E01-J01 Software Engineer- Physical Modeling & Simulation Engineer

Aether Aerospace; Newport News (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Aether Aerospace is seeking a Physical Modeling & Simulation Engineer to support Army Aviation missions from Fort Eustis, VA. You'll apply advanced M&S techniques to assess capabilities, survivability, and mission effectiveness, working across government engineers and developers in a highly technical environment.

The role emphasizes AFSIM and related tools, with responsibilities spanning scenario design, data analysis, and reporting to government users and warfighters.

Qualifications

• Institutional knowledge of C# and C++ with related coding software.
• Experience supporting defense, aerospace, or government analytical efforts.
• Demonstrated Modeling & Simulation analysis experience with emphasis on AFSIM.
• Experience supporting mission effectiveness and survivability analysis in a military context.
• Ability to independently plan and execute analytical studies and communicate results clearly.
• Familiarity with classified and unclassified DoD environments.

Responsibilities

• Assist Government in identifying capability gaps by evaluating new operational concepts and aviation technologies.
• Conduct task analysis and collaborate with Government engineers, analysts, and developers to analyze capabilities and requirements.
• Support development, integration, and execution of M&S environments for manned-unmanned teaming and survivability analysis.
• Assist in scenario design, scripting, and test vignette development for advanced autonomy and threat interactions.
• Provide engineering support for software integration testing and model verification in simulation frameworks.
• Conduct survivability and mission-effectiveness assessments using government tools to evaluate threats and countermeasures.
• Support post-simulation data analysis and reporting of findings and recommendations.
• Assist with risk assessments and documentation supporting test readiness and simulation credibility.
• Plan and execute M&S studies in support of survivability and mission effectiveness.
• Maintain model credibility, validation, and configuration control with VCBs and implement approved changes.
• Perform M&S evaluations and communicate results to government users and developers.
• Conduct survivability analyses using tools like AFSIM, MACE, ATCOM, SAINT, ECHO, BlueMax, DREAM, HIVE, VBMS.
• Develop and maintain high-fidelity terrain databases for M&S tools.
• Manage M&S files and datasets for secure storage and reuse across government systems.
• Analyze parameters of interest and identify optimization values for mission metrics.
• Stay updated on Army Aviation requirements and related development documents.
• Coordinate analytical results with external stakeholders and transition partners.

Skills

C#

C++

Modeling & Simulation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

AFSIM

Job description

Start Date: Immediate
JHNA, CTSi, and EXPANSIA have come together to form a Defense Technology platform named Aether Aerospace focused on delivering high-impact technologies, technology-enabled services and advanced manufacturing solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense and related national security customers. Backed by Falfurrias Management Partners, the platform brings together deep domain expertise across Army, Navy, and Air Force and Space Force programs, digital engineering, systems integration, and specialized manufacturing capabilities.

Start Date: Immediate
JHNA, CTSi, and EXPANSIA have come together to form a Defense Technology platform named Aether Aerospace focused on delivering high-impact technologies, technology-enabled services and advanced manufacturing solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense and related national security customers. Backed by Falfurrias Management Partners, the platform brings together deep domain expertise across Army, Navy, and Air Force and Space Force programs, digital engineering, systems integration, and specialized manufacturing capabilities.
The combined organization operates as a multi-entity aerospace and defense technology and tech-enabled services and manufacturing enterprise positioned for scalable growth, operational excellence, and long-term value creation.

Overview

Full-time/Permanent Employee

Location

On-Site, Fort Eustis, VA

Aether Aerospace is seeking a Physical Modeling & Simulation Engineer to support our Aviation customer within the Mission Systems Division (MSD), Technology Development Directorate-Aviation - Systems Integration Division, located at Fort Eustis.

This position supports MSD's Engagements, Effects and Survivability Team, providing advanced analytical expertise to assess technologies supporting Aviation engagements, effects, survivability, mission effectiveness, and emerging capability gaps across current and future Army Aviation operational environments.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience applying AFSIM and related M&S tools to real-world military problems and works effectively at the intersection of operational analysis, technology development, and mission survivability.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Government in identifying and addressing existing and emerging capability gaps by evaluating new operational concepts, tactics, and techniques enabled by advanced aviation technologies.
• Conduct operational task analysis and collaborate closely with Government engineers, analysts, and technology developers to: Analyze required capabilities, allocate technologies to mission capabilities, Identify technology shortfalls, Support development of technical requirements.
• Support development, integration, and execution of modeling and simulation environments for manned-unmanned teaming, survivability, and mission effectiveness analysis.
• Assist in scenario design, scripting, and test vignette development to exercise advanced autonomy, teaming behaviors, and threat interactions.
• Provide engineering support for software integration testing and model verification within live, virtual, and constructive simulation frameworks.
• Conduct mission-level survivability and effectiveness assessments using government-approved M&S tools to evaluate advanced threats and countermeasures.
• Support post-simulation data analysis and report generation documenting findings, limitations, and recommendations.
• Assist with risk assessments and substantiation documentation supporting test readiness and simulation credibility.
• Plan and execute Modeling & Simulation (M&S) studies and other analytical efforts in support of survivability and mission effectiveness assessments.
• Support model credibility, verification, validation, and configuration control activities by preparing and presenting technical artifacts to Validity Control Boards (VCBs), documenting model assumptions and limitations, and implementing VCB-approved changes to AFSIM and other Government-directed modeling and simulation tools.
• Perform M&S and analytical evaluations, analyze resulting data, and author clear, concise reports communicating findings to Government users, warfighters, and technology developers.
• Conduct survivability and mission effectiveness analysis using Government-provided software tools, including but not limited to: AFSIM, MACE, ATCOM, SAINT, ECHO, BlueMax, DREAM, HIVE, VBMS
• Develop and maintain high-fidelity, large-area terrain databases to support M&S tools and survivability analyses.
• Architect, manage, and administer M&S files, models, and datasets to enable secure storage, rapid retrieval, and reuse on both classified and unclassified Government systems.
• Conduct optimization analyses to evaluate parameters of interest (e.g., probability of detection, survivability metrics, mission success), including identifying minimum or maximum values of defined objective functions.
• Maintain familiarity with current and emerging capability development documents, operational needs statements, and related Army Aviation requirements.
• Support the Government in coordinating and communicating analytical results with external stakeholders, including technology developers, operational users, and transition partners.

Key Qualifications

Clearance

Active Secret clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree inComputer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Operations Research, or a related technical discipline.

• Skilled in C-Sharp, C++ and related coding software
• Experience supporting defense, aerospace, or government analytical efforts (or equivalent experience aligned to a Software Engineer III/IV labor category).
• Demonstrated experience conductingModeling & Simulation-based analysis, with strong emphasis onAFSIM.
• Experience supportingmission effectiveness and survivability analysisin a military or defense context.
• Ability to independently plan and execute analytical studies and clearly communicate technical results in written and verbal formats.
• Familiarity with working inclassified and unclassified DoD environments.

Aether Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristic.

There are a host of factors that can influence final salary including, but not limited to, Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, geographic location, education, and certifications.