Sr. Software Engineer, Simulations

About the role

The Senior Software Engineer, Simulations role is centered on building the core simulation infrastructure that powers flight systems for Falcon, Falcon Heavy, Dragon, Starlink, and Starship. You will be responsible for creating high-fidelity models that encompass fluids, electronics, and multi-body physics, ensuring these models drive mission success. This position requires the translation of complex theoretical models into robust, real-time executable simulations that serve as critical decision-making tools. You will architect solutions that bridge theoretical engineering with practical implementation, maintaining the software backbone for all simulation workflows. The role demands a proactive problem-solver capable of navigating ambiguous technical challenges in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment. Your work will directly influence vehicle design, system verification, and ultimately, mission outcomes across the entire SpaceX portfolio. Success in this position requires deep technical expertise and the ability to collaborate closely with diverse engineering teams to refine and enhance simulation capabilities.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Create and maintain real-time simulation software for all vehicle programs, ensuring software reliability and performance under demanding conditions.
• Build prototypes to test design concepts and define technical limits, enabling data-driven decisions early in the development cycle.
• Enhance the performance and reliability of simulation tools through iterative development and optimization.
• Collaborate with internal users to implement new features and refine the software interface, improving usability and workflow efficiency.
• Develop high-fidelity models for fluids, electronics, and multi-body physics, capturing the intricate dynamics of vehicle systems.
• Implement solutions that support mission success across multiple vehicle programs, from orbital mechanics to re-entry dynamics.
• Translate complex theoretical models into robust, real-time executable simulations that provide actionable insights during critical phases.
• Work closely with engineering teams to ensure simulation outputs align precisely with vehicle requirements and system-level objectives.
• Define and maintain the software architecture for critical simulation workflows, ensuring scalability and maintainability.
• Contribute to tools that influence design decisions and mission outcomes, providing essential analytical support throughout the project lifecycle.
• Optimize simulation performance to handle complex computational workloads, balancing accuracy with real-time constraints.
• Ensure simulation outputs are accurate, reliable, and delivered on schedule, meeting stringent project timelines and quality standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor degree in CS, engineering, math, or a STEM field with 5+ years of software development experience, or 7+ years of professional software development experience without a degree.
• 2+ years of professional C++ development experience, demonstrating proficiency in modern C++ standards and best practices.
• Willingness to work weekends and extended hours as needed to meet critical project milestones and respond to emergent issues.
• U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, refugee, or asylee status, or eligibility for U.S. Department of State authorization due to ITAR compliance.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional engineering teams, including mechanical, electrical, and software engineers.
• Capacity to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, maintaining focus under pressure.
• Commitment to maintaining high standards of code quality and simulation accuracy, ensuring robustness and reliability.
• Readiness to adapt to evolving project requirements and technical challenges, embracing continuous learning and improvement.

Nice to have

• Advanced proficiency in C++ software design, including expertise in templates, concurrency, and low-level system optimization.
• Knowledge of memory management, CPU scheduling, networking protocols, and distributed systems to build efficient and scalable simulations.
• Background in classical physics and mathematics, including calculus, algebra, and Euclidean geometry, applied to real-world engineering problems.
• Experience with unit testing, performance tuning, and debugging complex simulation scenarios to ensure high fidelity.
• Familiarity with open source C++ simulators like ROS2 and Gazebo, leveraging existing frameworks to accelerate development.

Skills & tools

• C++
• ROS2
• Gazebo

Practical notes

• Salary range: $160,000 to $225,000 per year.
• Compensation includes potential long-term incentives such as stock options, stock grants, or cash awards, plus discretionary bonuses and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k), life insurance, short and long-term disability, paid parental leave, 3 weeks of vacation, and 10+ paid holidays.
• ITAR compliance: Applicants must be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees, or asylees, or otherwise eligible for U.S. Department of State authorization.