Modeling & Simulation Engineer - Operations Analysis

Rethink Recruit; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

CHAOS Industries seeks a Modeling & Simulation Engineer to design, develop, execute, and analyze models and simulations that assess system performance across defense, national security, and commercial programs. Your work will influence sensor performance, mission planning, weapon effectiveness, and platform capability evaluations.

This is an early role on a growing team with real ownership and direct impact.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience on defense, intelligence, or advanced tech programs.
• Strong statistical methods to interpret and present results.
• Proficiency in Python and MATLAB with scientific libraries.
• Experience with rigid body and 6 DoF simulations.
• Exceptional data visualization and briefing skills.
• Proficiency with software development practices including version control.
• Comfort with Linux and scalable scripting.
• Eligible to obtain TS/SCI clearance.

Responsibilities

• Scope, plan, and execute modeling and simulation studies aligned to program objectives.
• Develop, configure, and run mission-level simulations using listed tools.
• Apply statistical analysis to quantify performance metrics and trends.
• Build and refine models of sensors, aircraft, weapons, and spacecraft.
• Develop Python-based tools and pipelines for data processing and visualization.
• Document methodology and findings in technical reports and briefings.
• Collaborate with engineering, business development, and customers to translate questions into analyses.
• Support programs across DoD, DARPA, intelligence, and commercial customers.

Skills

Python proficiency

MATLAB proficiency

Data visualization

Statistical analysis

6 DoF physics simulations

Linux scripting

AI-assisted coding tools

Version control

Tools

AFSIM

ESAMS

Brawler

Ansys STK

Job description

About CHAOS Industries

CHAOS Industries builds advanced sensing and detection systems for warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams. Their products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN), a proprietary architecture that enables distributed, real-time threat detection across complex and contested environments.

Founded in 2022 and backed by $1 billion in funding from 8VC, Accel, and Valor Equity Partners, CHAOS operates at the intersection of defense and deep tech. The mission is direct: give operators time to detect, decide, and act before threats evolve.

The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Washington D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, and London.

The Opportunity

CHAOS is looking for a Modeling & Simulation Engineer to design, develop, execute, and analyze models and simulations that assess system performance and operational effectiveness across defense, national security, and commercial programs. Your work will directly shape decisions around sensor performance, mission planning, weapon effectiveness, and platform capability evaluation.

This is an early role on a growing team, which means real ownership and direct impact. You will move quickly, apply rigorous analytical methods, and communicate findings to engineers, leadership, and customers alike. If you want your analysis to drive program decisions rather than sit in a report, this is that role.

What You'll Do

• Scope, plan, and execute modeling and simulation studies aligned to program objectives, managing competing priorities and timelines
• Develop, configure, and run mission-level simulations using tools such as AFSIM, ESAMS, Brawler, and Ansys STK to evaluate system and platform performance in operationally relevant scenarios
• Apply statistical analysis techniques to simulation output data to quantify key performance metrics, identify trends, and characterize system effectiveness
• Build and refine models of sensors, communications systems, aircraft, weapons, and spacecraft within engagement-level and mission-level simulation frameworks
• Develop and maintain Python-based tools and pipelines for data processing, statistical analysis, and visualization
• Document methodology, assumptions, and findings in technical reports and briefings; present results to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Collaborate with engineering, business development, and customer teams to translate operational questions into well-structured analytical approaches
• Support programs spanning DoD services, DARPA, intelligence community, and commercial customers

You Should Have

• 5+ years of experience supporting defense, intelligence, or advanced technology programs through industry or government
• Significant experience developing analytical tools and applying rigorous statistical methods to interpret and present results
• Strong proficiency in Python and MATLAB, including scientific computing and visualization libraries such as Pandas, NumPy, SciPy, and Matplotlib
• Prior experience developing or working with rigid body and 6 Degrees of Freedom physics simulations
• Exceptional data visualization skills and comfort producing CONOPS visuals and briefing packages
• Proficiency with software development practices including version control and AI-assisted coding tools
• Comfortable working on Linux-based systems and writing scripts for scalability
• Eligibility to obtain a TS/SCI clearance

Nice to Have

• Demonstrated experience performing operations analysis using combat simulations such as AFSIM, ESAMS, or Brawler, including briefing results to key stakeholders
• Expertise in radar sensor performance analysis and mission-level analysis of air-to-air, air-to-surface, surface-to-air, and electronic warfare engagements
• Experience developing and validating models of sensors, aircraft, weapons, or spacecraft in mission-level simulation environments
• Exposure to Distributed Interactive Simulation networking and visualization tools such as MAK VR-Forces or SIMDIS
• Exposure to PX4 guidance, navigation and control, and software-in-the-loop simulation with platforms such as X-Plane, Gazebo, or NVIDIA Omniverse
• Active TS/SCI clearance

Compensation and Benefits

Base Salary: $140,000 - $190,000, depending on experience