Principal Simulation Engineer – Modeling & Simulation

• Design and implement mission- and campaign-level simulation capabilities in modern C++ and Python
• Build and extend event-driven, discrete-event, agent-based, and constructive simulation frameworks
• Own event scheduling, simulation time, state transitions, platform abstractions, scenario execution, data collection, and deterministic replay
• Develop models for platforms, sensors, weapons, communications, electronic warfare, jamming, command and control, logistics, and environmental effects
• Extend AFSIM and comparable simulation environments through C++ plugins, framework services, SDK integrations, new platform types, and reusable model interfaces
• Translate operational concepts, system specifications, and subject-matter expertise into maintainable software models with explicit assumptions and testable behavior
• Modernize legacy campaign and mission-analysis tools and integrate them into a coherent simulation architecture
• Build scenario-generation, Monte Carlo, sensitivity-analysis, campaign-execution, and evaluation workflows
• Scale simulations across workstations, on-premises infrastructure, and cloud compute while preserving reproducibility and model provenance
• Connect constructive simulations with distributed, operational, hardware-in-the-loop, or human-in-the-loop environments
• Establish verification and validation practices, reference scenarios, regression suites, and quantitative measures of model credibility
• Work directly with government, Air Force, and broader DoD stakeholders to understand acquisition questions and deliver usable capabilities
• Collaborate with physics, backend, geospatial, AI, and product teams to integrate the simulation kernel into a larger interactive platform
• Lead design and code reviews, mentor teammates, and improve architecture, documentation, testing, and release practices
• Set department-wide quality and correctness standards, provide architectural guidance, scope major initiatives, lead architectural reviews, and mentor staff at scale

Requirements

• Five or more years of professional software-development experience building simulation, autonomy, robotics, game-engine, digital-twin, or similarly complex systems
• Principal level expectation: 10+ years of experience
• Strong production experience in modern C++, with proficiency in Python for tooling, orchestration, analysis, or automation
• Hands-on experience developing or extending a simulation framework
• Experience with event-driven, discrete-event, agent-based, constructive, or distributed simulation architectures
• Ability to represent complex real-world entities, interactions, rules, and edge cases as clear software abstractions
• Experience building plugins, SDKs, reusable model interfaces, framework services, platform types, or similar extension mechanisms
• Strong understanding of software architecture, data structures, algorithms, APIs, testing, debugging, and performance engineering
• Experience making substantial changes within a large existing codebase while maintaining ongoing delivery
• Experience with model verification, validation, calibration, or regression testing
• Ability to turn ambiguous operational or technical requirements into executable engineering plans
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including documenting model assumptions, limitations, interfaces, and intended use
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in computer science, engineering, applied mathematics, operations research, physics, or a related discipline
• Active Secret clearance or eligibility to obtain one
• Strongly preferred: direct AFSIM experience; behavior trees, finite state machines, and PDDL; Air Force, Space Force, joint, or broader DoD acquisition and mission-analysis experience; sensor, weapons, electronic warfare, jamming, communications, logistics, or command-and-control modeling; legacy system modernization into C++; simulation framework or campaign system design; familiarity with 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 required for certain project assignments involving security clearance

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in modern C++ and Python for simulation development, with a strong focus on building and extending complex simulation frameworks. Proven ability to integrate various simulation architectures and collaborate with cross-functional teams while maintaining high standards of quality and performance.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Modern C++ Development
• Python Proficiency
• Simulation Framework Development
• Model Verification and Validation
• AFSIM Experience

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Event-Driven Simulation
• Discrete-Event Simulation
• Agent-Based Simulation
• Constructive Simulation
• Software Architecture
• Data Structures
• Algorithms
• APIs
• Debugging
• Performance Engineering

Soft Skills

• Strong Communication Skills
• Mentoring
• Collaboration

Certifications & Qualifications

• Active Secret Clearance
• Eligibility for TS/SCI Clearance

Industry Keywords

• Simulation
• Autonomy
• Robotics
• Game Engine
• Digital Twin
• Command and Control
• Electronic Warfare
• Logistics
• Modeling
• Mission Analysis

Tools & Technologies

• AFSIM
• HLA
• DIS
• OneSAF
• JSAF
• NGTS
• STK