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Flight Simulation Engineer Jobs in Denver, CO (NOW HIRING)

Impulse Space

Senior Simulation Engineer

Louisville, CO · On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

Senior Simulation Engineer Department: Autonomous Systems Employment Type: Full Time Location ... Provide simulation support for verification and validation of flight software. * Participate in ...

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All JobsFlight Simulation Engineer JobsFlight Simulation Engineer Jobs in Denver, CO

Flight Simulation Engineer information

See Denver, CO salary details

$40.1K

$127K

$196.1K

How much do flight simulation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for flight simulation engineer in Denver, CO is $127,012.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $94,700.00 and $150,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Are simulation engineers in demand?

Simulation engineers, including flight simulation engineers, are in demand due to the growing need for realistic training and testing environments in aerospace and defense industries. Their skills in software development, systems integration, and familiarity with simulation tools are highly valued, leading to steady job opportunities across various sectors.

What is a Flight Simulation Engineer job?

A Flight Simulation Engineer designs, develops, and maintains flight simulators used for pilot training, aircraft testing, and system development. They work with software, hardware, and aerodynamic models to create realistic flight environments. Their role includes troubleshooting, integrating new features, and ensuring the simulator accurately mimics real-world flight conditions. These engineers collaborate with pilots, aerospace engineers, and software developers to enhance simulator performance and reliability.

What does a flight simulator engineer do?

A flight simulation engineer designs, develops, and maintains flight simulators used for pilot training and aircraft testing. They work with software, hardware, and avionics systems to ensure realistic and reliable simulation experiences, often requiring knowledge of aeronautics, programming, and engineering standards.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Flight Simulation Engineer position, and why are they important?

A Flight Simulation Engineer typically requires a degree in aerospace, electrical, or software engineering, along with deep knowledge of simulation modeling, computer programming, and avionics systems. Familiarity with simulation platforms like MATLAB/Simulink, C/C++, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing tools, as well as certifications such as FAA or EASA compliance standards, is vital. Strong problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills enable effective teamwork and troubleshooting of complex technical issues. These abilities ensure the accurate development and maintenance of high-fidelity flight simulators used for pilot training and research.

What does a typical day look like for a Flight Simulation Engineer?

As a Flight Simulation Engineer, your typical day often involves designing, coding, and testing simulation models that replicate real aircraft systems and environments. You may collaborate closely with pilots, software developers, and hardware engineers to integrate new features or troubleshoot simulator performance issues. Routine tasks can include conducting system validations, updating software, and ensuring compliance with aviation standards. The role often mixes independent technical work with project team meetings, offering variety and opportunities to learn from experts in multiple disciplines.

How much do flight simulator engineers make?

Flight simulation engineers typically earn between $70,000 and $120,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and level of expertise. Senior engineers or those with specialized skills in simulation software and hardware may earn higher salaries, especially in aerospace or defense industries.

What engineers make $500,000?

Highly experienced aerospace or systems engineers, including senior flight simulation engineers working in defense, aerospace, or large technology companies, can reach or exceed a $500,000 annual salary with bonuses and stock options. These roles typically require advanced degrees, specialized skills, and extensive industry experience. Compensation varies based on location, company size, and individual expertise.
What are the most commonly searched types of Flight Simulation Engineer jobs in Denver, CO? The most popular types of Flight Simulation Engineer jobs in Denver, CO are:
What are popular job titles related to Flight Simulation Engineer jobs in Denver, CO? For Flight Simulation Engineer jobs in Denver, CO, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Flight Simulation Engineer jobs in Denver, CO look for? The top searched job categories for Flight Simulation Engineer jobs in Denver, CO are:
Flight Simulation Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Flight Simulation Engineer job openings in Denver, CO as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $127,012 per year, or $61.1 per hour.

Senior GNC Simulation Engineer

Approach Venture

Denver, CO

$120K - $165K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Posted 6 days ago

Job description

Senior GNC Simulation Engineer - Build the Flight Simulation Environment for Next-Generation Spacecraft

Denver, Colorado | On-site


Opportunity Summary

Join a venture-backed aerospace company developing advanced spacecraft platforms designed to support the next generation of autonomous in-space operations. As the company progresses from prototype development toward flight-qualified systems, this role will lead the development of the simulation and verification environment used to validate guidance, navigation, and control performance before hardware reaches orbit. As a Senior GNC Simulation Engineer, you will own the simulation infrastructure supporting flight software development, vehicle dynamics, and mission verification. You'll build high-fidelity simulation environments that accurately model spacecraft physics, sensors, actuators, and onboard software while enabling rapid testing through hardware-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop, and Monte Carlo analysis. Working closely with GNC, embedded software, avionics, and systems engineering teams, you'll help ensure simulation results translate directly to flight performance.


About Us

We are an early-stage aerospace company developing advanced spacecraft technologies for future commercial and government space missions. Our multidisciplinary engineering team combines flight software, avionics, autonomy, and mechanical design to solve challenging problems in spacecraft mobility and in-space operations. Engineers have broad technical ownership and play an active role in moving systems from concept through flight validation.


Job Duties

  • Design, develop, and maintain high-fidelity simulation environments supporting spacecraft guidance, navigation, and control development.
  • Build 6DOF physics models representing spacecraft dynamics, orbital motion, environmental effects, and vehicle interactions.
  • Develop simulation infrastructure that integrates directly with production flight software.
  • Design and maintain hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop verification environments.
  • Develop sensor, actuator, communication, and subsystem models that accurately represent flight hardware behavior.
  • Build Monte Carlo analysis frameworks for performance evaluation across thousands of mission scenarios.
  • Develop simulation configuration, automation, logging, visualization, and telemetry tools.
  • Validate simulation fidelity through comparison with hardware testing and flight data.
  • Support regression testing and continuous verification of guidance, navigation, and control algorithms.
  • Reproduce flight anomalies and investigate discrepancies between simulation and hardware performance.
  • Collaborate closely with GNC, embedded software, avionics, perception, and systems engineering teams to improve simulation accuracy and software reliability.
  • Participate in architecture discussions, design reviews, and verification planning throughout product development.


Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a related technical discipline.
  • 5+ years developing simulation software for aerospace, robotics, autonomous systems, or other dynamic platforms.
  • Strong software development experience using modern C++ and Python.
  • Experience developing high-fidelity dynamic simulation environments.
  • Strong understanding of rigid-body dynamics, numerical integration, orbital mechanics, and control systems.
  • Experience integrating software into simulation or hardware verification environments.
  • Familiarity with collaborative software development practices and version control systems.


Preferred Experience

  • High-fidelity 6DOF spacecraft or aircraft simulation.
  • Hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop testing.
  • Monte Carlo simulation and statistical performance analysis.
  • Real-time or embedded software development.
  • Flight software integration and verification.
  • Sensor and actuator modeling.
  • Numerical integration methods and nonlinear dynamic systems.
  • Distributed software architectures or multi-rate simulation frameworks.
  • Data visualization, telemetry analysis, or simulation dashboards.
  • Experience supporting spacecraft, autonomous vehicles, robotics, UAVs, or other mission-critical autonomous systems.


Why Join Us

  • Own the simulation platform that validates every flight-critical GNC capability.
  • Build the verification infrastructure supporting next-generation autonomous spacecraft.
  • Work alongside a highly collaborative multidisciplinary engineering team.
  • Significant technical ownership with direct influence on product architecture and development processes.
  • Competitive salary and meaningful early-stage equity opportunity.
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Life and disability insurance.
  • Paid parental leave.
  • Three weeks of paid vacation plus company holidays.


Compensation Details

$120,000 - $165,000