Software Engineer II, Spacecraft Simulation

Description

Space is now a warfighting domain, and the company builds the technology that secures it.

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

Software links military objectives, physics and the human and autonomous control of spacecraft and ground systems.

This role is a Spacecraft Simulation Software Engineer position on a fast-moving, interdisciplinary team that works on spacecraft, constellation modeling and high-fidelity multi-physics simulation.

The simulation infrastructure you build lets engineers design spacecraft, validate control algorithms, analyze system performance and predict mission outcomes with confidence.

Responsibilities

• Write well-structured, efficient C++ using modern practices (C++17 and C++20), with performance and maintainability as top priorities.
• Build and maintain multi-physics simulation libraries for spacecraft systems, covering 6DOF rigid body dynamics with environmental perturbations (gravity gradient, solar radiation pressure, atmospheric drag, magnetic torques).
• Model thermal behavior, including conduction, radiation and solar heating.
• Model attitude dynamics and control systems.
• Model propulsion systems, including thrusters, tanks and mass properties.
• Model power generation and distribution, including solar arrays, batteries and loads.
• Model sensors and actuators: reaction wheels, star trackers, gyros, magnetometers and thrusters.
• Implement coupled physics algorithms that capture interactions between subsystems, such as thermal-structural, power-thermal and propulsion-dynamics.
• Design and implement time-stepping algorithms, solver architectures and integration schemes for real-time and faster-than-real-time simulation.
• Maintain libraries with APIs in Python and C++ used by other internal applications.
• Support internal teams that use the simulation APIs to plan and run missions, build spacecraft operation algorithms and carry out trade-space analyses.
• Join code reviews, architecture discussions and sprint planning to keep software quality high and projects on schedule.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, physics or a similar field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 1 to 3 years of professional C++ experience.
• Experience using Python for scripting and prototyping.
• Solid grasp of object-oriented software design.
• Ability to grasp new problems quickly, build a plan, win agreement and deliver.
• Understanding of complex distributed systems and how the components you build fit into them.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• U.S. citizen and eligible for a DoD Secret or TS/SCI clearance.
• Preferred: experience building physics-based modeling and simulation environments, such as models of spacecraft dynamics, thermal systems or control algorithms.
• Preferred: knowledge of numerical methods, including ODE solvers and integration schemes such as Runge-Kutta, numerical linear algebra and matrix computation, and sparse matrix techniques.
• Preferred: experience with spacecraft subsystems, including ADCS, GNC, thermal control, EPS and propulsion.
• Preferred: understanding of coordinate frames and transforms (ECI, ECEF, body frame and others).
• Preferred: experience with quaternions and other rotation representations.
• Preferred: knowledge of orbital mechanics and perturbation forces.
• Preferred: familiarity with model validation, verification and uncertainty quantification.
• Preferred: experience with Git and CI/CD pipelines.

Conditions

Base salary is $90,000 to $140,000.

Your level and base salary depend on a case-by-case review of your 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.

This is not a fixed term or temporary role. The posting stays open until the position is filled.

To work on U.S. space technology under 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 authorization from the U.S. Department of State.

The company is an equal opportunity employer, and the role involves standard work environment and physical demands such as sitting, bending, lifting and driving.

Benefits

• Equity is part of the total compensation package.
• Health, dental and vision coverage paid 100% by the company for you and your dependents, with HSA or HRA options.
• Flexible Time Off for exempt employees, accrued PTO of up to 25 days for non-exempt employees, and 12 paid holidays.
• Parental leave and sick leave.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks for in-office employees.
• Fitness reimbursement and Dog Fridays.