TYPICAL DUTIES:

• Perform engineering analysis and planning, preliminary design, design evaluation, design review, and test and validation of flight simulation systems.
• Establish training system performance requirements in terms of kinematic and aerodynamic modeling methods from both engineering design and software implementation aspects, computer hardware capabilities, design data and validation criteria data issues, debugging and validation test methodologies, and kinesthetic and tactile pilot/operator cueing systems such as motion platforms and control loading systems.
• Perform studies, detailed analysis, literature searches, and exploratory projects to identify solutions to specific critical problems when existing technology cannot provide a satisfactory solution or where technical or training risk is unusually high.
• Provide consultation and engineering analysis to support Government planning for future flight simulation systems.  Provide specific recommendations on technical approach based on extrapolations of future capabilities in flight simulation.
• Perform engineering analysis of relationships between flight simulation, pilot feel and motion cueing, visual simulation, and other simulation areas to establish critical performance parameters for all elements of the system affecting integration of the system.
• Provide consultation and training for other Government flight simulation specialists.
• Develop corrections or originate replacements to trainer math models, participate in software/hardware modification efforts relating to flight simulation, and provide support during the test effort to validate these modifications.
• Develop, evaluate, and refine new flight fidelity test methods and data analysis techniques.
• Conduct analyses of available data on aircraft performance, flying qualities, and flight systems operation to define the flight simulation envelope with associated performance parameters as required by the training characteristics identified by user commands.
• Determine areas where pilot performance indices have to be established to evaluate trainer performance.
• Conduct in-depth analyses of new or emerging simulation and modeling technology and testing concepts to achieve optimum quantitative engineering criteria for aircraft performance and flying qualities and systems operation for the training system specifications.
• Analyze the M&S impact of digital computer hardware/software system design, including the possibility of interfacing aircraft hardware (computers, actuators, etc.) and software with the simulation under consideration.
• Provide support in developing design analyses, cost estimates, technical approaches, and other planning documents for flight simulation training system elements and other related M&S applications.
• Provide support in formulating sections of detailed training system specifications relating to flight simulation, especially for complex and high risk applications, to establish degree of simulation fidelity, performance tolerances, and other performance requirements
• Provide support in the development of technical proposal requirements to identify critical or potential engineering problem areas relating to flight simulation, in order to elicit specific information from proposed industry design approaches.
• Provide support in technical engineering evaluation of proposals IAW Government established criteria.
• Provide support in Navy testing milestones for flight fidelity to include test planning, analysis of test results, and corrective recommendations to flight fidelity deficiencies.
• Perform the following flight simulation tactical environment tasks:
• Perform aircraft tactical environment analysis, testing, and validation.
• Provide expert technical consultation and guidance for tactical player characteristics and tactical system operation (stand alone as well as networked applications) to include:
• M&S of complex player (aircraft and missiles) dynamic models.
• Complex player (fighter and attack aircraft tactical logic) behavioral models
• Instructional interfaces (Instructor/Operator Station (IOS) and model editing)
• Develop advanced methods for obtaining and evaluating design data.
• Develop advanced validation methods.

REQUISITE SKILLS:

• Familiar with software development.
• Knowledgeable of a wide range of non-engineering, non-scientific information in the form of Federal Acquisition Regulations, Military Standards, DoD/DoN/NAVAIR policies, directives, and instructions and must be able to determine the applicability of these documents to assignments.
• Knowledge of aerodynamics, flight dynamics, kinematics, physics, real-time flight simulation methods, real-time computing hardware and software, flight test methods and technologies, control system design, aircraft flying qualities and testing, aircraft piloting skills and techniques, military roles and missions, military training systems and training methods.
• Specific knowledge and experience in the areas of servo control, digital computers, human physiology and human factors, as each would apply to flight simulation.
• Knowledge of military vehicle and weapon system operator training procedures, techniques, and requirements.
• Skill in effective communication in the military environment to permit coordination with Fleet user and test pilot community.
• Ability to transfer the knowledge of the complex issues of flight simulation to other aero flight SME specialists.
• Knowledge and experience necessary to provide consultation and engineering analysis to support Government planning for future flight simulation systems of unusual complexity.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

B.S. in aerospace engineering or equivalent with specialized training in aircraft stability and control, control theory, aerodynamics, and flight test methodology

Desirable that the Flight Simulation Engineer have an engineering master’s degree with specialized training pertaining to modeling and simulation technologies

• A minimum of five (5) years engineering experience in aerospace sciences pertaining to modeling and simulation engineering during which the Flight Simulation Engineer has demonstrated a high level of technical competency and highly developed judgment.
• Additional education and/or experience indicative of knowledge in the area of training systems and related hardware/software related to both fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
• Has experience of peripheral flight system disciplines relevant to training system development, particularly vehicle propulsion, mechanical design, and human factors engineering as related to man-machine interactions including displays, cockpit design and layout, and human perception and reaction to motion as pertaining to pilot cueing and control.
• Experience in all aspects of flight simulation modeling, data acquisition and utilization, and testing for a broad range of military training systems, especially in support of systems acquisitions.
• Experience in applying the knowledge of human perception to the design of flight simulation systems to support training in a wide variety of military tasks.
• Experience in organizing information for effective use by engineers and other technical professionals.