Principal Python Engineer (Modeling & Simulation)

Join our Modeling & Simulation team as a Principal Python Engineer. You will play a key role in building the next-generation wargaming and decision-support platform for the Department of War. Your responsibilities will include designing backend services and APIs, building distributed cloud-scale infrastructure, and developing data ingestion and analysis pipelines. You will also gather requirements from stakeholders and employ strong software development practices.

About Code Metal

Architecture & Technical Knowledge: Provides architectural guidance across the department and invents paradigms that solve CodeMetal-specific domain problems (e.g., translation, optimization, deployment across target environments); a key resource on every major system

Responsibilities

• This position offers relocation assistance, a comprehensive health care plan, a retirement plan, a flexible hybrid work arrangement, and uncapped vacation time.
• Concevoir et mettre en œuvre des services backend et des API qui orchestrent les simulations à l'échelle des missions et des campagnes, collectent leurs résultats et les exposent aux analystes et aux parties prenantes gouvernementales.
• Développer l'infrastructure backend qui s'interface avec l'IA agentique et les pipelines d'apprentissage automatique pour soutenir les modèles de plateforme, de capteur, de comportement et de décision utilisés dans la simulation.
• Construire des pipelines d'ingestion, de normalisation et d'analyse des données qui transforment la sortie brute de la simulation en informations prêtes à la décision pour les utilisateurs de la défense.
• Hands-on experience with Docker and containerized application development
• Engineering Craft & Code Quality: Sets the quality and correctness bar across the department; their work is the example others learn from; improves the automated systems and practices that ensure quality department-wide
• Delivery, Scoping & De-risking: A consistent contributor to the company's technical roadmap; gives reliable estimates for large cross-team initiatives; ensures pragmatic scoping toward the most valuable outcomes
• Experience supporting Air Force, Space Force, joint, or broader DoD acquisition and mission-analysis programs

Requirements

Familiarity with machine learning tools and frameworks

• Experience building and delivering robust software using strong SDLC practices, including code review, testing, continuous integration, release management, and build systems
• Professional experience with collaborative, enterprise-level software development in Python, delivering products to a large customer base
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance
• Experience gathering requirements from stakeholders and distilling them into software designs
• Years of Experience: 10+
• Technical Leadership & Mentorship: An active driver of company-wide architectural reviews and proposals; mentors mid-level and senior staff at scale; influences others across departments toward the best technical outcome
• Familiarity with agentic AI frameworks and solutions

Familiarity with code analysis / static analysis

• Active U.S. security clearance (Secret, Top Secret, or SCI/SAP)
• Experience working with cloud-based distributed systems (AWS, GCP, Azure)

Preferred

Expertise building scalable APIs (REST, GraphQL, gRPC)

• Direct experience developing AFSIM plugins, framework extensions, event infrastructure, or custom platform types
• Familiarity with HLA, DIS, OneSAF, JSAF, NGTS, STK, or other constructive and distributed simulation environments
• Experience developing models for sensors, weapons, electronic warfare, jamming, communications, logistics, or command and control