Senior Software Simulation Engineer

The Visual Group; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 206,640,000 - 213,528,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) retirement plan

Life Insurance

Job summary

The Visual Group in Chantilly, VA is seeking a Software Simulation Engineer to develop and integrate software for advanced flight simulators in Linux and Windows using C/C++. You will participate across the full software development lifecycle from requirements analysis through design, development, integration, and test.

Responsibilities include designing software architectures, implementing interfaces, documenting designs, and presenting at reviews.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Computer Science.
• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience with a strong focus on C++ development.
• Hands-on experience designing, developing, and implementing software in C++ for complex systems.
• Proficiency with Visual Studio IDE.
• Proficiency with GCC compilers and Makefiles for building and managing software projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop complex software applications for flight simulation projects, following lead engineers while working independently.
• Participate in all phases of the software development lifecycle from requirements to test.
• Design architectures for interfaces to external systems and subsystems.

Skills

C++ development

Linux/UNIX

Windows development

Visual Studio

GCC/Makefiles

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Computer Science

Tools

Visual Studio

GCC

Makefiles

Job description

Job Title: Software Simulation Engineer

Job Description

This role offers the opportunity to work on a variety of advanced flight simulators, developing and integrating software for avionics, tactical environments, audio, visual, motion, I/O systems, and Instructor Operator Stations (IOS). You will design and implement complex software applications primarily in Linux and Windows environments using C and C++, with exposure to other languages, while contributing across the full software development lifecycle from requirements analysis through design, development, integration, and test.

Responsibilities

• Develop complex software applications that support flight simulation projects, following direction from lead software engineers while working independently on assigned tasks.
• Participate in all phases of the software development lifecycle, including requirements analysis, architecture and detailed design, implementation, integration, and test.
• Design software architectures for system components, such as interfaces to external systems and models of aircraft components and subsystems.
• Implement software interfaces to external systems and develop software simulations of aircraft systems with minimal supervision.
• Prepare clear and thorough software documentation, including design descriptions, interface specifications, and test-related materials, and provide inputs for formal design reviews.
• Present software designs and technical approaches during customer reviews and other stakeholder meetings, explaining decisions and trade-offs in a concise, professional manner.
• Support software development activities as assigned by the software lead, ensuring tasks are completed on schedule and to defined quality standards.
• Collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team of engineers, contributing to team planning, problem-solving, and continuous improvement of development processes.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers, helping them understand architecture, coding standards, and best practices in simulation and modeling.
• Apply software engineering concepts and processes consistently, including configuration management, version control, and adherence to established coding standards.
• Work with flight simulation hardware and related systems in an onsite environment to integrate, test, and troubleshoot software in realistic operational scenarios.
• Support travel to customer and test locations, including CONUS and OCONUS sites, to assist with integration, testing, and customer support for deployed simulators.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Computer Science.
• At least 5 years of professional software engineering experience with a strong focus on C++ development.
• Hands‑on experience designing, developing, and implementing software in C++ for complex systems.
• Proficiency with Visual Studio integrated development environment (IDE).
• Proficiency with GCC compilers and Makefiles for building and managing software projects.
• Strong working knowledge of Linux/UNIX operating systems, with the ability to develop and debug software in these environments.
• Working familiarity with Windows operating systems for software development and integration tasks.
• Solid understanding of software engineering concepts and processes, including requirements analysis, design, implementation, integration, and testing.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and collaborate with other engineers and stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate technical information clearly in both written documentation and verbal presentations.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Ability to develop software in multiple languages, including C and C++, with exposure to additional languages as needed.
• Knowledge of object‑oriented design principles and the ability to apply them to complex, real‑time systems.
• Experience or familiarity with flight simulation concepts and systems.
• Knowledge of real‑time programming and techniques for deterministic and low‑latency software behavior.
• Understanding of military aircraft systems and avionics, including their operation and integration within simulation environments.
• Knowledge of computer networking concepts and protocols relevant to distributed simulation and system interoperability.
• Experience with modeling, simulation, and training solutions, including hardware, software, and system integration.
• Familiarity with interoperability standards such as HLA and DIS for distributed simulation environments.
• Experience with graphics and real‑time embedded systems used in simulation and training platforms.
• Ability to obtain or hold a security clearance; an existing Secret clearance is preferred and sponsorship may be available.

Work Environment

This position is based onsite five days per week in a hardware‑centric simulation facility, where flight simulator equipment and related systems are located. You will work as part of a team of approximately 12–15 engineers, collaborating closely on modeling, simulation, and training solutions. The environment involves hands‑on interaction with flight simulation hardware and software, computer architecture, tactical environments, avionics systems, interoperability technologies, graphics, and real‑time embedded systems. The role includes approximately 30% travel to domestic and international locations (including sites such as Orlando, Hawaii, Japan, and the United Kingdom) to support integration, testing, and customer activities. Initial work will focus on specific flight simulators such as MH-47G, V-22, MH-60M, AH-1Z, CH-53K, UH-1Y, and AH-60M, providing exposure to a diverse set of aircraft platforms and mission profiles in a professional, collaborative engineering setting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Chantilly, VA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $150000.00 - $155000.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your jobclassification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may besubject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefitsavailable for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long‑term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Chantilly, VA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 6, 2026.

Equal Opportunity Employer The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.