Principal Software Engineer, Spacecraft Simulation

True Anomaly • Long Beach, CA

5d • $210,000 - $325,000 • Onsite

About The Position

True Anomaly is seeking a Principal Software Engineer, Spacecraft Simulation, to define the long-term technical vision and architecture for a simulation platform supporting high-fidelity multi-physics spacecraft and constellation modeling, as well as simulation of complex, dynamic environments. The platform will support mission planning, autonomy development, GNC validation, and operational decision-making. The role sets technical direction across the simulation organization and serves as an internal authority on simulation methodology and best practices.

The engineer will guide simulation infrastructure spanning multi-physics modeling, real-time and faster-than-real-time execution, and hardware/software-in-the-loop environments. The role includes developing production-quality simulation software and tightly coupled physics algorithms; defining solver, API, and integration approaches; and establishing standards, documentation, and verification and validation frameworks. The position also provides technical leadership through architectural guidance, code review, mentorship, cross-functional collaboration, and contributions to roadmaps, proposals, and technical white papers.

This role is fully onsite in Denver or Long Beach; candidates must be based in or able to commute to one of those offices daily. U.S. government space technology export regulations apply: candidates must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required U.S. Department of State authorizations.

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, with demonstrated progression into technical leadership roles.
• Expert-level proficiency in modern C++ (C++17 or newer), including STL, templates, performance optimization, and large-scale system design.
• Proficiency in Python for API design, scripting, automation, and data analysis.
• Proven ability to set technical direction for large, complex software systems and drive multi-team efforts through delivered capability.
• Deep expertise in at least two of the following: ADCS, GNC, thermal control, electric power systems, chemical or electric propulsion, orbital mechanics, or HIL/SIL systems.
• Demonstrated experience defining and executing verification and validation frameworks for physics-based models at scale, including uncertainty quantification and validation against test or flight data.
• Ability to make sound architectural decisions within complex, distributed systems.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical concepts to engineering peers and non-technical leadership.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations, in order to conform to U.S. government space technology export regulations.
• Must be based in or able to commute daily to the Denver or Long Beach office.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in a relevant field.
• Experience developing high-fidelity aerothermal, aerodynamic, and flight dynamics models for hypersonic vehicles, including coupled aero-thermal-structural effects, shock layer physics, and boundary layer modeling.
• Extensive experience delivering validated, production-grade physics-based simulation capabilities for aerospace or defense programs at scale.
• Expert knowledge of ODE/DAE solvers, numerical linear algebra, sparse matrix techniques, and automatic differentiation; experience tuning solvers for stiff, multi-rate, or real-time-constrained problems.
• Deep familiarity with core concepts of space-domain dynamics modeling.
• Expert proficiency with Git, CI/CD, CMake or Bazel, and testing frameworks; experience establishing engineering standards at team or organizational level.
• Experience with parallel or distributed computing, Docker, and cloud platforms for large-scale simulation execution.
• Extensive experience designing and operating HIL/SIL environments, including real-time simulation interfaces to flight software or embedded hardware.
• Published work, conference presentations, or patents in simulation, astrodynamics, GNC, or related domains.

Responsibilities

• Own the long-term technical strategy and architectural roadmap for simulation infrastructure, including multi-physics modeling, real-time and faster-than-real-time execution, and hardware/software-in-the-loop environments.
• Make high-consequence architectural decisions involving technology selection, system interfaces, performance targets, and maintainability, accounting for downstream impacts across engineering, GNC, mission planning, and operations.
• Identify and resolve technical risks, anticipate capability gaps 12–24 months ahead, and drive proactive investment.
• Establish and steward engineering standards, simulation best practices, and organization-wide verification and validation frameworks.
• Lead the design and implementation of production-quality multi-physics simulation software for spacecraft subsystems, including dynamics, thermal, attitude and control, propulsion, power, sensors, and actuators.
• Architect and implement coupled physics algorithms for subsystem interactions, with attention to numerical stability, accuracy, and performance.
• Design time-stepping algorithms, solver architectures, and integration schemes for scalable real-time and batch simulation.
• Write production-quality C++ and establish expectations for performance, correctness, maintainability, and testability.
• Define the external-facing simulation API strategy across C++ and Python, ensuring interfaces are intuitive, performant, versioned, and backward-compatible.
• Work with mission planning, GNC, systems engineering, and autonomy teams to translate capability needs into durable platform investments.
• Create comprehensive documentation, developer guides, and reference examples to support self-service across the organization.
• Provide architectural guidance, unblock decisions, and help the simulation team execute coherently toward shared goals.
• Promote engineering excellence through code reviews, mentorship, pair programming, and knowledge transfer.
• Mentor engineers at all levels and contribute to career development and growth planning.
• Partner with engineering leadership on simulation capability roadmaps, tradeoffs, proposals, and technical white papers.
• Represent simulation engineering in cross-functional forums, program reviews, and customer-facing discussions.

Benefits

• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, with HSA/HRA options.
• Flexible Time Off for exempt employees.
• Accrued PTO of up to 25 days for non-exempt employees.
• 12 paid holidays.
• Parental Leave.
• Sick Leave.
• Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks for in-office employees.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Fitness reimbursement.
• Dog Fridays.
• Equity participation as part of total compensation.

What This Job Offers

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