Discrete Event Simulation Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Senior Modeling & Simulation Engineer

Who We Are: ThinkTek LLC is a fast-growing Certified SBA 8(a) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) company. We specialize in providing management and technology consulting services to support the business and technology modernization efforts of the Federal Government. ThinkTek was formed with the specific purpose of providing its clients with a tailored solution around Program & Project Management, Strategic Planning, Systems Engineering, and IT Operations.

Position Description: ThinkTek is seeking a highly motivated Senior Modeling & Simulation (M&S) Engineer to provide technical expertise in the development, integration, and analysis of modeling and simulation solutions that support program decision-making and mission outcomes. The role focuses on designing, implementing, validating, and analyzing models and simulations to evaluate system performance, operational concepts, and technical alternatives across complex operational environments.

Key Responsibilities:

M&S Framework Architecture and Integration

• Provide Modeling & Simulation (M&S) architecture expertise across multi-domain simulation environments (air, ground, maritime, cyber, and space).
• Design and lead development of the primary M&S framework to ensure scalability, interoperability, and alignment with program requirements.
• Oversee integration of COTS, GOTS, and custom-built simulation tools using standards such as High-Level Architecture (HLA), Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS), and/or custom APIs.

Scenario Development and Operational Environment Representation

• Lead development of complex, data-driven simulation scenarios.
• Model friendly and adversary Operational Plans (OPLANs), force structures, and mission threads.
• Oversee the configuration of dynamic environmental conditions (e.g., weather, terrain, electromagnetic spectrum) to support realistic operational environments.

Analytical Baseline and Requirements Definition

• Conduct analysis to define the analytical baseline, including measures of effectiveness, measures of performance, and key data collection requirements.
• Translate program objectives into simulation data needs and evaluation criteria.
• Verification, Validation, and Accreditation (VV&A)
• Establish and manage a rigorous VV&A process for all models and simulation components.
• Ensure simulation outputs are accurate, credible, and compliant with program requirements and standards.

Agile Development and Technical Leadership

• Manage the M&S development backlog, sprint planning, and iterative delivery cycles.
• Provide technical leadership to cross-functional teams including software engineers, data scientists, and M&S engineers.
• Data Integration and Analytics Support
• Collaborate with technical teams to structure simulation output data (e.g., entity states, events, logs) for efficient ingestion into analytics pipelines.
• Ensure data formats and architectures support advanced analysis and decision-making.

Training and Operational Support

• Develop training materials for wargame participants, adjudicators, and support staff.
• Lead training sessions to ensure users understand simulation capabilities, limitations, and interfaces prior to execution.

Documentation and Reporting

• Document all:
• Analytical methodologies and baseline development
• Scenario design and operational environment configurations
• VV&A processes and outcomes
• Test planning and evaluation activities
• Simulation results and findings
• Provide clear reports, briefings, and recommendations to program leadership and stakeholders.

Required:

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong expertise in Modeling & Simulation (M&S) frameworks, distributed simulation architectures, and multi-domain environments.
• Proficiency in simulation integration standards such as HLA, DIS, and API-based architectures.
• Experience designing and executing complex, data-driven simulation scenarios and operational models.
• Experience with VV&A processes and ensuring analytical credibility of simulation systems.
• Familiarity with Agile development practices, including backlog management, sprint planning, and code reviews.
• Ability to collaborate across software engineering, data science, and systems engineering teams.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical communication skills.

Clearance:

• Minimum Active Secret Clearance with the ability to get a Top Secret

Education & Experience:

• Education: Bachelor's degree (in Engineering, Computer Science, Operations Research, Applied Mathematics, or related technical discipline). Master's degree preferred.
• Experience: 8+ years of experience in Modeling & Simulation (M&S), systems engineering, or related technical field.

Desired:

• Experience supporting DoD or Federal Government simulation or wargaming programs.
• Familiarity with operational analysis, campaign analysis, or wargaming methodologies.
• Experience integrating simulation outputs with data analytics or machine learning pipelines.
• Knowledge of cloud-based simulation environments and distributed computing architectures.
• Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools and practices.
• Experience with large-scale, multi-domain simulation exercises or experimentation environments.

ThinkTek LLC is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE), making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. ThinkTek offers medical, dental, and vision insurance to all full-time employees; PTO and a variety of other paid leave options are also available. You can read more about ThinkTek benefits at https://www.thinktekllc.com/careers/.