Spaceflight Simulation Software Engineer

Virgin Galactic • Las Cruces, NM

1d • $118,031 - $180,069 • Onsite

About The Position

Join Virgin Galactic’s Flight Simulation & Mission Control team to build and maintain the simulation systems used to prepare pilots, engineers, and Mission Control teams for human spaceflight. The role develops, integrates, and maintains high-fidelity simulation environments for Virgin Galactic’s next-generation spaceships and supports engineering development, vehicle testing, pilot and Mission Control training, flight-test preparation, and commercial spaceflight operations.

This is a hands-on software engineering role involving direct work with pilots, flight-test personnel, Mission Control operators, aerospace engineers, flight hardware, and real-time simulation systems. The position is based in southern New Mexico and supports operations at Spaceport America; Las Cruces is the primary residential community for many employees. The role supports safety-focused operations and requires adherence to regulatory protocols and Foreign Object Debris (FOD) awareness and prevention practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Approximately 5+ years of professional software development experience.
• Strong proficiency in C and/or C++.
• Experience developing, integrating, or troubleshooting real-time, embedded, simulation, robotics, autonomous, aerospace, automotive, defense, or hardware-in-the-loop systems.
• Strong software debugging and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working with complex software/hardware interfaces.
• Working knowledge of networked systems and communication protocols such as TCP/IP and UDP.
• Experience with source-control systems such as Git.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary environment with software engineers, hardware engineers, pilots, operators, and other technical teams.
• Strong interest in aviation, aerospace, simulation, or human spaceflight.
• Safety-forward thinking, good housekeeping and tool control, awareness of proper hazardous-material and chemical handling, and familiarity with PPE.
• U.S. Person status or ability to obtain required U.S. Government export authorization; applicants must not be included on the Office of Foreign Assets Control list of Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with flight simulation or aerospace simulation systems.
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink.
• Experience with Simulink S-Functions.
• Knowledge of flight dynamics or aerodynamic models.
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop or software-in-the-loop simulation.
• Experience with distributed real-time simulation.
• Experience with shared-memory architectures.
• Experience with avionics interfaces.
• Experience with cockpit hardware and control interfaces.
• Experience with real-time data acquisition and visualization.
• Experience with network troubleshooting tools such as Wireshark.
• Experience with Python, C#, Bash, or similar scripting/programming languages.
• Experience with Jenkins, Docker, or other CI/CD technologies.
• Experience with Linux development environments.
• Experience with multithreaded software development.
• Experience with UI development for engineering or simulator applications.
• Experience in flight-test environments.
• Experience with pilot training systems.
• Experience in FAA or aerospace operational environments.
• Pilot experience, whether private, commercial, military, experimental, or recreational; not required.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, integrate, test, and maintain software for high-fidelity and desktop flight simulation systems.
• Develop and maintain real-time C/C++ simulation applications.
• Integrate aerodynamic and flight-dynamics models, avionics systems, vehicle systems, and real or virtual cockpit hardware into simulation environments.
• Develop and maintain interfaces between simulation software, cockpit hardware, avionics, Mission Control systems, and external engineering systems.
• Support real-time data acquisition, processing, visualization, recording, and network communication.
• Develop synchronization and data-sharing solutions for distributed simulation systems.
• Troubleshoot complex software, network, hardware, and simulator integration problems.
• Work with pilots and engineering teams to translate flight-test and training requirements into simulator capabilities.
• Support simulator configuration, verification, validation, and readiness for pilot training and integrated Mission Control simulations.
• Support development of failure scenarios and abnormal system behavior for training and flight-test preparation.
• Improve simulator reliability, maintainability, performance, and usability.
• Contribute to software architecture decisions and development of modular and scalable simulation systems.
• Participate in code reviews, configuration management, automated testing, and CI/CD activities.
• Support simulator operations and troubleshooting during critical training and flight-test activities.
• Collaborate across Flight Operations, Mission Control, Engineering, Avionics, Flight Sciences, and Flight Test.
• Practice safety behavior and FOD awareness and prevention, and adhere to regulatory protocols and rules.
• Maintain good housekeeping and tool control, recognize the importance of properly handling hazardous materials and chemicals, and use personal protective equipment (PPE).

Benefits

• A full range of medical, financial, and other benefits, dependent on the position offered.
• Other forms of pay, such as a bonus or long-term incentive, may be provided as part of the compensation package.

What This Job Offers

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