Missile Simulation Software Engineer

U. S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is the corporate research laboratory for the Navy and Marine Corps.  NRL’s mission is to conduct a broadly based multidisciplinary program of scientific research and advanced technological development directed toward maritime  applications of new and improved materials, techniques, equipment, systems, and ocean, atmospheric, and space sciences and related technologies.  The Naval Research Laboratory provides primary in-house research for the physical, engineering, space, and environmental sciences; broadly based exploratory and advanced development programs in response to identified and anticipated Navy and Marine Corps needs; broad multidisciplinary support to the Naval Warfare Centers; and space and space systems technology development and support.  NRL has proudly served the Navy and the nation for over 80 years; it continues to meet the complex technological challenges of today's world.  For general information see www.nrl.navy.mil

 

Missile Simulation Software Engineer – Essential Job Functions

The candidate will be part of the engineering team responsible for the closed-loop simulations performed in NRL’s Central Target Simulator (CTS) Facility.  CTS is a high-performance, hardware-in-the-loop laboratory simulation facility used for conducting research, development, test and evaluation of electronic warfare (EW) systems and techniques to counter the anti-ship missile threat to the U.S. Navy.  Simulations are performed in a large anechoic chamber and use actual missile hardware and radiated RF signals.

 

The candidate’s primary responsibility is to develop, modify, maintain and update the autopilot and aerodynamic software models used in CTS.  The individual will have responsibility to develop, modify, maintain and update scenario generation and real-time simulation software.  The candidate will be part of a team that develops and implements a cost-effective configuration management system for the CTS simulation software.  The candidate will periodically evaluate new computer hardware and software development systems, make recommendations for upgrades and develop plans for transitioning to new hardware and development environments.  The individual will train junior personnel and assist in their career development.

 

The candidate will configure the simulation software to individual program/user requirements and verify the accuracy of the simulation.  The individual will be part of the engineering team that operates the simulation software and interacts with the customer to provide insight on the simulation results, including missile responses to countermeasures.  It is expected that the candidate will become an expert on the operation of one or more anti-ship missile systems.

 

Minimum Qualifications:

* Bachelors degree in electrical engineering, physics, or applied math with at least 1 year of experience in developing complex scientific/engineering software (emphasis in control systems or modeling) or Master of Science degree in electrical engineering, physics or applied math with significant software development training

* Experience programming in FORTRAN and/or C/C++

* Experience developing software using Microsoft Visual Studio / Windows OS

* U. S. Citizens only

* No barriers to obtaining a TOP SECRET security clearance

 

Preferred Qualifications:

* Experience developing and integrating software in a real-time Hardware-In-the-Loop environment

* Experience in programming differential equations

* Familiarity with statistical methods

* Experience with or ability to learn complex factored quarternions for coordinate transformations

* Knowledge and experience with missile modeling, including one or more of the following:

* radar tracking,

* homing guidance,

* autopilot,

* missile body dynamics,

* aerodynamics,

* multiple coordinate systems,

* control systems,

* inertial gyros,

* synthetic line of sight

* Active TOP SECRET or higher security clearance

 

Personal Characteristics:

* Focus and persistence to perform detailed, exacting work

* Accept responsibility for proper operation of complex simulation software

* Accept responsibility for maintenance of an extensive suite of simulation software

* Ability to analyze software developed by others

* Eager to learn new technical areas and adapt to technical change

* Ability to function in an engineering team environment

* Flexibility to adapt to changing U.S. Navy priorities