UUV Simulation Engineer

Heaviside Industries, Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Health, Vision & Dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Heaviside Industries, Inc. is seeking a skilled engineer to build and maintain physics-based simulations for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). The role focuses on developing vehicle dynamics, underwater environments, and sensor models, with integration to PX4 and ROS 2.

You will work with the engineering team to ensure reusable, testable simulation tooling and real-world data validation. Candidates should have strong C++ and Python skills, plus experience with Gazebo, Isaac Sim, MuJoCo, Unity

Qualifications

• Experience developing physics-based simulations for robotic, marine, aerospace, autonomous systems.
• Clear understanding of vehicle dynamics, coordinate frames, numerical simulation, and sensor modeling.
• Experience integrating simulations with robotics or embedded software.
• Familiarity with PX4, ROS 2, or similar systems.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain a simulation environment for a UUV.
• Develop a vehicle dynamics and underwater environment model.
• Simulate navigation and perception sensors.
• Integrate simulation with PX4 and ROS 2.

Skills

C++ development

Python development

physics-based simulation

sensor modeling

PX4/ROS 2 integration

software-in-the-loop testing

team collaboration

U.S. Person ITAR compliance

Tools

Gazebo

Isaac Sim

MuJoCo

Unity

Unreal

ROS 2

Job description

ABOUT HEAVISIDE INDUSTRIES

Heaviside Industries builds multi-domain autonomous precision munitions for U.S. and allied special operations and conventional forces. While modern warfare has rapidly evolved with the proliferation of unmanned systems, hyper-precise munitions in contested environments are the future of the battlefield. Economical precision strike capabilities are critical to U.S. and allied war efforts, enabling successful defeat of enemy military assets and infrastructure. Heaviside builds precision munitions designed to operate in GPS-denied and spectrum-jammed battlefields—where traditional systems degrade or fail—without inflated prices or sacrifice to performance.

All engineering and manufacturing is conducted in-house in Heaviside’s Los Angeles, CA headquarters and Oslo, Norway office.

Heaviside is backed by Interlagos, Menlo Ventures, Flume Ventures, Cantos, Anorak Ventures, and Ravelin Ventures.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Build and maintain a simulation environment for a UUV.
• Develop a vehicle dynamics and underwater environment model.
• Simulate relevant navigation and perception sensors.
• Integrate the simulation with our existing PX4 and ROS 2 software.
• Support software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Create tools for repeatable testing across different operating conditions.
• Use real-world test data to improve the simulation over time.
• Work with the engineering team to ensure the simulation supports vehicle and autonomy development

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• Experience developing physics-based simulations for robotic, marine, aerospace, automotive, or autonomous systems.
• Strong C++ and Python development skills.
• Experience with simulation platforms such as Gazebo, Isaac Sim, MuJoCo, Unity, Unreal, or similar tools.
• Understanding of vehicle dynamics, coordinate frames, numerical simulation, and sensor modeling.
• Experience integrating simulations with robotics or embedded software.
• Familiarity with PX4, ROS 2, or similar systems.
• Ability to independently design, build, document, and deliver a simulation that other engineers can use.
• U.S. Person as defined by ITAR (22 CFR §120.62)
• [Bonus]Experience with underwater or surface vehicles.
• [Bonus]Experience modeling navigation, sonar, acoustic, or environmental sensors.
• [Bonus]Familiarity with software-in-the-loop or hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• [Bonus]Experience validating simulations against real-world test data.

Additional Information:

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here. https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/?id=ddtc_kb_article_page&sys_id=24d528fddbfc930044f9ff621f961987

Heaviside is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Heaviside is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, physical disability or any other legally protected status.