Software Engineer- Physical Modeling & Simulation Engineer

John H Northrop And Associates; Newport News (VA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense contractor in Virginia is seeking a Software Engineer/Architect specializing in Physical Modeling & Simulation. This role supports the Aviation customer and involves conducting analyses for emerging technologies and mission effectiveness. Ideal candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, over ten years of experience in defense projects, and strong skills in AFSIM and C++. This position requires U.S. citizenship and an Active DoD Secret Clearance.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship and Active DoD Secret Clearance mandatory.
• 12+ years of experience in defense, aerospace, or government analytical efforts.
• Experience in Modeling & Simulation-based analysis, especially with AFSIM.

Responsibilities

• Assist in identifying capability gaps and evaluating new operational concepts.
• Conduct operational task analysis and collaborate with government engineers.
• Support development and testing of modeling and simulation environments.

Skills

C-Sharp

C++

Modeling & Simulation

AFSIM

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or Operations Research

Tools

AFSIM

MACE

ATCOM

SAINT

ECHO

DREAM

BlueMax

HIVE

VBMS

Job description

Software Engineer/Architect- (Physical Modeling & Simulation Engineer)

Overview

JHNA is seeking a Physical Modeling & Simulation Engineer to support our Aviation customer within the Mission Systems Division (MSD), Technology Development Directorate-Aviation - Systems Integration Division, located at Fort Eustis.

This position supports MSD's Engagements, Effects and Survivability Team, providing advanced analytical expertise to assess technologies supporting Aviation engagements, effects, survivability, mission effectiveness, and emerging capability gaps across current and future Army Aviation operational environments.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience applying AFSIM and related M&S tools to real-world military problems and works effectively at the intersection of operational analysis, technology development, and mission survivability.

Roles/Responsibilities

• Assist the Government in identifying and addressing existing and emerging capability gaps by evaluating new operational concepts, tactics, and techniques enabled by advanced aviation technologies.
• Conduct operational task analysis and collaborate closely with Government engineers, analysts, and technology developers to: Analyze required capabilities, allocate technologies to mission capabilities, Identify technology shortfalls, Support development of technical requirements.
• Support development, integration, and execution of modeling and simulation environments for manned–unmanned teaming, survivability, and mission effectiveness analysis.
• Assist in scenario design, scripting, and test vignette development to exercise advanced autonomy, teaming behaviors, and threat interactions.
• Provide engineering support for software integration testing and model verification within live, virtual, and constructive simulation frameworks.
• Conduct mission-level survivability and effectiveness assessments using government-approved M&S tools to evaluate advanced threats and countermeasures.
• Support post-simulation data analysis and report generation documenting findings, limitations, and recommendations.
• Assist with risk assessments and substantiation documentation supporting test readiness and simulation credibility.
• Plan and execute Modeling & Simulation (M&S) studies and other analytical efforts in support of survivability and mission effectiveness assessments.
• Support model credibility, verification, validation, and configuration control activities by preparing and presenting technical artifacts to Validity Control Boards (VCBs), documenting model assumptions and limitations, and implementing VCB-approved changes to AFSIM and other Government-directed modeling and simulation tools.
• Perform M&S and analytical evaluations, analyze resulting data, and author clear, concise reports communicating findings to Government users, warfighters, and technology developers.
• Conduct survivability and mission effectiveness analysis using Government-provided software tools, including but not limited to:
• AFSIM
• MACE
• ATCOM
• SAINT
• ECHO
• DREAM
• BlueMax
• HIVE
• VBMS
• Other Government-directed M&S tools
• Develop and maintain high-fidelity, large-area terrain databases to support M&S tools and survivability analyses.
• Architect, manage, and administer M&S files, models, and datasets to enable secure storage, rapid retrieval, and reuse on both classified and unclassified Government systems.
• Conduct optimization analyses to evaluate parameters of interest (e.g., probability of detection, survivability metrics, mission success), including identifying minimum or maximum values of defined objective functions.
• Maintain familiarity with current and emerging capability development documents, operational needs statements, and related Army Aviation requirements.
• Support the Government in coordinating and communicating analytical results with external stakeholders, including technology developers, operational users, and transition partners.

Required Qualifications

• Candidate must be a U.S. Citizen with an Active DoD Secret Clearance
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Operations Research, or a related technical discipline.
• Skilled in C-Sharp, C++ and related coding software
• 10+ (12+) years of relevant professional experience supporting defense, aerospace, or government analytical efforts (or equivalent experience aligned to a Software Engineer III/IV labor category).
• Demonstrated experience conducting Modeling & Simulation–based analysis, with strong emphasis on AFSIM.
• Experience supporting mission effectiveness and survivability analysis in a military or defense context.
• Ability to independently plan and execute analytical studies and clearly communicate technical results in written and verbal formats.
• Familiarity with working in classified and unclassified DoD environments.

JHNA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristic.