If forging a secure future excites you, look no further! Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector provides an arena where your passion for innovation and quest for exploration is welcome. As a Graphics Simulation Software Engineer– Level 3 or 4, your role at Dulles, VA will be pivotal in supporting mission-critical efforts to national and global security.
Ready to join forces with our visionary team?
A Graphics Simulation Software Engineer develops spacecraft 3D models and contributes to graphics software within the full software lifecycle. They perform graphical modeling and simulation across multiple projects using C/C++, Python, and 3D tools such as Blender. Preferred candidates have experience modeling sensors, actuators, and space environments to demonstrate closed-loop spacecraft performance and support aerospace integration and test. Knowledge of waterfall, spiral, and Agile methods, along with CI/DevSecOps tools like Jenkins, Jira, Bitbucket, and GitLab, is also valuable.
This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Engineers on our teams all participate in the following activities:
Plan, organize, and be involved in the full software lifecycle to develop spacecraft simulation software using state-of-the-art tools and software best practices.
Develop models to support modeling and simulation activities across multiple projects.
Establish simulation requirements.
Work with other engineering disciplines to integrate and validate space vehicle modeling and simulation.
Prepare design documentation, analysis, test results, and presentation materials for internal and external customers.
In this role, engineers will also:
Convert engineering spacecraft CAD models into optimized 3D visualizer tool models, using software such as Blender.
Develop software interaction between the simulated spacecraft components and the 3D visualization models.
Contribute to our ever-expanding graphical capabilities of the spacecraft simulation architecture using OpenSceneGraph, OpenGL, Vulkan, or similar.
This position is contingent upon the candidate obtaining final clearances and program access(es) within a reasonable period of time as determined by the company.
This position can be filled at either a Level 3 or a Level 4.
Basic Qualifications for Level 3:
Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of relevant professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 3 years of relevant professional experience – OR – PhD with 1 year of relevant professional experience. (Degree should be in Software/Electrical/Computer/Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a similar technical program with a computer graphics emphasis.)
Requires an active U.S. Government Top-Secret [TS] security clearance, current and within scope, at time of application [US citizenship required]
3D graphics development, using OpenSceneGraph, OpenGL, Vulkan, or similar
Diverse programming proficiency: C/C++, Python
Experience building models and simulations
Able to develop in both Windows and Linux environments
Basic Qualifications for Level 4:
Bachelor’s degree with 8 years of relevant professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 6 years of relevant professional experience – OR – PhD with 4 years of relevant professional experience. (Degree should be in Software/Electrical/Computer/Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a similar technical program with a computer graphics emphasis.)
Requires an active U.S. Government Top-Secret [TS] security clearance, current and within scope, at time of application [US citizenship required]
3D graphics development, using OpenSceneGraph, OpenGL, Vulkan, or similar
Diverse programming proficiency: C/C++, Python
Experience building models and simulations
Able to develop in both Windows and Linux environments
Preferred Qualifications:
System knowledge in one or more of the following domains: Spacecraft Command & Control, Mission Planning, Space Situational Awareness and Visualization
Hardware interfacing, integration and test and controls experience
Agile development methodology, specifically Scrum, using Jira
Understanding of common embedded system tools, real-time operating systems and avionics integration and test practices
Usage and configuration of DevOps/CI/CD technologies (Jenkins, Ansible, Docker, etc.)