Wardstone (YC F25)
Simulation and Modeling Engineer
Wardstone (YC F25), San Francisco, California, United States, 94199
Simulation and Modeling Engineer at Wardstone (YC F25)
This role is for the Simulation & Modeling Engineer at Wardstone (YC F25). Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.
Base Pay Range $100,000.00/yr - $180,000.00/yr
What You'll Do Interceptor Dynamics Modeling
Build high-fidelity 6DOF models of interceptor trajectories and target maneuvers.
Model aerodynamic forces, flight regimes (subsonic → hypersonic), and uncertainties.
Implement full state propagation with drag, atmospheric effects, gravity, and actuator limits.
Orbital Mechanics & VLEO Modeling
Implement orbital propagators, Lambert solvers, and multi-body dynamics.
Model VLEO drag, solar flux, eclipse cycles, thermal conditions, and station‑keeping budgets.
Quantify ΔV requirements for intercept geometries and constellation designs.
Guidance, Control & Sensor Model Integration
Integrate GNC algorithms into simulation environments.
Model perception pipelines: IR signatures, SNR, glint, thermal clutter, and atmospheric attenuation.
Build closed‑loop simulations with perception → guidance → actuation → dynamics → intercept logic.
Hailstorm Dispersal Modeling
Model particle trajectories, dispersal cones, cloud expansion, and lethality envelopes.
Model impulse delivery mechanisms: blast, thrust, or hybrid dispersal events.
Work with energetics engineers on momentary high‑G propagation and multi‑body interactions.
Monte Carlo & Probabilistic Analysis
Run large‑scale Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate hit probability, robustness, and margins.
Develop parameter sweeps for timing, sensing errors, aerodynamic uncertainties, and ΔV constraints.
Produce data‑driven design recommendations for system architecture decisions.
Simulation Infrastructure & Visualization
Build clean, modular simulation tools in MATLAB/Python/C++ for internal engineering teams.
Develop visualization tools (2D, 3D, orbital views) used for engineering and visual storytelling.
Maintain code quality, performance, and model usability across the engineering org.
Required Qualifications
B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or similar.
Strong experience with dynamic simulations (MATLAB, Simulink, Python, C++, Julia, or equivalent).
Deep understanding of orbital mechanics, flight dynamics, or missile/rocket modeling.
Experience with numerical methods, ODE/PDE solvers, filtering, integration stability, and optimization.
Ability to validate simulated results against analytical solutions or experimental data.
Strong intuition for physics and comfort working with incomplete or noisy data.
U.S. citizenship required.
Nice to Haves
Experience modeling hypersonic flow, ablation, or high‑enthalpy environments.
Experience with high‑speed particle or fragment modeling.
Experience connecting simulation to hardware‑in‑the‑loop systems.
Familiarity with CFD tools (OpenFOAM, SU2, ANSYS Fluent).
Experience with sensor modeling: IR/EO tracking, radar, radiometric models, or synthetic scene generation.
Experience building custom visualization pipelines or simulation frameworks.
Seniority Level Entry level
Employment Type Full‑time
Job Function Engineering and Information Technology
Industries Defense and Space Manufacturing
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This role is for the Simulation & Modeling Engineer at Wardstone (YC F25). Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.
Base Pay Range $100,000.00/yr - $180,000.00/yr
What You'll Do Interceptor Dynamics Modeling
Build high-fidelity 6DOF models of interceptor trajectories and target maneuvers.
Model aerodynamic forces, flight regimes (subsonic → hypersonic), and uncertainties.
Implement full state propagation with drag, atmospheric effects, gravity, and actuator limits.
Orbital Mechanics & VLEO Modeling
Implement orbital propagators, Lambert solvers, and multi-body dynamics.
Model VLEO drag, solar flux, eclipse cycles, thermal conditions, and station‑keeping budgets.
Quantify ΔV requirements for intercept geometries and constellation designs.
Guidance, Control & Sensor Model Integration
Integrate GNC algorithms into simulation environments.
Model perception pipelines: IR signatures, SNR, glint, thermal clutter, and atmospheric attenuation.
Build closed‑loop simulations with perception → guidance → actuation → dynamics → intercept logic.
Hailstorm Dispersal Modeling
Model particle trajectories, dispersal cones, cloud expansion, and lethality envelopes.
Model impulse delivery mechanisms: blast, thrust, or hybrid dispersal events.
Work with energetics engineers on momentary high‑G propagation and multi‑body interactions.
Monte Carlo & Probabilistic Analysis
Run large‑scale Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate hit probability, robustness, and margins.
Develop parameter sweeps for timing, sensing errors, aerodynamic uncertainties, and ΔV constraints.
Produce data‑driven design recommendations for system architecture decisions.
Simulation Infrastructure & Visualization
Build clean, modular simulation tools in MATLAB/Python/C++ for internal engineering teams.
Develop visualization tools (2D, 3D, orbital views) used for engineering and visual storytelling.
Maintain code quality, performance, and model usability across the engineering org.
Required Qualifications
B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or similar.
Strong experience with dynamic simulations (MATLAB, Simulink, Python, C++, Julia, or equivalent).
Deep understanding of orbital mechanics, flight dynamics, or missile/rocket modeling.
Experience with numerical methods, ODE/PDE solvers, filtering, integration stability, and optimization.
Ability to validate simulated results against analytical solutions or experimental data.
Strong intuition for physics and comfort working with incomplete or noisy data.
U.S. citizenship required.
Nice to Haves
Experience modeling hypersonic flow, ablation, or high‑enthalpy environments.
Experience with high‑speed particle or fragment modeling.
Experience connecting simulation to hardware‑in‑the‑loop systems.
Familiarity with CFD tools (OpenFOAM, SU2, ANSYS Fluent).
Experience with sensor modeling: IR/EO tracking, radar, radiometric models, or synthetic scene generation.
Experience building custom visualization pipelines or simulation frameworks.
Seniority Level Entry level
Employment Type Full‑time
Job Function Engineering and Information Technology
Industries Defense and Space Manufacturing
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