Spacecraft Simulation Architect — Real-Time Multi-Physics

True Anomaly; Laguna Beach (CA); On-site; USD 210,000 - 325,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Flexible time off

Lunch provided

401(k)

Equity

Job summary

True Anomaly seeks a Principal Software Engineer, Spacecraft Simulation to define the long-term technical vision for a multi-physics simulation platform. You’ll shape architecture, APIs in C++/Python, and drive V&V strategies for aerospace systems.

You’ll lead a team across Simulation, Mission Planning, and GNC, mentor engineers, and partner with leadership to deliver scalable, production-quality software that advances space superiority.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, physics, applied mathematics, or equivalent experience; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of professional software development with deep focus on simulation, scientific computing, or aerospace applications; demonstrated progression into technical leadership roles.
• Expert-level proficiency in modern C++ (C++17 or newer), including STL, templates, performance optimization, and large-scale system design.
• Proficiency in Python for API design, scripting, automation, and data analysis.
• Proven track record of setting technical direction for large, complex software systems and driving multi-team efforts to delivered capability.
• Deep expertise in two or more of: ADCS, GNC, thermal control, electric power systems, chemical/electric propulsion, orbital mechanics, or HIL/SIL systems.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Lead the design and implementation of production-quality multi-physics simulation software spanning spacecraft subsystems.
• Architect and implement tightly coupled physics algorithms capturing complex subsystem interactions.
• Design advanced time-stepping algorithms, solver architectures, and integration schemes for scalable, real-time, and batch use cases.
• Write production-quality C++ with emphasis on performance, correctness, maintainability, and testability; establish the quality bar.

Skills

C++

Python

Technical leadership

Systems thinking

Communication

Astrodynamics

Education

Bachelor's in aerospace engineering / computer science / physics

Tools

Git

CI/CD

CMake/Bazel

Docker

Job description

True Anomaly seeks a Principal Software Engineer, Spacecraft Simulation to define the long-term technical vision for a multi-physics simulation platform. You’ll shape architecture, APIs in C++/Python, and drive V&V strategies for aerospace systems.

You’ll lead a team across Simulation, Mission Planning, and GNC, mentor engineers, and partner with leadership to deliver scalable, production-quality software that advances space superiority.