Lead Simulation Engineer
Hawthorne, CA, USA
USD 142k-235k / year + Equity
Posted on Apr 23, 2026
Venturi Astrolab, Inc. (Astrolab) is pioneering new ways to explore and operate on distant planetary bodies. We are singularly focused on designing, building, and operating a fleet of multi-purpose commercial planetary rovers to extend and enhance humanity’s presence in the solar system. We are seeking motivated, creative, and exceptional people to join our world-class team.
The lead simulation engineer will be responsible for directing the technical work of the simulation team, including development of the simulation infrastructure, vehicle models, and integration of the simulation with vehicle software and automated integrated test tools. The lead simulation engineer will support long-term strategic planning of simulation scope and capabilities with the larger software team and manage the short term tactical priorities. This position is a technical leadership position with an expectation that the lead will also be doing hands on work as part of the simulation team, especially in the realm of integration with other tools and simulation performance improvements.
The lead simulation engineer will be responsible for directing the technical work of the simulation team, including development of the simulation infrastructure, vehicle models, and integration of the simulation with vehicle software and automated integrated test tools. The lead simulation engineer will support long-term strategic planning of simulation scope and capabilities with the larger software team and manage the short term tactical priorities. This position is a technical leadership position with an expectation that the lead will also be doing hands on work as part of the simulation team, especially in the realm of integration with other tools and simulation performance improvements.
- Department
- Software Engineering
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Location
- Hawthorne, California
- Workplace type
- Onsite
- Compensation
- $142,000 - $235,000 / year
- Reporting To
- Denise Brown
What you'll do:
- 10+ years architecting and building real time and faster than real time simulations of complex systems such as spacecraft, aircraft, automobiles or similar systems. Experience must include developing individual models, modeling vehicle dynamics and vehicle operating environment, and developing simulation infrastructure
- 3 or more years of leading a simulation team, including planning work scope and milestones and managing a small team to meet those milestones
- Experience integrating a simulation with vehicle software that runs in a separate environment (e.g. spacecraft vehicle simulation integrated with vehicle flight software running on a flight computer or automobile simulation integrated with on-board vehicle software running in a container)
- Significant experience with simulation and model verification and validation
- Significant experience with vehicle dynamics modeling, both rigid bodies and flexible bodies and a solid understanding of numerical integration of dynamical systems
- Significant experience modeling real-world sensors and effectors/actuators, including error sources
- Experience with fault injection in a simulation environment
- Strong C++ and Python software programming skills
What you'll bring:
- Experience simulating extra-terrestrial rovers
- Experience modeling suspension systems
- Experience with terramechanics modeling and with tuning terramechanics models given fidelity needs vs. simulation performance requirements
- Experience working with standard spaceflight models relevant to extra-terrestrial rovers, such as GRGM1200A lunar gravity model, GMM-3 Mars gravity model, Mars GRAM, and similar
- Significant experience instrumenting, analyzing, and improving simulation performance to ensure real time frames are not overrun or speed up Monte Carlo analysis
- Experience setting up simulations to support Monte Carlo or similar statistical performance analysis
Benefits and Perks
- Join a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration
- Equity ownership in the company
- Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health support
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Flexible PTO and parental leave
- Home office set up reimbursement
- Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on-site
- Once a month social hour on-site with food and drinks
About Astrolab
Having a strong, inclusive, and inspired team is essential to accomplishing our bold mission. Employees are our biggest asset, and we are deeply committed to them and our values. At Astrolab we…
Demonstrate and inspire trust. Interactions are direct, honest, and respectful. We are fair and transparent with what we do and why.
Thrive in balance. Balance gives us perspective and keeps us motivated and inspired. We commit to rewarding work and a fulfilling personal life.
Seek diverse perspectives. We ask questions, engage in productive debate and offer alternatives to ensure our solutions and products are robust and a reflection of our collective best.
Move with purpose. Quality and reliability are accomplished through efficient ideation and iteration. We act with a sense of urgency and deliver what we promise, always with the big picture in mind.
Make an impact. We intentionally move our community and industry into the future through our work, practices, and actions.
Our Hiring Process
Stage 1:
Application Review
Stage 2:
Recruiter Phone Interview
Stage 3:
Video Interviews
Stage 4:
On-site Interview
Astrolab is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, gender, gender identity, parental or pregnancy status, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or veteran status. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to careers@astrolab.space. We strive to remove unconscious and unnecessary barriers to build the best team. While we’ve outlined what an ideal candidate could look like, we know that you may bring something unanticipated and essential to the team. If you’re reading this and can see yourself contributing, please register below.