Flight Simulator SW Engineer II

Virgin Galactic; Las Cruces (NM); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Remote work one day per week

Job summary

Virgin Galactic’s Flight Simulation & Mission Control team seeks a Software Engineer to design, develop, and maintain high-fidelity flight simulation environments in southern New Mexico, with Spaceport America operations and Las Cruces housing. You will work with pilots, engineers, and Mission Control to translate flight-test needs into simulator capabilities.

You’ll develop real-time C/C++ applications, integrate avionics and dynamics models, and support training and mission readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Approximately 5+ years of professional software development experience.
• Strong proficiency in C and/or C++.
• Experience with real-time, embedded, simulation, robotics, or hardware-in-the-loop systems.
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with complex software/hardware interfaces.
• Knowledge of TCP/IP and UDP networking.
• Experience with Git or similar source-control.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Interest in aviation, aerospace, simulation, or human spaceflight.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, integrate, test, and maintain software for high-fidelity and desktop flight simulation systems.
• Develop and maintain real-time C/C++ simulation applications.
• Integrate flight dynamics, avionics, and hardware into simulation environments.
• Create interfaces between simulation software, cockpit hardware, and Mission Control systems.
• Support real-time data acquisition, processing, visualization, recording, and network communication.
• Develop distributed simulation data-sharing and synchronization solutions.
• Troubleshoot complex software, network, and hardware integration issues.
• Collaborate with pilots and engineers to translate flight-test requirements into simulator capabilities.
• Support simulator configuration, verification, and readiness for training and flight-test prep.
• Develop failure scenarios and abnormal system behavior for training.

Skills

C/C++

Real-time systems

Software debugging

Team collaboration

Networking (TCP/IP/UDP)

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Software Eng/AE/EE or related field

Tools

Git

MATLAB/Simulink

Jenkins

Docker

Job description

Join Virgin Galactic’s Flight Simulation & Mission Control team and help build the simulation systems used to prepare our pilots, engineers, and Mission Control teams for human spaceflight. Guided by our values, “Safety Above All”, we proactively manage the risks inherent in human spaceflight through our daily actions. Support the company strategy by holding ourselves and one another accountable for getting the work done.

We are seeking an experienced Software Engineer to develop, integrate, and maintain the high-fidelity simulation environments supporting Virgin Galactic’s next generation of spaceships.

This is not a traditional software development position. You will work directly with pilots, flight-test personnel, Mission Control operators, aerospace engineers, flight hardware, and real-time simulation systems. Your software will directly support engineering development, vehicle testing, pilot and Mission Control training, flight-test preparation, and ultimately commercial spaceflight operations.

The position is based in southern New Mexico, supporting operations at Spaceport America, with Las Cruces providing the primary residential community for many employees. If you enjoy solving complex real-time software problems and want to see your work used in an actual human-spaceflight operation, this is a unique opportunity to become part of Virgin Galactic’s mission.

What You’ll Do

• Design, develop, integrate, test, and maintain software for high-fidelity and desktop flight simulation systems.
• Develop and maintain real-time C/C++ simulation applications.
• Integrate aerodynamic and flight-dynamics models, avionics systems, vehicle systems, and real or virtual cockpit hardware into simulation environments.
• Develop and maintain interfaces between simulation software, cockpit hardware, avionics, Mission Control systems, and external engineering systems.
• Support real-time data acquisition, processing, visualization, recording, and network communication.
• Develop synchronization and data-sharing solutions for distributed simulation systems.
• Troubleshoot complex software, network, hardware, and simulator integration problems.
• Work directly with pilots and engineering teams to translate flight-test and training requirements into simulator capabilities.
• Support simulator configuration, verification, validation, and readiness for pilot training and integrated Mission Control simulations.
• Support development of failure scenarios and abnormal system behavior for training and flight-test preparation.
• Improve simulator reliability, maintainability, performance, and usability.
• Contribute to software architecture decisions and development of modular and scalable simulation systems.
• Participate in code reviews, configuration management, automated testing, and CI/CD activities.
• Support simulator operations and troubleshooting during critical training and flight-test activities.
• Work collaboratively across Flight Operations, Mission Control, Engineering, Avionics, Flight Sciences, and Flight Test.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Approximately 5+ years of professional software development experience.
• Strong proficiency in C and/or C++.
• Experience developing, integrating, or troubleshooting real-time, embedded, simulation, robotics, autonomous, aerospace, automotive, defense, or hardware-in-the-loop systems.
• Strong software debugging and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working with complex software/hardware interfaces.
• Working knowledge of networked systems and communication protocols such as TCP/IP and UDP.
• Experience with source-control systems such as Git.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary environment with software engineers, hardware engineers, pilots, operators, and other technical teams.
• Strong interest in aviation, aerospace, simulation, or human spaceflight.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with one or more of the following is beneficial:

• Flight simulation or aerospace simulation systems
• MATLAB/Simulink
• Simulink S-Functions
• Flight dynamics or aerodynamic models
• Hardware-in-the-loop or software-in-the-loop simulation
• Distributed real-time simulation
• Shared-memory architectures
• Avionics interfaces
• Cockpit hardware and control interfaces
• Real-time data acquisition and visualization
• Network troubleshooting tools such as Wireshark
• Python, C#, Bash, or similar scripting/programming languages
• Jenkins, Docker, or other CI/CD technologies
• Multithreaded software development
• UI development for engineering or simulator applications
• FAA or aerospace operational environments
• Pilot experience, whether private, commercial, military, experimental, or recreational, is a plus but is not required.

Who Could Be a Great Fit

We recognize that excellent simulation engineers come from many industries.

You may be a strong candidate if your background is in:

Direct spaceflight or flight-simulator experience is not required if you bring strong C/C++ development, real-time systems experience, and the ability and motivation to learn.

Why This Role Is Different

Most software engineers never get to sit inside the system they helped create.

At Virgin Galactic, you will have the opportunity to develop software for a full-scale human-spaceflight simulation environment and work directly with the pilots, engineers, and Mission Control personnel who use it.

The simulator is an important part of preparing our teams for our spaceflights. Your work can move from your development environment into an integrated simulator and directly support training, engineering development, flight-test preparation, and spaceflight operations.

This position is based in southern New Mexico, supporting Virgin Galactic’s flight simulation and spaceflight operations at Spaceport America and our Las Cruces office.

Because flight simulation development includes hands-on simulator integration, testing, training, and operational support, regular presence at Spaceport America is an important part of this role. However, not all work needs to be performed at the Spaceport.

Depending on simulator activities and operational requirements, approximately 50% of the work may be performed from Virgin Galactic’s Las Cruces office when presence at Spaceport America is not required.

In addition, in accordance with Virgin Galactic’s current work policy, employees may work remotely one day per week, when operational requirements allow.

This provides a flexible working environment combining:

• Hands-on work with our flight simulation systems at Spaceport America
• Software development and engineering work from our Las Cruces office
• Up to one remote workday per week, subject to operational needs

Candidates can live in the Las Cruces / southern New Mexico area, providing access to Spaceport America while enjoying the amenities and lifestyle of the Las Cruces community.

Relocation assistance may be available in accordance with Virgin Galactic policy.

Export Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must meet applicable U.S. Person requirements or otherwise be eligible to obtain the required U.S. Government authorization.

Who We Are

Virgin Galactic is an aerospace and space travel company pioneering human spaceflight for private individuals and researchers.

Our next generation of space vehicles is being developed to make human spaceflight safer, repeatable, and scalable. The Flight Simulation & Mission Control team plays a critical role in preparing our vehicles, pilots, engineers, and operational teams for that mission.