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Simulation Physics Modeling Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Develop and refine physics-based models, digital twins, and system simulations for HELLFIRE and JAGM missile guidance, propulsion, sensors, and terminal engagement behavior. * Perform simulation ...

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Simulation Physics Modeling information

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$39K

$101.3K

$144K

How much do simulation physics modeling jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for simulation physics modeling in the United States is $101,255.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,500.00 and $129,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in Simulation Physics Modeling, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Simulation Physics Modeling often encounter challenges such as balancing model accuracy with computational efficiency and integrating multidisciplinary data into their simulations. Addressing these issues requires strong problem-solving skills, ongoing collaboration with other specialists (like software engineers and domain experts), and a willingness to stay updated with the latest modeling techniques and tools. Effective communication within cross-functional teams and proactive debugging of simulation results are also essential for overcoming these challenges and delivering reliable outcomes.

What is the difference between Simulation Physics Modeling vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectSimulation Physics ModelingMechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in physics, engineering, or related fields; often certifications in simulation softwareBachelor's or higher in mechanical engineering; professional engineer (PE) license may be preferred
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, software development, engineering firms, often focused on modeling and simulation tasksManufacturing, design firms, construction sites, office settings with hands-on project work
Industry UsagePrimarily in aerospace, automotive, defense, and research sectors for simulation and analysisManufacturing, product design, energy, and construction industries for product development and systems design

Simulation Physics Modeling focuses on creating computer models to analyze physical systems, while Mechanical Engineers design and build physical products and systems. Both roles require engineering knowledge but differ in their primary tasks and work environments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Simulation Physics Modeling professional, and why are they important?

To excel in Simulation Physics Modeling, you need a strong background in physics, mathematics, and computational modeling, often supported by a degree in physics, engineering, or a related field. Proficiency with simulation software such as MATLAB, ANSYS, COMSOL, or programming languages like Python and C++ is typically required, and certifications in these tools can be advantageous. Critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for interpreting results and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. These skills are essential to accurately model complex physical systems and provide actionable insights for research, engineering, or product development.

What is simulation physics modeling?

Simulation physics modeling is the process of using computer-based models to replicate and analyze real-world physical systems or phenomena. It involves applying the laws of physics and mathematical equations to create virtual environments that can predict behavior under various conditions. This approach is widely used in engineering, research, and product development to test theories, optimize designs, and reduce the need for physical prototypes. By simulating complex physical interactions, professionals can gain valuable insights and make informed decisions efficiently.
Infographic showing various Simulation Physics Modeling job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 89% In-person, and 11% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $101,255 per year, or $48.7 per hour.
Senior Software Engineer, Simulation Platform

Senior Software Engineer, Simulation Platform

Anduril Industries

Costa Mesa, CA • On-site

$191K - $253K/yr

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago


Anduril rating

9.4

Company rating: 9.4 out of 10

Based on 7 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century's most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril's family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.
ABOUT THE TEAM
The Simulation Platform team owns the core architecture and infrastructure of Anduril's high-fidelity, multi-domain military mission simulator. It models hundreds of entities--aircraft, ships, submarines, satellites, ground vehicles--moving, sensing, communicating, and engaging across realistic physical environments. The simulator powers training, mission planning, autonomy development, and hardware-in-the-loop testing across Anduril's product portfolio. It connects to live systems, integrates with Anduril's Lattice platform, and runs inside a GUI for interactive scenario authoring. Mission Sim is a large, mature C++20 codebase with an Entity-Component-System architecture, a stable C ABI plugin system, embedded scripting, and a variety of physics-based models. Keeping this system fast, correct, extensible, and pleasant to develop against at scale, with a growing team of model developers is our job.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
  • Model authoring tools - an early effort you will help stand up to extend the Sim frontend with UI for authoring and tuning Mission Sim models. You will negotiate extension APIs with the GUI team and build an ergonomic UI atop them, working alongside Simulation Modeling engineers.
  • Custom Entity-Component-System architecture that underpins the entire simulator: entity lifecycle, component storage, and the update loop
  • Plugin and SDK development - maintaining a versioned C ABI, which enables external teams to extend the simulator
  • Performance and scale - keeping the simulation loop fast enough for real-time and faster-than-real-time execution with hundreds of concurrent entities; reasoning about memory layout, cache behavior and contention, as entity counts grow
  • Integration architecture - gRPC services, DIS protocol interoperability, networking messaging, and file recording for analysis and playback
  • Support domain experts in integrating new and enhancing existing capability models
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • 3 years of professional experience with C++20 and strong C++ skills; you should be comfortable with templates, move semantics, smart pointers, and the kinds of design decisions that show up in framework code
  • Experience designing internal APIs and frameworks that other engineers build on, with focus on backwards-compatibility and ergonomics
  • Solid understanding of systems programming fundamentals: memory management, shared libraries, ABI stability, linking, interfacing with the operating system
  • Comfort with linear algebra and applied math
  • Familiarity with Linux-based C++ development toolchains
  • Ability to reason about performance-sensitive code - cache behavior, memory layout, algorithmic complexity
  • Clear technical communication and ability to work in a large, shared codebase and negotiate architectural decisions that affect a growing team
  • Eligibility to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Government Secret security clearance
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • 5+ years of professional experience with C++20
  • Experience leading or mentoring engineers on a project - setting technical direction and bringing others along
  • Comfort operating in ambiguity - scoping the problem, the approach, and the interfaces when none exist yet, and driving them to a decision
  • Experience with military simulation, defense modeling & simulation, or related domains
  • Experience with Entity-Component-System architectures or game engine design patterns
  • Experience in designing and implementing GUI-supported workflows
  • Familiarity with gRPC, DIS (IEEE 1278.1) distributed simulation standard
  • Experience with Python/C++ interop (pybind11, embedded interpreters)
  • Familiarity with behavior trees or autonomous agent architectures
  • Developing in Nix
  • Experience with numerical simulation, physics modeling, or scientific computing

US Salary Range
$191,000-$253,000 USD
The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:
Benefits
At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you're supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits.
Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams
Anduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information.
To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind:
  • No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates.
  • Please always verify communications:
    • Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address.
    • Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to contact@anduril.com.
  • Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links.
  • What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to contact@anduril.com. Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts.

Data Privacy
To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/.
By submitting your application, you consent to Anduril Industries using a third-party service provider to conduct pre-employment risk, integrity, and due diligence screening and assessing potential risks as part of your application process. This third-party service provider provides risk-intelligence services that may include analysis of sanctions and watchlists, adverse media, public-record information, and other lawful open-source or commercial data sources. This third-party service provider does not act as a consumer reporting agency. Use of this provider helps to ensure compliance with applicable laws and protect technology, intellectual property, and organizational security.

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About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

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