Simulation and Modeling Engineer

Powerus; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Powerus in Charlotte, NC seeks a Simulation and Modeling Engineer to build and own the simulation environment behind our unmanned platforms.

You will develop vehicle and flight dynamics models, integrate them with flight software through hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop setups, construct synthetic environments including sensors and terrain, and run large test campaigns whose results engineering can act on.

Qualifications

• Experience building or maintaining dynamic simulations of aircraft, vehicles, or robotic systems.
• Strong grounding in flight dynamics, rigid body mechanics, or control system modeling.
• Proficiency in Python and MATLAB/Simulink; experience validating against test data.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain flight dynamics, actuator, and vehicle system models across multirotor and fixed-wing platforms.
• Build and operate software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop environments that run real flight software against simulated vehicles.
• Model sensors, environmental conditions, and disturbances - wind, turbulence, degraded GPS, sensor noise and dropout.
• Design and run Monte Carlo and parametric test campaigns to characterize performance and expose edge cases.
• Validate models against flight test data, quantify model error, and drive the model back toward the vehicle.
• Build the automation and analysis tooling that turns large simulation runs into results engineers can use.
• Support GNC, autonomy, and software teams with scenarios for development, regression, and pre-flight risk reduction.
• Document model assumptions, fidelity limits, and validation status so results are interpreted correctly.

Skills

Python

MATLAB/Simulink

Flight dynamics

Model validation

C++

Hardware-in-the-loop

Education

B.S. in Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical Eng or equivalent

Tools

PX4

ROS

Gazebo

Simulink

Job description

Mission

Our mission is to deliver resilient autonomous technologies that strengthen national security, improve operational safety, and expand the capabilities of organizations operating in complex environments.

Why Join Powerus

Flight test time is scarce, weather-dependent, and expensive, and there are failure cases nobody wants to discover with a real aircraft. Simulation is how Powerus buys confidence before those flights - and how the autonomy and control work gets exercised across thousands of conditions instead of the handful a test window allows. This role builds that capability from a strong starting point rather than inheriting a legacy environment. You will decide what the models must capture, stand up the hardware-in-the-loop rigs, run the Monte Carlo campaigns that expose the edges, and keep the whole thing honest by validating it against real flight data.

About the Role

Powerus is seeking a Simulation and Modeling Engineer to build and own the simulation environment behind our unmanned platforms. This position requires U.S. Person status, as the work involves access to export-controlled technical data. You will develop vehicle and flight dynamics models, integrate them with flight software through hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop setups, construct synthetic environments including sensors and terrain, and run large test campaigns whose results engineering can act on. Your closest partners are GNC, autonomy, embedded software, and flight test, and your credibility rests on how well the simulation predicts what the aircraft actually does.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain flight dynamics, actuator, and vehicle system models across multirotor and fixed-wing platforms
• Build and operate software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop environments that run real flight software against simulated vehicles
• Model sensors, environmental conditions, and disturbances - wind, turbulence, degraded GPS, sensor noise and dropout
• Design and run Monte Carlo and parametric test campaigns to characterize performance and expose edge cases
• Validate models against flight test data, quantify model error, and drive the model back toward the vehicle
• Build the automation and analysis tooling that turns large simulation runs into results engineers can use
• Support GNC, autonomy, and software teams with scenarios for development, regression, and pre-flight risk reduction
• Document model assumptions, fidelity limits, and validation status so results are interpreted correctly

Qualifications

• Must be located in the United States, within commuting distance of Charlotte, NC
• Degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience
• Experience building or maintaining dynamic simulations of aircraft, vehicles, or robotic systems
• Strong grounding in flight dynamics, rigid body mechanics, or control system modeling
• Proficiency in Python and with MATLAB/Simulink or a comparable modeling environment
• Experience validating models against measured test data, and a clear sense of where a model stops being trustworthy
• U.S. Person status required (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)); this role involves access to ITAR- and EAR-controlled technical data

Preferred Skills

• Hardware-in-the-loop experience with real flight controllers or avionics
• Familiarity with PX4, ArduPilot, ROS, Gazebo, or comparable simulation and autopilot ecosystems
• Aerodynamic modeling, CFD, or system identification from flight data
• Experience with synthetic environments or sensor simulation for perception and autonomy development
• C++ for simulation performance or flight software integration
• Experience running simulation as part of a formal verification or certification argument

Pay range and compensation package

[Pay range or salary or compensation]

Equal Opportunity Statement

Powerus is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and mission-driven workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.