Director, Modeling & Simulation- Missile Defense

YOUR MISSION

RESPONSIBILITIES 

This role is the technical “spine” of the Missile Defense program, unifying design, software, and controls into a single authoritative system-level analytical and integration environment.  
 
The Director of Modeling and Simulation owns the analytical and integration backbone of the Missile Defense program and is accountable for the fidelity, coherence, and usefulness of all system- and vehicle-level modeling, simulation, and test environments. This role maintains the authoritative system-level digital twin of the interceptor architecture, encompassing the booster/interceptor, kill vehicle, and host vehicle, and ensures that the digital twin accurately represents the as-designed state of the system across evolving design versions. The Director is responsible for benchmarking system performance against Design Reference Missions (DRMs) and program design baselines, enabling leadership to make informed, data-driven decisions throughout the program lifecycle. 

In addition, the Director establishes and governs the modeling framework that allows subsystem owners to contribute validated, configuration-controlled models that roll up into the system-level digital twin. This includes defining model interfaces, data standards, assumptions, and update cadence to ensure consistency and traceability between subsystem developments and system-level performance assessments. 

The role also has full ownership of system- and vehicle-level Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) and Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) capabilities. This includes individual HIL/SIL environments for each vehicle, an integrated multi-vehicle HIL/SIL, and an ecosystem-level integrated HIL/SIL that incorporates the broader Missile Defense environment, including the ground software elements. These environments are used to validate models, de-risk integration, assess flight software and GNC behavior, and support end-to-end mission-level testing. 

Finally, the Director of Modeling and Simulation serves as the central technical integrator across design engineering, GNC, flight software, and other critical technical disciplines. This role ensures that outputs from these teams are consistently reflected in the digital twin and HIL/SIL environments, that cross-disciplinary interactions are properly captured, and that modeling and simulation serve as a unifying mechanism for system integration, trade studies, and program risk reduction. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

Required Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related technical field; advanced degree strongly preferred. 

• 10+ years of experience in modeling and simulation for complex aerospace, missile, or multi-vehicle systems. 

• Demonstrated ownership of system-level models spanning multiple interacting vehicles or subsystems. 

• Strong foundation in flight dynamics, guidance and control, and mission-level performance analysis. 

• Experience developing or overseeing HIL and SIL environments for flight systems. 

• Proven ability to integrate technical outputs across multiple engineering disciplines. 

Preferred Experience 

• Experience on DoD, missile defense, or space programs involving Design Reference Missions and formal design baselines. 

• Prior responsibility for digital twin development across multiple program phases. 

• Familiarity with rapid-prototyping, SBI/SBIR, or fast-iteration defense programs. 

• Experience supporting PDR, CDR, and flight readiness reviews using modeling and simulation artifacts. 

• Ability to communicate complex analytical results clearly to senior technical leadership and government stakeholders. 

COMPENSATION  

• Base Salary:  Denver - $180,000 - $245,000

• Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave 

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education and experience. 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Ability to maintain or obtain TS//SCI clearance 

• Work Location: this role will be fully onsite at our GravityWorks factory in Centennial, CO  
• Work environment is in a standard office, working at a desk or in a production factory. 

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (IT 

1. AR) 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.

We value diversity of experience, knowledge, backgrounds and perspectives and harness these qualities to create extraordinary impact. True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, religion or belief, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, citizenship, marital, domestic or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, maternity or related condition (including breastfeeding) or any other basis as protected by applicable law. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please do not hesitate to let us know.