Simulation engineer Jobs in Washington, DC

Staff Engineer, Operational Analyst

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI's technology actively supports operations worldwide.

We are seeking a Staff Engineer, Operational Analyst to drive the modeling, simulation, and analysis of Shield AI's autonomous aircraft systems. This role is pivotal in evaluating the mission effectiveness, survivability, and operational impact of our autonomy solutions across multiple platforms and domains. You will work closely with engineering, product development, and defense stakeholders to inform design trade-offs, assess system performance, and optimize mission capabilities.

This position requires a deep understanding of military operations, wargaming, modeling & simulation (M&S), analytic techniques, and operational analysis techniques. Your work will directly shape Shield AI's strategy by identifying how our AI-powered platforms can best serve the evolving needs of modern warfare.

What You'll Do

• Develop and execute operational analysis strategies to assess the effectiveness of autonomous aircraft in real-world military scenarios.
• Lead modeling, simulation, and wargaming efforts to evaluate system performance, mission impact, and survivability in contested environments.
• Work closely with engineering teams and product managers to translate operational insights into design decisions and system improvements.
• Conduct trade studies and sensitivity analyses to assess system performance under varying operational conditions and threats.
• Utilize advanced modeling & simulation tools (e.g., AFSIM, STK, MATLAB, Python) to develop high-fidelity mission models.
• Analyze force-on-force engagements, sensor effectiveness, and autonomy-driven decision-making to optimize mission success.
• Collaborate with DoD stakeholders, operators, and warfighters to understand mission needs and align system capabilities with operational requirements.
• Support concept of operations (CONOPS) development for new AI-driven aircraft capabilities.
• Identify emerging threats and operational challenges, ensuring Shield AI's systems remain ahead of adversary capabilities.
• Develop and present technical reports, briefings, and recommendations to senior leadership, customers, and government agencies.
• Leverage modern compute and development best practices (e.g., scalable cloud/HPC workflows, containerization, version control, CI/CD, and automated testing) to build, run, and iterate high-fidelity simulation and analysis pipelines quickly and reliably.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in operational analysis, modeling & simulation (M&S), or military operations research.
• Expertise in military mission analysis, operational planning, and wargaming methodologies.
• Proficiency with AFSIM, STK, MATLAB, or other M&S tools used for aerospace and defense applications.
• Deep understanding of air combat, ISR, electronic warfare, or autonomous systems in contested environments.
• Experience working with DoD stakeholders, warfighters, and government agencies to align capabilities with mission requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to seamlessly apply modern compute, data science, and software development best practices (e.g., cloud/HPC workflows, containerization, Git-based version control, CI/CD, automated testing, and reproducible analysis) to build and maintain reliable simulations and analytics.
• Excellent communication and briefing skills, with experience presenting to senior leadership, customers, and military personnel.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, agile development environment with shifting priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in force-on-force analysis, CONOPS development, or military campaign modeling.
• Familiarity with DoD acquisition processes, Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS), and military operational testing.
• Experience integrating AI-driven decision-making algorithms into operational analysis frameworks.
• Prior military service or experience working with U.S. Air Force, Navy, or Special Operations Forces.
• Experience using GenAI to structure problems and create simulation or analysis tools.
• Active Secret or Top-Secret clearance (or ability to obtain one).

$157,000 - $235,000 a year

Full-time regular employee offer package:

Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

Temporary employee offer package:

Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)

Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.

Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.