Job Information
Actalent Lead Simulation Software Engineer in Houston, Texas
Job Title: Lead Simulation Software Engineer
Job Description
As a Lead Simulation Software Engineer, you will guide the technical direction, feature planning, and cross-team coordination for simulation development. Your role will involve developing and maintaining physics-based models of spacecraft across various domains such as mechanics, thermodynamics, fluids, and electrical systems.
Responsibilities
Develop and maintain physics-based models of a spacecraft across multiple domains including mechanics, thermodynamics, fluids, and electrical.
Represent system states and interactions across integrated subsystems.
Validate models against test data and engineering expectations.
Maintain and evolve real-time and faster-than-real-time simulation platforms for multiple mission use cases.
Manage deterministic single-thread CPU environments and multi-threaded or GPU-accelerated execution modes.
Ensure deterministic, repeatable simulation behavior across configurations.
Define and implement external interfaces, runtime APIs, and internal simulation tooling.
Build and maintain CI/CD pipelines for simulation builds, testing, and deployment.
Manage containerized development and runtime environments, including image registries and reproducible build systems.
Maintain cloud (AWS) and on-premise compute infrastructure to support large-scale simulation workloads.
Perform vehicle-level analyses and trade studies using simulation outputs.
Develop Python-based configuration, post-processing, and visualization tools.
Mentor engineers, review designs and code, and troubleshoot complex system-level issues.
Communicate progress, risks, and status to stakeholders while supporting agile project execution.
Essential Skills
5+ years of software experienc in the aerospace industry.
Proficiency in C++ & Python programming.
Experience with NASA GUNNS + TRICK Simulation Software.
Experience with flight vehicles.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Experience in building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines.
Familiarity with simulation and software verification.
Experience in managing containerized development and runtime environments.
Knowledge of cloud (AWS) and on-premise compute infrastructure.
Leadership experience
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Houston, TX.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $70.00 - $85.00/hr.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Houston,TX.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Apr 21, 2026.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:
Hiring diverse talent
Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
Ensuring growth opportunities for our people
Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.
Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.