Flight Simulation Engineer

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world's leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) is a supplier of advanced electromagnetic systems, related power equipment and other high technology products for a variety of government and commercial applications. These include products such as the design and fabrication of linear motors, superconducting and conventional rotating motors, power inverters, high-energy capacitors, radiation monitoring systems, high-voltage direct current power distribution systems, and numerous other products.

We have an exciting opportunity in our Aerospace Systems Engineering Department for a Flight Simulation Engineer. This full-time position is located at our Huntsville, AL site and directly supports the System Simulation & Analysis and Guidance, Navigation, and Control teams by providing technical expertise for development and configuration management of analysis tools for a variety of space and weapon system development projects.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the aerospace systems engineering organization by developing and configuration managing flight simulations and other analysis tools.
• Support development of new weapon systems particularly gun-launched projectiles and guided missiles and/or satellites.
• Support real-time simulation development and Software-in-the-Loop and Hardware-in-the-Loop testing.
• Performs upgrades to simulation and analysis tools with special focus on maintaining analyst useability and tool flexibility.
• Support peer reviews of simulation models, analysis tools, and other software modules as required.
• Develop and implement simulation software unit tests and other automated test scripts as required.
• Develop simulation tool and software documentation using company guidelines and best industry practices.
• Support post-processing and analysis of data collected from ground and flight tests, simulation-based performance assessments, and other sources.
• Develop briefing materials for design reviews.
• Facilitate rapid resolution of delays that impact simulation and analysis tasks including real-time, thorough communication with task leads, program management and other leadership is required.
• Collaborate daily with GA and customer engineering and program management teams.
• Support development of simulation and analysis related data deliverables.
• Perform other duties as required.
• We operate on a 9x80 schedule with every other Friday off.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; four or more years of experience with a bachelors degree or two or more years of experience with a masters degree. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
• Must have a thorough understanding of software engineering and software configuration management and version control concepts, principles, processes, and tools such as Git and SVN.
• Prior experience with developing and using high fidelity flight simulations of missiles, gun-launched projectiles, hypersonic vehicles, or satellites is required.
• Demonstrated skills with multiple programming languages such as FORTRAN, C, C++, Python, and MATLAB is required.
• Must possess the ability to develop and communicate new concepts; apply them accurately throughout an evolving environment; organize, schedule, and coordinate work phases; and, determine the appropriate approach at the task level or, with assistance, at the project level to provide solutions to a range of complex problems.
• Must have strong communication, computer, documentation, presentation, and interpersonal skills, ability to work independently and as part of a team; able to perform complex tasks in one or more engineering areas.
• Must have an active Dept of Defense (DoD) Secret level security clearance with the ability to upgrade to Top Secret if required by the program.
• Able to work extended hours as required.
• Success in position requires consistent display of the following key abilities:
  • Initiative and strong work ethic to work independently, or with a team, or solve challenging problems in a development and prototyping environment.
  • Rapid and effective problem solving: identify issues, analyze and interpret data and develop innovative solutions to a variety of complex problems;
  • Excellent communication skills to document, develop, and present technical issues so that stakeholders across the organization readily understand the content and their related actions;
• Schedule performance: influencing and collaborating across the organization to result in contract schedule success.
• Desired experience with Software-In-The-Loop (SWIL) and Hardware-In-The-Loop (HWIL) simulation and testing is strongly desired.
• Desired experience with using and modifying the Air Force's AFSIM simulation tool is strongly desired.
• Desired experience with integrating and stress testing "black box" software (e.g. DLL's) is desired.
• Demonstrated skills and experience with embedded flight software development and testing is desired.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOD Secret security clearance (or equivalent DOE clearance) with ability to obtain Top Secret if required.
• Must be willing to work extended hours to meet deadlines and increase probability of project success.
• Must be customer focused and able to work on a self-initiated basis or in a team environment and able to work extended hours and travel as required.