E01-J01 Software Engineer- Physical Modeling & Simulation Engineer

EXPANSIA; Newport News (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Aether Aerospace, part of the Defense Technology platform, seeks a Physical Modeling & Simulation Engineer to support aviation engagements and survivability analysis at Fort Eustis, VA. You will work across live, virtual, and constructive environments applying AFSIM and related tools to evaluate mission effectiveness and technology gaps.

The role emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration with government engineers, analysts, and developers, producing clear analytical artifacts and contributing

Qualifications

• Active Secret clearance is required.
• Strong Modeling & Simulation experience, especially with AFSIM.
• Background in defense, aerospace, or government analytical efforts.
• Ability to plan and present technical results clearly in writing and speech.

Responsibilities

• Assist Government in identifying capability gaps and analyze new aviation concepts.
• Conduct task analyses and collaborate with engineers, analysts, and developers.
• Develop, integrate, and execute M&S environments for manned–unmanned teaming and survivability.
• Design scenarios, scripts, and test vignettes for advanced autonomy and threat interactions.
• Provide engineering support for software integration testing and model verification.
• Perform mission-level survivability assessments using Government tools.
• Analyze data post-simulation and prepare findings and recommendations.
• Support risk assessments and documentation for test readiness and credibility.
• Plan and execute M&S studies for survivability and mission effectiveness.
• Maintain model credibility with VCBs and manage configurations for tools like AFSIM.

Skills

C#

C++

Modeling & Simulation

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Operations Research, or related technical discipline

Tools

AFSIM

MACE

ATCOM

SAINT

ECHO

BlueMax

DREAM

HIVE

VBMS

Job description

OVERVIEW

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.

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 in Computer 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 conducting Modeling & Simulation–based analysis, with strong emphasis on AFSIM.
• Experience supporting mission effectiveness and survivability analysis in 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 in classified and unclassified DoD environments.

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.

$120,000 - $140,000 a year

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.