C++ Software Engineer – AFSIM Extensions, Plugin Development

Jobtailor; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor seeks a seasoned C++ software engineer to design, develop, and maintain extensions and plugins for AFSIM, delivering high-quality, physics-informed models. You will translate analyst requirements into robust features, optimize performance, and ensure maintainable integration with external libraries.

You will collaborate with analysts, contribute to documentation and CI, and uphold coding standards in a demanding simulation environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or related field.
• 9 years of related experience in C++ development.
• Proficiency in modern C++ (C++17 or later) and OO design.
• Experience with Git and collaborative workflows.
• Familiarity with Boost, CMake, and cross-platform build systems.
• Exposure to Lua/Python for integration or scripting is a plus.
• Understanding of sensor physics, kinematics, or engagement modeling.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain C++ extensions, plugins, and modules for AFSIM.
• Translate analyst requirements into software features with emphasis on correctness, performance, and maintainability.
• Integrate external libraries, data sources, or physics-based models into the AFSIM runtime environment.
• Debug, optimize, and validate plugin behavior within complex simulation environments.
• Maintain software documentation, API references, and integration guides.
• Support build system configuration, version control workflows, and CI pipelines.
• Ensure code quality through unit testing, peer reviews, and adherence to coding standards.
• Partner closely with analysts to convert modeling requirements into robust software features.

Skills

C++17 Proficiency

Object-Oriented Design

Simulation Frameworks

Git Version Control

Boost and CMake Familiarity

Scripting with Lua or Python

Real-Time Simulation

Data Structures

Software Architecture

Unit Testing

Integration of External Libraries

Collaboration with Analysts

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or related field

Tools

AFSIM

CMake

Boost

Git

Job description

• Design, develop, and maintain C++ extensions, plugins, and modules for AFSIM
• Implement new simulation capabilities, physics-based modeling, sensor/weapon logic, and custom interfaces
• Integrate external libraries, data sources, or physics-based models into the AFSIM runtime environment
• Translate analyst requirements into software features, ensuring correctness, performance, and maintainability
• Debug, optimize, and validate plugin behavior within complex simulation environments
• Maintain software documentation, API references, and integration guides
• Support build system configuration, version control workflows, and continuous integration pipelines
• Ensure code quality through unit testing, peer reviews, and adherence to coding standards
• Partner closely with analysts to convert modeling requirements into robust, maintainable software features

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or related field and 9 years of related experience
• Proficiency in modern C++ (C++17 or later)
• Experience with object-oriented design, data structures, and software architecture fundamentals
• Familiarity with AFSIM, simulation frameworks, or plugin-based architectures
• Ability to work with Git and collaborative development workflows
• Preferred: experience developing simulation models, real-time or constructive simulation software, or game-engine-style behavior systems
• Preferred: familiarity with Boost, CMake, or cross-platform build systems
• Preferred: exposure to Lua/Python for integration or scripting
• Preferred: understanding of sensor physics, kinematics, or engagement modeling

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in C++ development, particularly in creating extensions and plugins for simulation environments like AFSIM. Proficient in translating complex modeling requirements into efficient software features while ensuring code quality and maintainability.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• C++17 Proficiency
• Object-Oriented Design
• Simulation Frameworks
• Git Version Control
• Boost and CMake Familiarity

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• C++ Development
• Physics-Based Modeling
• Debugging and Optimization
• Unit Testing
• Software Architecture
• Integration of External Libraries
• Data Structures
• Simulation Software Development
• Real-Time Simulation
• Scripting with Lua or Python

Soft Skills

• Collaboration with Analysts
• Attention to Detail
• Problem-Solving

Industry Keywords

• Simulation Capabilities
• Sensor Physics
• Kinematics
• Engagement Modeling
• Plugin-Based Architectures

Tools & Technologies

• AFSIM
• CMake
• Boost
• Git
• Continuous Integration Pipelines