Trajectory Software Engineer

CACI • CA

93d • $76,000 - $155,700

About The Position

CACI provides mission assurance and situational awareness services for the launches of U.S. Government spacecraft at Vandenberg and Cape Canaveral Space Force Bases. As part of the Trajectory Software Team in Santa Maria, CA, you will help develop and maintain simulation and analysis tools that directly support space launch missions. Your work enables Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) of flight trajectories and real-time launch data displays for mission assurance. This position offers a hybrid work option, with the ability to work remotely up to four days per week and at least one day in-office in Santa Maria, CA.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Computer, or related Engineering field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 3 years of related experience in simulation or scientific software development.
• Understanding of flight mechanics, dynamics, or trajectory analysis principles.
• Proficiency in one or more of the following languages: Fortran, C++, MATLAB, Perl, Python, JavaScript.
• Experience using Git or similar version control systems.
• Experience writing software design or technical documentation.

Nice To Haves

• Experience developing, troubleshooting, or analyzing flight vehicle or trajectory simulations.
• Strong math and physics foundation (e.g., dynamics, optimization, probability).
• Experience with GitLab CI/CD pipelines, automated documentation tools (Doxygen), and Agile collaboration platforms (Jira, Confluence).
• Experience with unit testing frameworks such as Google Test (GTest) and test-driven development practices.
• Experience integrating and using external C++ libraries such as Eigen, Boost, nlohmann/json, or Redis clients for high-performance computing and data handling.
• Familiarity with Kanban workflows for software planning and delivery.

Responsibilities

• Apply sound software engineering practices throughout the system life cycle to support physics-based simulations, visualization tools, and launch support systems.
• Develop and maintain a high-fidelity trajectory simulation for satellite launch vehicles written in Fortran, C++, and JavaScript.
• Support ongoing efforts to expand and modernize the C++ codebase, implementing high-performance architectures and software design patterns that optimize simulation speed and maintainability.
• Design, implement, and support pre- and post-processing tools in MATLAB, C++, JavaScript, Perl, and Python to assist with trajectory builds, analysis, and validation.
• Apply a test-focused development approach, including unit testing with Google Test (GTest) and automated regression testing through GitLab CI/CD pipelines.
• Collaborate with IV&V analysts and mission support engineers to investigate and resolve simulation discrepancies.
• Interface with customers, suppliers, and technical teams to ensure software tools meet operational needs.
• Participate in software design and code reviews and contribute to overall software architecture.
• Maintain automated documentation using Doxygen and support project documentation in Confluence.
• Plan, track, and manage development tasks using Kanban boards in Jira.

Benefits

• Healthcare
• Wellness programs
• Financial benefits
• Retirement plans
• Family support
• Continuing education
• Time off benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees