Simulation Engineer

Red Canyon Engineering & Software; Boulder (CO); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

Red Canyon Engineering & Software is seeking a Simulation Software Engineer to develop and maintain spacecraft simulation environments. You'll model processors and interfaces using Renode/QEMU, integrate COSMOS for testing, and support software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop activities.

You will collaborate with flight software and systems teams to validate virtual testbeds, ensure test accuracy, and document architectures. A related degree and hands-on embedded experience are required.

Qualifications

• Experience developing or supporting embedded-system simulation, emulation, or software test environments.
• Hands-on experience with COSMOS.
• Experience using Renode and/or QEMU for processor, hardware, or embedded-system emulation.
• Software development experience with languages such as C, C++, or Python.
• Understanding of embedded software, processor architectures, hardware/software interfaces, and real-time system behavior.
• Experience developing automated tests or test-support software.
• Strong troubleshooting, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, configure, and maintain simulation and emulation environments for spacecraft and embedded flight systems.
• Use Renode and/or QEMU to model processors, peripherals, interfaces, and embedded-system behavior.
• Configure and integrate COSMOS for command, telemetry, automated testing, and system validation.
• Support the execution and testing of flight software in virtual and hardware-independent environments.
• Develop software models representing spacecraft components, sensors, actuators, communications interfaces, and other system behaviors.
• Create automated test scripts, test utilities, and simulation tools for software verification and validation.
• Troubleshoot issues involving flight software, simulated hardware, telemetry, commands, and system interfaces.
• Collaborate with flight software, systems engineering, test, mission operations, and hardware teams.
• Support software-in-the-loop, processor-in-the-loop, and potentially hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Document simulation architecture, interfaces, configurations, test procedures, and results.
• Participate in technical reviews and help improve simulation and testing capabilities.

Skills

COSMOS

Renode

QEMU

C

C++

Python

Embedded systems

RTOS

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Renode

QEMU

Job description

Simulation Software Engineer – Space Systems

Position Overview

We are seeking Simulation Software Engineers to develop and maintain software based simulation and emulation environments supporting spacecraft, scientific instruments, and embedded flight systems.

This position will focus on creating realistic virtual test environments that enable engineering teams to test software functionality and system behavior before integration with flight hardware. The ideal candidate will have hands‑on experience with COSMOS and processor or embedded-system emulation using Renode and/or QEMU.

Responsibilities

• Develop, configure, and maintain simulation and emulation environments for spacecraft and embedded flight systems.
• Use Renode and/or QEMU to model processors, peripherals, interfaces, and embedded‑system behavior.
• Configure and integrate COSMOS for command, telemetry, automated testing, and system validation.
• Support the execution and testing of flight software in virtual and hardware‑independent environments.
• Develop software models representing spacecraft components, sensors, actuators, communications interfaces, and other system behaviors.
• Create automated test scripts, test utilities, and simulation tools for software verification and validation.
• Troubleshoot issues involving flight software, simulated hardware, telemetry, commands, and system interfaces.
• Collaborate with flight software, systems engineering, test, mission operations, and hardware teams.
• Support software‑in‑the‑loop, processor‑in‑the‑loop, and potentially hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing.
• Document simulation architecture, interfaces, configurations, test procedures, and results.
• Participate in technical reviews and help improve simulation and testing capabilities.

Required Qualifications

• Experience developing or supporting embedded‑system simulation, emulation, or software test environments.
• Hands‑on experience with COSMOS.
• Experience using Renode and/or QEMU for processor, hardware, or embedded‑system emulation.
• Software development experience with languages such as C, C++, or Python.
• Understanding of embedded software, processor architectures, hardware/software interfaces, and real‑time system behavior.
• Experience developing automated tests or test‑support software.
• Strong troubleshooting, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting spacecraft, satellite, scientific instrument, aerospace, or other mission‑critical systems.
• Familiarity with flight software, real‑time operating systems, embedded Linux, or bare‑metal applications.
• Experience with command‑and‑telemetry systems and spacecraft communication interfaces.
• Knowledge of software‑in‑the‑loop, processor‑in‑the‑loop, or hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing.
• Familiarity with Git, Linux development environments, continuous integration, and automated testing.
• Experience modeling sensors, actuators, communication buses, or spacecraft subsystem behavior.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or a related technical field.

Work Arrangement

This position follows a hybrid schedule in Boulder, Colorado. Candidates must be available to work onsite as needed for collaboration, system integration, and testing.

Eligible W-2 employees may receive medical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement benefits, paid time off, and additional company‑sponsored benefits. Final compensation will depend on experience, qualifications, employment classification, and position requirements.

Location: Boulder, Colorado

Work Arrangement: Hybrid