Digital Engineering Model & Simulation Lead

The Digital Engineering Center is a transformation Group within the Engineering Division (Division 7). Division 7 works in partnership with the other Laboratory technical divisions to design and build advanced technology systems and prototypes of national importance. The Division’s expertise includes mechanical, materials, aero, thermal, optical, control, and fabrication engineering plus energy and autonomous systems. Supporting the engineering efforts are a wide range of specialized laboratories, electronics and mechanical fabrication capabilities, plus integration and environmental test facilities. Special emphasis is placed on the integration of design and analysis capabilities to support the rapid prototyping of hardware systems. 

Position Description

The Digital Engineering Center is seeking a motivated engineer to lead our modeling and simulation development and demonstration efforts. In this role, you will develop and implement models and simulations to analyze and optimize the complex prototypes we build.  Your work will involve creating detailed mathematical models, running simulations, and analyzing the results to provide actionable insights that inform technical design trades and decision-making.  In addition, you have the opportunity to explore new methods in modeling and simulation using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning to significantly improve model performance, automation, and more efficiently explore design spaces. This role demands strong technical leadership, strategic planning, and the ability to drive innovation across multidisciplinary teams. The ideal candidate will also possess a deep understanding of advanced modeling techniques and supercomputing engineering. This exciting role will also engage with engineers across disciplines, both internally and externally, to define, develop, demonstrate, and validate digital twin technology for critical mission areas. 

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with Laboratory leaders to develop, maintain, and execute a multi-year Modeling and Simulation Strategy 
• Develop, test, and validate mathematical models to represent complex prototypes   
• Research new methods in modeling and simulation using AI and Machine Learning 
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to promote innovative solutions while providing technical guidance on state-of-the-art methodologies 
• Develop a Laboratory Digital Twin strategy, including technology needs and development roadmap; advise programs on scope, statements of work, and model Digital Twin Architectures 
• Implement technology to enable scalable digital twin solutions to support the varied Laboratory programs and mission areas, including partnering with various groups across the lab and external companies and organizations, and creating a digital twin toolkit with recommended solutions 
• Design, implement, and validate digital threads that integrate data from various modeling and simulation tools with the Laboratory’s digital platforms, ensuring seamless data flow and coherence across tools and teams 
• Identify and promote early adoption of simulation data management (SDM) use cases with clearly defined value proposition and low implementation barriers through presentations to internal stakeholders and external partners 
• Perform data verification and validation across digital threads, ensuring data integrity and consumer confidence 
• Apply model federation best practices, maintain reusable model elements, and act as a digital librarian, ensuring system interoperability and governance 
• Ensure compliance with enterprise-level cybersecurity requirements and optimize secure simulation environments 

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Computational Engineering, or a related field, with 5+ years proven experience in modeling and simulation, ideally within the aerospace, civil space, or related industry 
• Proficient in modern modeling techniques including complex CAD conversion, surface mapping and mastering, defeaturing, parametric feature morphing, and API-based dynamic model manipulation 
• Proven experience with Digital Twin frameworks and simulation data management 
• Expertise in multiple simulation tools and advanced processes such as uncertainty quantification, AI applications, machine learning frameworks, numerical convergence monitoring, data-driven correlation, design exploration, gradient-based optimization, evolution-based optimization, and reduced order model synthesis 
• Experienced with containerized applications and multiple supercomputing interfaces such as slurm, AWS, swarm-based servers, managing in-memory data streams, and handling CPU/GPU-based solvers; skilled in API-based workflows, and data exchange optimization 
• Familiar with cybersecurity techniques and complying with enterprise-level requirements

Required Qualifications (cont.)

• Familiarity and/or expertise with the following: CAD tools, physics-based modeling tools, MATLAB, Simulink, ANSYS, COMSOL, Aras Innovator, and Model-based System Engineering platforms;  
• Experience in programming and scripting to support tool integration and automation (e.g., Python, MATLAB, Java, TensorFlow, C/C++, Julia, scikit-learn, parallel computing (MPI, OpenMP) 
• Proven ability to learn and adapt to new software, tools, and methodologies quickly, and apply cross-disciplinary knowledge in these tools 
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, with a collaborative approach to problem-solving  
• Systems thinker with the ability to connect concepts and design holistic engineering workflows 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required; ability to represent the Digital Engineering Center and brief large audiences and senior officials with aplomb 
• Experience with enforcing data governance practices and maintaining data integrity a plus 
• Familiarity with organizational change management techniques to drive digital engineering adoption a plus

This position reports directly to the DEC Group Leader. 

At MIT Lincoln Laboratory, our exceptional career opportunities include many outstanding benefits to help you stay healthy, feel supported, and enjoy a fulfilling work-life balance. Benefits offered to employees include: 

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans
• MIT-funded pension
• Matching 401K
• Paid leave (including vacation, sick, parental, military, etc.)
• Tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs
• Mentorship programs
• A range of work-life balance options
• ... and much more!  

Please visit our Benefits page for more information. As an employee of MIT, you can also take advantage of other voluntary benefits, discounts and perks.

Selected candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret level DoD security clearance.

MIT Lincoln Laboratory is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability status, or genetic information; U.S. citizenship is required.

Requisition ID: 41889