Principal Software Engineer, Spacecraft Simulation
True Anomaly1 day ago
Denver, CO, USAStaff+
Base Salary
$210k - $325k/yr
Responsibilities
- Own the long-term technical strategy and architecture roadmap for simulation infrastructure, including multi-physics, real-time, faster-than-real-time, and HIL/SIL environments.
- Make high-impact decisions about technology selection, interfaces, performance, maintainability, and long-term technical risk.
- Lead development of production-quality multi-physics simulation software for spacecraft dynamics, thermal control, attitude and control, propulsion, power, sensors, and actuators.
- Design time-stepping algorithms, solver architectures, and integration schemes for scalable real-time and batch simulation.
- Write and review high-performance, maintainable, and testable modern C++ software.
- Define versioned, backward-compatible C++ and Python API strategies and create documentation and developer guides.
- Establish simulation engineering standards, verification and validation frameworks, and best practices across the organization.
- Partner with mission planning, GNC, systems engineering, autonomy, engineering leadership, and operations teams.
- Mentor engineers, provide architectural guidance, conduct code reviews, and contribute to career development and technical culture.
- Represent simulation engineering in cross-functional forums, program reviews, proposals, technical white papers, and customer-facing discussions.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, physics, applied mathematics, or equivalent experience; an advanced degree is preferred.
- 10+ years of professional software development experience focused on simulation, scientific computing, or aerospace applications.
- Expert proficiency in modern C++ including C++17 or newer, STL, templates, performance optimization, and large-scale system design.
- Proficiency in Python for API design, scripting, automation, and data analysis.
- Proven experience setting technical direction for complex software systems and leading multi-team efforts.
- Deep expertise in at least two relevant areas, including ADCS, GNC, thermal control, electric power systems, propulsion, orbital mechanics, or HIL/SIL systems.
- Experience defining and executing verification and validation frameworks for physics-based models, including uncertainty quantification and validation against test or flight data.
- Strong systems thinking and ability to make architectural decisions within complex distributed systems.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
- Preferred experience with hypersonic aerothermal, aerodynamic, and flight dynamics modeling.
- Expert knowledge of ODE/DAE solvers, numerical linear algebra, sparse matrix techniques, automatic differentiation, and stiff, multi-rate, or real-time-constrained problems.
- Experience with aerospace or defense simulation programs, astrodynamics, kinematics, parallel or distributed computing, Docker, cloud platforms, HIL/SIL environments, and flight software or embedded hardware interfaces.
- Experience with Git, CI/CD, CMake or Bazel, testing frameworks, and organization-level engineering standards.
- Published work, conference presentations, or patents in simulation, astrodynamics, GNC, or related domains.
Benefits
- 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, with HSA/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 employees.
- 401(k), fitness reimbursement, Dog Fridays, and equity participation.
- Fully onsite role requiring daily presence at the Denver or Long Beach office.
- The position is open until successfully filled.
About True Anomaly
True Anomaly builds spacecraft and software for space defense, including autonomous satellites, precision-sensing payloads, mission command-and-control software, and space-based interceptors for national security and commercial operators. Founded in 2022 by former U.S. Space Force members, it is privately held and headquartered in Englewood, Colorado. The company sells hardware, AI-enabled flight software, and mission operations services to U.S. and allied defense programs and space infrastructure providers.