA or HRA options.
• Flexible Time Off for exempt employees, or accrued PTO of up to 25 days for non-exempt employees, plus 12 paid holidays, parental leave and sick leave.
• Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks for in-office staff.
• 401(k) plan, fitness reimbursement and Dog Fridays.
• Equity is part of the total compensation package, so you share in the company's success.