Lead Aerospace Modeling and Simulation Engineer

Leidos LLC; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 87,000 - 157,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Wellness programs

Income Protection

Paid Leave and Retirement

Job summary

Leidos is seeking an experienced aerospace modeling engineer to develop, integrate, and test high-fidelity aircraft models in MATLAB/Simulink and C++. You will collaborate with internal and external engineers, guide a project team, and ensure model performance meets stringent requirements.

The role requires US citizenship and eligibility for Top Secret/SCI clearance, with Atlanta-like expectations for Charlottesville, VA.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent from ABET-accredited university with 4+ years of experience, or Master’s with 2+ years of experience.
• Experience developing or working with 3DOF and/or 6DOF flight models.
• Experience with ballistic missiles, air-launched missiles, and/or hypersonic vehicles.
• Experience using MATLAB/Simulink.
• Experience programming in C++ and/or Python.
• Experience leading or providing technical direction to a team.
• Understanding of the systems engineering process.
• Strong communication and documentation skills.
• U.S. Citizen; active Secret clearance; eligibility for Top Secret/SCI.

Responsibilities

• Develop, integrate, and test high‑fidelity models of aerospace systems using provided information and sound engineering principles.
• Provide technical guidance to a team of engineers developing flight models.
• Evaluate and document model performance against requirements.
• Develop and maintain documentation of algorithm design and model implementation.
• Collaborate with internal and external engineering teams.
• Engage with external stakeholders to define requirements and demonstrate models.
• Support development, integration, and validation of aerospace modeling and simulation capabilities.

Skills

MATLAB/Simulink

C++

Python

Flight models (3DOF/6DOF)

Systems engineering

Technical leadership

Communication

Education

ABET-accredited Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering degree

Master’s degree (2+ years experience)

Tools

SVN

Git

ITASE

AFSIM

Job description

Why You’ll Love This Role

Meaningful Work

Contribute to high-profile aerospace projects that matter—your models and simulations will drive real-world solutions and advancements.

Collaborative Environment

Work alongside talented engineers and external stakeholders, sharing ideas and learning from diverse perspectives.

Professional Growth

Expand your skills in MATLAB, Simulink, C++, and Python, and gain hands‑on experience with advanced flight models and systems engineering.

Community & Location

Be part of a vibrant engineering community in Charlottesville, VA.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop, integrate, and test high‑fidelity models of aerospace systems using provided technical information, research, and sound engineering principles.
• Provide technical guidance to a team of engineers developing representative flight models.
• Evaluate and document model performance against established requirements.
• Develop and maintain documentation of algorithm design and model implementation.
• Collaborate with an engineering team comprised of both internal and external team members.
• Engage with external stakeholders to define requirements, address technical needs, and conduct model demonstrations.
• Support the development, integration, and validation of aerospace modeling and simulation capabilities.
• Candidate must be local to or willing to relocate to the Charlottesville, VA area.

Required Skills, Education, and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or an equivalent discipline from an ABET‑accredited university with 4+ years of applicable experience, or a Master’s degree with 2+ years of applicable experience.
• Experience developing or working with 3DOF and/or 6DOF flight models.
• Experience with ballistic missiles, air‑launched missiles, and/or hypersonic vehicles.
• Experience using MATLAB/Simulink.
• Experience programming in C++ and/or Python.
• Experience leading or providing technical direction to a team in support of customer requirements.
• Detailed understanding of the systems engineering process.
• Demonstrated understanding and technical intuition regarding the functionality and interdependencies of aerospace systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate technical information to internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills, including the ability to document technical work and ensure effective information flow across the engineering team.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must possess and be able to maintain an active Secret clearance.
• Must meet eligibility requirements to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with configuration management tools such as SVN and Git.
• Experience integrating and testing Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) algorithms.
• Experience with ITASE and/or AFSIM.

Pay Range

Pay Range $87,100.00 - $157,450.00 The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Pay and Benefits

• Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement.

Securing Your Data

Leidos will never ask you to provide payment‑related information at any part of the employment application process. And Leidos will communicate with you only through emails that are sent from a Leidos.com email address. If you receive an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment‑related information or any other personal information, please report the email to [e-mail].

Commitment and Diversity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.

Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $17.2 billion for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2026.