Wardstone (YC F25) · 1 month ago
Simulation and Modeling Engineer
San Francisco, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Mid Level
$100K/yr - $180K/yrWardstone is a company focused on advanced physics modeling for aerospace applications. They are seeking a Simulation & Modeling Engineer to build and own end-to-end physics models that will define vehicle design and intercept feasibility, working closely with engineering teams to ensure design choices are grounded in physics.
AerospaceMilitaryNational Security
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Build high-fidelity 6DOF models of interceptor trajectories and target maneuvers
Model aerodynamic forces, flight regimes (subsonic → hypersonic), and uncertainties
Implement full state propagation with drag, atmospheric effects, gravity, and actuator limits
Implement orbital propagators, Lambert solvers, and multi-body dynamics
Model VLEO drag, solar flux, eclipse cycles, thermal conditions, and station-keeping budgets
Quantify ΔV requirements for intercept geometries and constellation designs
Integrate GNC algorithms into simulation environments
Model perception pipelines: IR signatures, SNR, glint, thermal clutter, and atmospheric attenuation
Build closed-loop simulations with perception → guidance → actuation → dynamics → intercept logic
Model particle trajectories, dispersal cones, cloud expansion, and lethality envelopes
Model impulse delivery mechanisms: blast, thrust, or hybrid dispersal events
Work with energetics engineers on momentary high-G propagation and multi-body interactions
Run large-scale Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate hit probability, robustness, and margins
Develop parameter sweeps for timing, sensing errors, aerodynamic uncertainties, and ΔV constraints
Produce data-driven design recommendations for system architecture decisions
Build clean, modular simulation tools in MATLAB/Python/C++ for internal engineering teams
Develop visualization tools (2D, 3D, orbital views) used for engineering and visual storytelling
Maintain code quality, performance, and model usability across the engineering org
Qualification
Required
B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or similar
Strong experience with dynamic simulations (MATLAB, Simulink, Python, C++, Julia, or equivalent)
Deep understanding of orbital mechanics, flight dynamics, or missile/rocket modeling
Experience with numerical methods, ODE/PDE solvers, filtering, integration stability, and optimization
Ability to validate simulated results against analytical solutions or experimental data
Strong intuition for physics and comfort working with incomplete or noisy data
US CITIZENSHIP REQUIRED
Preferred
Experience modeling hypersonic flow, ablation, or high-enthalpy environments
Experience with high-speed particle or fragment modeling
Experience connecting simulation to hardware-in-the-loop systems
Familiarity with CFD tools (OpenFOAM, SU2, ANSYS Fluent)
Experience with sensor modeling: IR/EO tracking, radar, radiometric models, or synthetic scene generation
Experience building custom visualization pipelines or simulation frameworks
Company
Wardstone (YC F25)
Wardstone is a space defense-tech company developing next-generation capabilities to protect the United States and its allies from missiles and other space-based threats.
Founded in 2025
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageTotal Funding
$0.5MKey Investors
Y Combinator
2025-12-03Pre Seed· $0.5M
Leadership Team
Sebastian Fischer
Chief Executive Officer
Tobias Fischer
Chief Technical Officer
Company data provided by crunchbase