Principal Software Engineer, Spacecraft Simulation

Menlo Ventures; Laguna Beach (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

True Anomaly seeks a Principal Software Engineer, Spacecraft Simulation to define the long-term technical vision and architecture for a high-fidelity simulation platform. You will lead multi-physics modeling across spacecraft subsystems and drive development that informs mission planning, autonomy, and GNC validation.

You will own API design across C++ and Python, mentor engineers, and shape engineering culture while partnering with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in aerospace, mechanical, CS, physics, or math; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of professional software development with leadership experience.
• Expert-level C++ (C++17+), STL, templates, performance optimization.
• Python proficiency for API design, scripting, automation, and data analysis.
• Strong V&V experience for physics-based models; uncertainty quantification.

Responsibilities

• Define long-term technical strategy and architecture for the simulation platform.
• Lead design and implementation of multi-physics simulation software.
• Define external API strategy for C++ and Python.
• Mentor engineers and drive engineering excellence across teams.
• Represent simulation in cross-functional forums and reviews.

Skills

C++

Python

Technical leadership

Systems thinking

Communication

GNC

ADCS

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM field

Job description

Space is a warfighting domain. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build the technology that secures it.

OUR MISSION

True Anomaly delivers decisive capabilities for space superiority. We build autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors — enabling the U.S. and its Allies to secure the space environment and counter threats from the ultimate high ground.

OUR VALUES

• Be the offset.We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity.
• What would it take? We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results.
• It’s the people. Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together.

YOUR MISSION

Software is the central nervous system for True Anomaly's engineering and product thesis. Software bridges the gap between military objectives, theoretical physics, and the human and autonomous control of spacecraft and ground systems. True Anomaly is seeking a Principal Software Engineer, Spacecraft Simulation to define the long-term technical vision and architecture for a simulation platform that spans some of the hardest problems in modern aerospace — from high-fidelity multi-physics modeling of spacecraft and constellations to simulation of complex, dynamic environments that don't yet have established playbooks.

At this level, your impact extends well beyond individual features. The platform you help shape will underpin mission planning, autonomy development, GNC validation, and operational decision-making across a range of scenarios that are technically novel by design. You will set technical direction across the simulation organization, serve as the internal authority on simulation methodology and best practices, and drive the technical culture of the team.

Technical Vision & Architecture

• Own the long-term technical strategy and architectural roadmap for True Anomaly's simulation infrastructure, spanning multi-physics modeling, real-time, faster-than-real-time execution, and hardware/software-in-the-loop environments
• Make high-consequence architectural decisions — technology selection, inter-system interface design, performance targets, and long-term maintainability tradeoffs — with full awareness of downstream impact across engineering, GNC, mission planning, and operations
• Identify and resolve fundamental technical risks before they become program-level blockers; anticipate capability gaps 12–24 months out and drive proactive investment
• Establish and steward engineering standards, simulation best practices, and V&V frameworks adopted across the organization

Simulation Development

• Lead the design and implementation of production-quality multi-physics simulation software spanning spacecraft subsystems: 6DOF rigid body dynamics (gravity gradient, solar radiation pressure, atmospheric drag, magnetic torques, third-body effects), thermal modeling, attitude dynamics and control, propulsion (chemical/electric), power generation and storage, and high-fidelity sensor/actuator models (reaction wheels, CMGs, star trackers, gyros, magnetometers)
• Architect and implement tightly coupled physics algorithms capturing complex subsystem interactions (thermal-structural, power-thermal, propulsion-dynamics) with rigorous attention to numerical stability, accuracy, and performance
• Design advanced time-stepping algorithms, solver architectures, and integration schemes that support scalable, real-time, and batch simulation use cases
• Write production-quality C++ with emphasis on performance, correctness, maintainability, and testability; establish the quality bar others rise to meet

API Design & Integration

• Define the simulation platform's external-facing API strategy across C++ and Python, ensuring interfaces are intuitive, performant, versioned, and backward-compatible as the platform evolves
• Partner with mission planning, GNC, systems engineering, and autonomy teams to understand capability needs and translate them into durable, well-documented platform investments
• Drive creation of comprehensive documentation, developer guides, and reference examples that enable self-service across the organization

Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as a technical anchor across the simulation team; provide architectural guidance, unblock decisions, and ensure coherent execution toward shared goals
• Drive a culture of engineering excellence through rigorous code reviews, mentorship, pair programming, and knowledge transfer
• Mentor engineers at all levels; contribute directly to career development conversations and growth planning
• Partner with engineering leadership to shape simulation capability roadmaps, surface tradeoffs, and contribute to proposals and technical white papers
• Represent simulation engineering in cross-functional forums, program reviews, and customer-facing discussions

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor's in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, physics, applied mathematics, or equivalent experience; advanced degree preferred
• Experience: 10+ years of professional software development with deep focus on simulation, scientific computing, or aerospace applications; demonstrated progression into technical leadership roles
• C++: Expert-level proficiency in modern C++ (C++17 or newer), including STL, templates, performance optimization, and large-scale system design
• Python: Proficiency in API design, scripting, automation, and data analysis
• Technical leadership: Proven track record of setting technical direction for large, complex software systems and driving multi-team efforts to delivered capability
• Domain knowledge: Deep expertise in two or more of: ADCS, GNC, thermal control, electric power systems, chemical/electric propulsion, orbital mechanics, or HIL/SIL systems
• V&V: Demonstrated experience defining and executing verification and validation frameworks for physics-based models at scale, including uncertainty quantification and validation against test or flight data
• Systems thinking: Ability to make sound architectural decisions within complex, distributed systems
• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication; able to articulate complex technical concepts to both engineering peers and non-technical leadership stakeholders

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Hypersonic modeling: Experience developing high-fidelity aerothermal, aerodynamic, and flight dynamics models for hypersonic vehicles, including coupled aero-thermal-structural effects, shock layer physics, and boundary layer modeling
• Advanced physics-based M&S: Extensive experience delivering validated, production‑grade simulation capabilities for aerospace or defense programs at scale
• Numerical methods: Expert‑level knowledge of ODE/