Principal Simulation Engineer II

Please Note: To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.
We are looking to add a Principal Simulation Engineer II to our team. If you enjoy working in a startup environment and are passionate about developing leading-edge simulation frameworks for aerospace systems, we would like to hear from you. In this position, you will play a critical role in developing, validating, and maintaining simulation frameworks for advanced propulsion systems. You will be responsible for supporting new product development by enabling accurate modeling of liquid rocket engine performance. You will work closely with a cross-disciplinary team of engineers to develop and refine simulations that drive engineering decisions and product development. This role requires deep expertise in numerical modeling, physics-based simulation, and software development, with a strong emphasis on computational efficiency and accuracy. You will be responsible for leading the implementation of high-performance simulation architectures, analyzing simulation results, and integrating real-world data to improve predictive capabilities. 

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the development and application of advanced simulation models to analyze and optimize the performance of propulsion systems.
• Develop, validate, and maintain high-fidelity simulation models for propulsion systems, contributing to the design, testing, and validation of next-generation rocket engines.
• Design and implement simulation frameworks to support system design, trade studies, and mission analysis.
• Participate in all aspects of engine design and testing; creating performance maps, building engine simulations, defining engine control schemes, and developing reduced-order HIL and flight controller models. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate simulation capabilities into the product development lifecycle.
• Optimize simulation performance and accuracy through advanced numerical methods and computational techniques.
• Analyze simulation results to guide design decisions, validate system performance, and support verification and validation efforts.
• Develop tools and automation processes to improve simulation workflows and enhance engineering efficiency.
• Support real-time and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation efforts for testing and validation of spacecraft subsystems.
• Document methodologies, results, and best practices to support knowledge transfer and technical development within the team.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 11 years of experience in simulation development, modeling, and numerical analysis for propulsion systems.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, C++, or MATLAB for simulation and analysis.
• Expertise in thermodynamic cycle analysis, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and finite element analysis (FEA).
• Experience with engine system modeling using tools like NPSS or equivalent.
• Strong background in numerical methods, physics-based modeling, and statistical analysis.
• Experience with industry-standard simulation tools (e.g., STK, GMAT, Simulink, COMSOL, ANSYS, or similar).
• Strong problem-solving skills, analytical mindset, and ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of real-time simulation and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environments is a plus.

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.  Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.   CesiumA