Skip to content

Software & IT

Simulation Software Engineering Manager 5

United Launch Alliance logoUnited Launch Alliance$147,813–$274,510/yrCentennial, CO, United StatesAdded 1w ago

How this pay compares

This posting states $148k–$275k a year. Open software engineer jobs in Colorado post a median of $159k a year, the middle half $135k–$198k, across 249 jobs that state their pay, so this one is above the middle half of what they post.

Software engineers in Colorado: pay by town and employer

About the job

Requisition ID:2254 ## At ULA, success comes through the efforts of a strong, united team. Thanks for your interest in United Launch Alliance, the world's most experienced and reliable space launch company! Successfully launching more than 155 consecutive missions with 100% mission success doesn't happen by accident.

It's a testament to the commitment and dedication of our team of rocket scientists and support employees combined with the systems and processes we use to pull them together. As a ULA employee, you'll have the opportunity to grow in your career while working in a team-oriented culture that combines technology, innovation, ingenuity and a commitment to the extraordinary.

Whether you are in college just launching your career, or, have experience and want to come work with the best rocket team in the world, our unshakable unity yields stronger solutions and better results as we carry out our mission to save lives, explore the universe, and connect the world.

Our team is excited to meet you! ## Job Overview & Responsibilities At ULA, as a Simulation Software Engineering Manager 5 , you will lead a talented, high-performing team of engineers that architect, design, develop, and test simulation software solutions for launch vehicle systems.

You will coordinate project schedules, monitor development tasks, and provide & analyze metrics to evaluate process execution and reliability. Operating in an agile environment, you will engage with Product Owners, Technology Architects, Quality Assurance, Automation team members, and External Customers on cross-functional activities.

As a member of the Software Engineering leadership team, you will help set the direction of the organization, and provide process ownership and technical leadership. You will participate in strategic activities such as proposal efforts, future planning, and developing software roadmaps. You are skilled at building strong teams and developing people. You have a passion for leading and driving change.

You are motivated by improving systems & processes and seeing reliability processes and seeing reliability & user productivity increase. You naturally break down organizational silos and build partnerships. You provide leadership and clarity to create a shared vision and roadmaps to evolve the capabilities of software simulation systems.

The Simulation Software Engineering Manager 5 reports to the All Digital Simulation Senior Manager.

They will oversee and direct non-recurring and recurring development activities for integrated vehicle simulation products supporting ULA's launch vehicle programs. ## Key Focus Areas: - Integration and compatibility of simulation products with Flight Software and Ground Software systems - Simulation/test environments that provide virtual environments for trajectory optimization, analysis, training, and verification - Simulation infrastructure and support tools - Model development, validation, verification, and accreditation (VV&A) - Co-development activities with external customers/partners on simulation frameworks ## Specific Responsibilities Include - Direct responsibility for program execution, cost & schedule, including earned value - Coordinate with other functional disciplines to resolve technical and programmatic risks, issues, and challenges - Build partnerships with customers, suppliers, consultants, partners, and internal/external stakeholders - Ensure software development that is compliant with processes, procedures & requirements - Reinforce & mature Scaled Agile (SAFe) best practices, principles practices, principles & processes - Participate in and guide agile ceremonies such as program increment planning, system demos, and design reviews - Develop and maintain a team of engineers who establish requirements, develop and integrate simulation software and data products, and take them through testing and deployment - Hiring, performance management, and career growth for team - Along with other software leaders, shape the evolution of flight software, ground software, and integrated test environments capabilities & roadmaps - Lead model porting, integration, and VV&A activities across multiple simulation frameworks - Manage simulation testbed configurations and hardware/software integration ## Required Education Bachelor ## Required Years of Experience Minimum of 8 years of related work experience ## Basic Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) field from an accredited college or university - Prior experience managing people or managing programs/projects - Proven ability to lead across organizational boundaries and as part of cross-functional teams - Experience with task planning/budgeting and project/program management - Interpersonal skills (collaboration, motivation, coaching and conflict resolution) - Excellent communication, interpersonal and facilitation skills - Experience and ability to drive strong team culture - Ability to grow and motivate employees - Self-starter with effective decision-making ability and can work with minimal direction ## Preferred Qualifications - Advanced degrees - Combination of software/computer science and other engineering degrees (mechanical, electrical, aerospace) - Previous leadership experience in simulation or modeling & simulation domains - Lean-Agile (SAFe, Scrum and XP) program/project management experience - Earned value management (in an Agile setting) - Proposal development experience - Experience working with government agencies (NASA, DoD) and IV&V contractor community - Full software development lifecycle experience in real-time and faster than real-time simulation environments - Experience with modern software development practices & tools - Modeling and simulation domain experience (trajectory analysis, vehicle dynamics, avionics simulation, hardware-in-the-loop) - Hardware & software integration and test experience - Software architecture experience - Flight or ground software development experience - Software test environment development experience - Experience with simulation frameworks - Experience with emulation technologies and virtual testbed development - Cybersecurity for software or test environments experience - Strong understanding of cybersecurity policies, practices, and procedures - C++, Python, Linux experience - Experience with development and execution in cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) - Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS) and embedded systems - Knowledge of avionics systems, flight computers, and bus protocols (1553, RS-422) - Experience with VV&A processes and methodologies - Experience with co-development and integration with external partners Summary Salary Range (for ULA - Denver only): $147,813.00 - $274,510.00 Please note that the salary information shown above is a general guideline only.

Salaries are based upon a candidate's experience and qualifications, as well as internal equity, market and business considerations. Employees may be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus in addition to base pay. ## What makes ULA different? Because we understand launch success comes through the collective efforts of a team, we seek the best to join us.

We value ethics, ingenuity, engagement and professional development for employees at all levels. ## We offer our employees competitive pay and benefits including - 401(k) match plus an additional employer contribution - Discretionary annual incentive bonus for eligible employees - Generous paid time off - Flexible work environments Additionally, most salaried ULA team members work a "9/80 schedule," meaning they enjoy every other Friday off.

Benefits and work schedules may vary for union-represented hourly positions and are described in the applicable collective bargaining agreement. The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depen

From United Launch Alliance's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.

Selected agencies hiring now

These agencies and apps pay SpaceJobs.Now a referral fee when someone we introduce is placed or signs up. It costs you nothing and never changes your pay. Employers' own jobs below keep their own order.

Sponsored

Sponsored jobs from job networks, which pay SpaceJobs.Now when you click one.

Free tools for this application: check your resume against this job, answer the application's questions or see every free tool.

New ground software and IT jobs in space in Colorado, by email

One email a week with the newest ones, straight from the employers' own careers sites, with the pay each posting states. Free, stop anytime.

About United Launch Alliance

Builds and flies the Atlas V and Vulcan rockets for national security, NASA and commercial customers.

Pay on its listings: 60.3% of its open jobs state an hourly rate

How it pays: Paid as an employee on United Launch Alliance's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).

More open jobs at United Launch Alliance

More ground software and IT jobs in space

A software or IT professional?

One profile for every employer here. Space companies and their recruiters ask us for people with a specific degree, clearance, specialty or location: add yours once, and when a job fits, we introduce you, only with your yes. Free.

Create my profile

United Launch Alliance openings, sent to you weekly

Each week we send the newest postings from United Launch Alliance's own careers site, along with similar openings at other space employers. It costs nothing and you can stop anytime.