Principal Systems Engineer, Aircraft Simulation and Design Integration

Mach Industries•Huntington Beach, CA

6d•$180,000 - $250,000

About The Position

We are seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to lead the use of modeling and simulation throughout the aircraft design process. This person will develop integrated aircraft-level simulations, evaluate design alternatives, and translate analysis into clear engineering decisions. The role requires close collaboration with the aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, electrical, controls, and vehicle systems teams. The ideal candidate combines strong technical depth in aircraft simulation with the leadership and communication skills needed to drive multidisciplinary design decisions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, systems engineering, or a related discipline.
Significant experience developing or applying aircraft-level models and simulations.
Strong understanding of aircraft performance, flight mechanics, dynamics and multidisciplinary system interactions.
Experience integrating models from aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, electrical, controls, or thermal disciplines.
Proficiency with simulation and analysis tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, Python, C/C++, or equivalent platforms.
Experience conducting trade studies, parameter sweeps, sensitivity analyses, uncertainty quantification, or optimization.
Demonstrated ability to convert simulation results into actionable aircraft, design recommendations.
Experience with model verification, validation, test correlation, and configuration control.
Strong technical leadership and cross-functional communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or Ph.D. in aerospace engineering, systems engineering, or a related field.
Experience with electric, hybrid-electric, autonomous, or advanced aircraft.
Knowledge of multidisciplinary design analysis and optimization methods.
Experience with hardware-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop, or pilot-in-the-loop simulation.
Familiarity with model-based systems engineering and tools such as SysML.
Experience supporting aircraft certification, safety analysis, or flight-test programs.
Familiarity with CFD, finite-element analysis, propulsion-cycle modeling, electrical-network modeling, or reduced-order modeling.
Experience developing digital engineering frameworks or aircraft digital twins.

Responsibilities

Own the architecture, development, and validation of integrated aircraft simulations.
Use simulation to guide aircraft configuration, subsystem sizing, requirements, and design trade studies.
Integrate aerodynamic, structural, propulsion, electrical, mass-properties, controls, and mission-performance models.
Lead multidisciplinary design optimization and sensitivity analyses.
Quantify design margins, uncertainty, risk, and system-level impacts of proposed changes.
Define simulation fidelity requirements appropriate to each phase of development.
Establish model verification, validation, configuration-management, and documentation practices.
Correlate simulation results with component tests, ground tests, and flight-test data.
Develop representative mission profiles and evaluate aircraft performance across expected operating conditions.
Identify system interactions, integration risks, and performance constraints early in the design cycle.
Present recommendations and trade-offs to technical leadership and program stakeholders.
Mentor engineers and establish best practices for simulation-driven aircraft development.
Support requirements development, architecture reviews, design reviews, and certification activities.