IR Plume Mod/Sim Systems Engineer - Level 2 (AHT)

Northrop Grumman • Colorado Springs, CO

1d • $83,400 - $125,200 • Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman Space Systems’ Multi-Domain Operations and Missile Defense Integration Business Unit is hiring a Level 2 Modeling & Simulation Systems Engineer to support Threat Systems Engineering (TSE). The role is located onsite daily at Schriever Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado; remote or hybrid work is not available. Relocation assistance may be available, and travel of up to 10% is required to support business needs.

TSE develops and delivers high-fidelity threat modeling products for the Missile Defense Agency and its Ballistic Missile Defense System. Its models and simulations stimulate BMDS element models and support kinematic missile modeling, infrared signature modeling, data production and analysis, and maintenance and sustainment of the TSE software baseline. TSE is a cornerstone element of the Threat and Advanced Simulations Development contract.

The engineer will work with large-scale multidimensional datasets, validate simulated data against measured test or flight data, troubleshoot simulation and data-conversion failures, and ensure technical data is accurate. The work also involves investigating legacy or custom scripts and tools, interpreting logs and error outputs, and collaborating with teammates to deliver work on schedules and timelines. Applicants must have an active, in-scope U.S. Government Secret clearance at the time of application.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM discipline and 2 years of technical experience, or a master's degree and 0–2 years of experience.
• Current active, in-scope U.S. Government-issued Secret security clearance at the time of application.
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or other scripting languages.
• Foundational understanding of aerothermodynamics, radiative transfer, fluid dynamics, and molecular spectroscopy.
• Foundational understanding of data analysis concepts.
• Basic conceptual understanding of flight dynamics and aerodynamics.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% of the time.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize and execute tasks in a collaborative team environment.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Optical Sciences, or a related STEM field.
• Strong mathematics, physics, or engineering background.
• Modeling, simulation, and automation experience.
• Experience with atmospheric modeling codes such as MODTRAN.
• Experience with JANNAF radiative signature codes.
• Experience working in Linux-based distributed computational environments.

Responsibilities

• Handle large-scale, multidimensional array datasets.
• Validate simulated data against measured test or flight data.
• Verify and validate large technical datasets with thoroughness and attention to detail.
• Perform systematic root-cause analysis to determine whether simulation failures arise from input data, software bugs, or system configuration issues.
• Read, parse, and debug undocumented in-house tools and legacy scripts, including Python, MATLAB, or C++.
• Analyze log files, console outputs, and stack traces to identify simulation or data-conversion failures.
• Detect and correct silent failures that produce physically or mathematically incorrect data.
• Prioritize and execute tasks in a collaborative team environment.
• Create and work within schedules and timelines.
• Travel up to 10% of the time to support business needs.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage.
• Life insurance.
• Disability insurance.
• Savings plan.
• Company-paid holidays.
• Paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.
• Employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus, depending on the position.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level