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Senior Simulation Software Engineer, GNC

Torrance, California, United States
Full Time On-site

Summary

Job Description

We're looking for a GNC Simulation Software Engineer to design, develop, and maintain high-fidelity simulation software supporting missile guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) development. In this role, you'll work closely with GNC algorithm developers, flight software engineers, and test teams to create fast, accurate, and robust simulations that drive system architecture decisions, performance assessments, and mission success.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and maintain a 6-DoF missile simulation software platform.
  • Build scalable infrastructure to execute, manage, and aggregate data from Monte Carlo campaigns, along with automated performance evaluation tools.
  • Ensure appropriate configuration management and shared sources of truth between simulation and flight code.
  • Optimize software for real-time or hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) execution where required.
  • Develop robust testing, verification, and documentation practices to ensure reliability and correctness.
  • Support flight software integration, pre-flight analysis, and post-flight reconstruction.

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelors or Masters degree in computer engineering, computer science, aerospace engineering, or a related field.
  • Strong proficiency in C++ or Rust for high-performance numerical modeling.
  • Proficiency with databases and large data structures.
  • Familiarity with version control, CI/CD pipelines, and modern software engineering practices.
  • Experience with numerical integration, coordinate transformations, and simulation architecture.
  • Experience with software integration, specifically linking disparate software modules (e.g., embedding Rust code in C++, Python bindings for C++ libraries).
  • Familiarity with GNC concepts in aerospace or missile systems.
  • Ability to develop well-structured, scalable, and efficient code.

Preferred Skills and Experience

  • Experience with missile dynamics, aerodynamics, or propulsion modeling.
  • Background in Monte Carlo simulation pipelines and statistical analysis.
  • Experience with hardware-in-the-loop or real-time simulation.
  • Exposure to sensor modeling (IMU, GPS, radar, seekers) or actuator modeling (TVC, CAS).
  • Experience integrating simulations with GNC or embedded flight software environments.
  • Experience designing APIs or internal tools for engineering teams.

Leadership Qualities

Bias to Action and Creative Problem Solving. Desire and experience questioning assumptions in ways that lead to break through ideas that are ultimately implemented. Successfully bring in applicable processes/concepts/materials from other industries to achieve efficiency gains. Ability to personally resolve minor issues in development without requiring significant support.

High Commitment, High Initiative. A successful candidate will have a genuine passion for Castelion's mission and consistently look for ways to contribute to the company's technical goals and prevent hardware blockers. Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere. Strong sense of accountability and integrity.

Clear Communicator. Proactively communicates blockers. Trusted in previous roles to be voice of company with regulators, suppliers, gate keepers and customers. Capable of tactfully managing relationships with stakeholders to achieve company-desired outcomes without compromising relationships. Emails, IMs and verbal interactions are logical, drive clarity, and detailed enough to eliminate ambiguity.

About Castelion

Castelion

Castelion is one of the fastest-rising defense technology companies focused on building affordable, rapidly deployable hypersonic strike systems for the U.S. military. Founded by former SpaceX leaders, the company is working to modernize how advanced weapons are developed and manufactured—using rapid iteration, vertical integration, and scalable production to deliver next-generation deterrence capabilities faster than traditional defense programs. Castelion’s mission centers on restoring America’s ability to field advanced military technology at speed and scale.

For job seekers, Castelion offers the opportunity to work directly on some of the most advanced technologies in national defense, including propulsion systems, avionics, flight software, guidance and navigation, missile systems, and advanced manufacturing. The company hires across aerospace engineering, embedded software, manufacturing, test engineering, avionics, cybersecurity, and operations—making it especially attractive to engineers, builders, veterans, and mission-driven professionals who want hands-on ownership of real hardware.

Unlike traditional defense contractors, Castelion operates with a startup-style engineering culture modeled after rapid aerospace development environments. Employees work closely with flight hardware, testing, and production systems in a fast-paced setting where speed, accountability, and execution are prioritized. The company openly emphasizes a builder mentality—giving team members the chance to own major projects and contribute directly to systems with national security impact.

As the U.S. military increases investment in hypersonic weapons, missile modernization, and scalable deterrence capabilities, Castelion continues to grow rapidly through major government contracts and manufacturing expansion. For professionals seeking a high-growth aerospace and defense company where they can help shape the future of national security technology, Castelion is quickly becoming one of the most exciting employers in the defense innovation ecosystem.

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