Simulation Engineer - FEA

JOIN US AS A SIMULATION ENGINEER (ALL GENDERS) IN OUR SIMULATION PLATFORM TEAM AND HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF AUTONOMOUS MOBILITY! At MOIA, we are building the next generation of safe, scalable, and intelligent mobility solutions. Simulation and virtual validation are at the heart of enabling autonomous driving systems to evolve rapidly while maintaining the highest standards of safety and reliability. To strengthen our Virtual Testing capabilities, we are looking for Simulation Engineers who are passionate about building and scaling advanced simulation infrastructure. In this role, you will help internalize critical simulation know-how, reduce supplier dependency, and establish long-term ownership of mission-critical validation systems. You will work closely with cross-functional engineering teams and external partners to transfer, stabilize, and evolve simulation tooling that enables large-scale virtual validation for autonomous driving systems. You will join the Virtual Testing Domain within the Cloud System Development department. The domain is responsible for enabling scalable virtual validation environments and simulation infrastructure that support the development and validation of autonomous driving capabilities. You will work within Simulation Platform, focused on scalable simulation infrastructure, tooling, and automation frameworks. The role and the core team is primarily located in Wolfsburg. This is a pure Individual Contributor role with strong technical ownership and collaboration across multiple engineering domains. WHAT YOU WILL DO BE A DIGITAL TWIN ENGINEER  * Design and implement high-fidelity 3D environments that accurately represent real-world conditions.  * Develop, calibrate, and validate vehicle models, including dynamics, sensors, and control systems.  * Integrate digital twins into simulation workflows for system validation and testing.  * Work with sensor models (camera, lidar, radar) to create realistic perception scenarios.  * Collaborate with domain experts to define environment parameters, constraints, and performance metrics.  DEVELOP SCALABLE SIMULATION AND VALIDATION SYSTEMS * Design and implement advanced scenario toolchain and automation frameworks. * Build reusable components for scalable test case generation, configuration, and evaluation. * Ensure cross-platform compatibility, robust version control, and high-quality documentation standards. * Support infrastructure scaling for large-scale simulation execution environments. INTERNALIZE AND EVOLVE SIMULATION INFRASTRUCTURE * Absorb, understand, and take ownership of externally developed simulation infrastructure and validation tooling. * Support structured knowledge transfer from supplier teams into MOIA’s engineering organization. * Refactor, document, and stabilize externally developed systems for long-term maintainability and scalability. * Identify architectural risks, technical debt, and improvement opportunities in supplier-built components. * Contribute to establishing sustainable internal ownership of core simulation IP. STRENGTHEN MOIA’S LONG-TERM SIMULATION CAPABILITIES * Contribute to internal standards and best practices for simulation architecture and software quality. * Reduce supplier dependency by taking over feature development, maintenance, and further evolution of simulation systems. * Enable internal engineering teams to independently evolve the validation toolchain. * Collaborate closely with validation, systems, and autonomous driving teams across the organization. WHAT WILL HELP YOU TO FULFILL YOUR ROLE  * Experience working with simulation platforms such as VTD, Unity, Unreal Engine, Carla, ASM, or comparable frameworks. * Strong hands-on experience in simulation development and software engineering. * Proven ability to understand, maintain, and take ownership of complex software systems. * Excellent programming skills in Python. * Strong architectural understanding and a high code quality mindset. * Experience refactoring, documenting, and stabilizing legacy or externally developed systems. * Strong collaboration and communication skills, especially in cross-team and knowledge-transfer environments. NICE-TO-HAVE * Experience transitioning systems from external vendors to in-house ownership * Knowledge of OpenSCENARIO and scenario-based testing methodologies * Experience with HiL and/or SiL environments * Understanding of autonomous driving systems, including perception, planning, and control * Familiarity with safety and development standards such as ISO 26262 and frameworks like ASPICE * Experience with cloud-based or high-performance computing environments * Experience working with cloud technologies and infrastructure, especially AWSs Stack * Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, automation workflows, and modern software delivery practices * Understanding of scalable cloud-native architectures and distributed systems * Experience with vehicle dynamics modeling, sensor calibration, or physics simulation. * Most importantly, you're excited about building the simulation infrastructure that enables safe autonomous driving.   We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds — even if you don’t meet every requirement. If you’re excited about the role and MOIA’s mission, we’d love to hear from you! OUR BENEFITS IN A NUTSHELL * Competitive salary (including bonus)   * Hybrid work setup: Work from home or one of our offices - you and your team decide how often to meet, blending flexibility with collaboration!  * Flexible working hours and the possibility of flexible work arrangements depending on your needs (parenting, care work, volunteering, etc.)  * Budget and monthly expense allowance for home office setup  * Possibility of remote work from outside Germany for up to 6 weeks per year from over 35 countries - learn more in our blog! * Public transport ticket (fully subsidized "Deutschlandticket") for commuting and travelling throughout Germany and discount on MOIA rides * Subsidized fitness club membership or bike leasing  * Learning environment with continuous learning days, job rotation, trainings and workshops, coaching, conferences, books, and language classes  * Mental health support, 1:1 sessions with external professionals and mental unload workshops  * 30 vacation days, sabbatical and unpaid leave option  * Relocation support with service provider (visa, administration, etc.)  * Dog-friendly offices For student & internship positions, we have an adjusted set of benefits. You can find them here.  BE WHO YOU ARE! We are a member of Charta der Vielfalt and are dedicated to actively fostering a workplace that celebrates and promotes diversity in various aspects such as age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or cognitive ability, and ethnicity. At MOIA, we embrace a culture where people are accepted, respected, valued, appreciated, and included. In our commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity, we regularly provide unconscious bias training to all our employees. Furthermore, we continuously strive to enhance our hiring process by ensuring a diverse hiring panel. HOW WE WORK At MOIA, our teams are typically distributed across our office locations and collaborate in a hybrid setup. We work together both remotely and on site, choosing the mode of collaboration that fits the context, the work at hand, and each team’s rhythm. Spending time together in our offices is an important part of how we stay connected, build trust, and solve complex problems. At the same time, we value flexibility and give teams and individuals autonomy to shape their ways of working, with everyone having the freedom to organise their routines in a way that aligns with their work and their team’s needs. If you’d like to learn more about how we work, visit our blog for insights into our culture and hiring process, or follow us on Instagram for a look behind the scenes at MOIA. WHO WE ARE At MOIA we’re reimagining the future of mobility – safe, autonomous and tailored to the needs of cities and their people. As a tech company with more than 400 employees, we build mobility solutions that truly move cities forward. We launched our ridepooling service in Hamburg in 2019 and have been part of the city’s public transport system since 2023. Since launch, we have transported over 12 million passengers. Currently, MOIA is evolving from a mobility provider to a tech provider offering a scalable and safe turnkey solution for autonomous driving.  With office locations in Berlin and Hamburg, our diverse and international team comprising more than 60 nationalities works together toward that shared mission.  MOIA is more than a technology provider – we are a partner to cities and public transport operators committed to creating more livable spaces and delivering mobility solutions that are reliable, safe and comfortable. YOUR APPLICATION TO MOIA We value authenticity and personal insights in your application responses. While AI tools can be useful, we encourage you to answer the following questions based on your own experiences and understanding. This helps us keep a human touch and better evaluate your unique perspective and match for the role. To reinforce an unbiased screening process, we kindly ask you not to include your picture, age, address, or any other details unrelated to your qualifications and suitability for the role. Additionally, we anonymize applications during the initial review phase by removing personally identifiable information. This ensures that our evaluation focuses solely on your skills, experience, and potential – supporting a fair and inclusive hiring experience for all candidates.

ABOUT US Harmattan AI is a next-generation defense prime building autonomous and scalable defense systems. Following the close of a $200M Series B, valuing the company at $1.4 billion, we are expanding our teams and capabilities to deliver mission-critical systems to allied forces. Our work is guided by clear values: building technologies with real-world impact, pursuing excellence in everything we do, setting ambitious goals, and taking on the hardest technical challenges. We operate in a demanding environment where rigor, ownership, and execution are expected. About the Role As a Physics Simulation Engineer, you will be responsible for the simulation and analysis of mechanical behaviors in our drone systems, with a focus on vibration and thermal performance. You will set up and validate advanced physics-based models to support robust and efficient drone design. RESPONSIBILITIES * Structural & Modal Analysis: Perform Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to evaluate the dynamic behaviour and vibration modes of our systems. * Vibration Mitigation: Design and simulate passive and active damping solutions to isolate sensitive optical payloads from motor and aerodynamic vibrations. * Multi-Physics Simulation: Conduct thermal-mechanical simulations to assess the impact of heat dissipation on structural alignment, sensor calibration, and systems performances. * Aerodynamic Modeling: Analyze the impact of wind loads and flight dynamics on the mechanical stability of the platform. * Experimental Validation: Design and implement test benches for vibration and experimental modal analysis (using accelerometers, shakers, etc.) to correlate simulation models with real-world data. * Optimization: Collaborate with the mechanical engineers team to optimize mass design and material selection for maximum rigidity-to-weight ratios. CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS * Educational Background: MSc or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Structural Dynamics, Vibration & Control. * Technical Expertise: * Mastery of FEA tools like Simulia, Ansys, COMSOL, Abaqus… * Deep understanding of structural dynamics, modal analysis, and vibration theory. * Solid experience in test-simulation correlation (experimental modal analysis). * Ability to interpret simulation results critically, analyze experimental data and translate them into design insights * Excellent command of mathematical tools related to vibration analysis (Fourier Transform, spectral analysis, etc…) * Programming & Tools: * Proficiency in Python or MATLAB for data post-processing and simulation automation. * Familiarity with 3D CAD (CATIA, SolidWorks) and PLM environments. * Industry Experience: 5+ years of experience in high-performance robotics, aerospace, or automotive NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness). Experience with UAV airframes or gimbal systems is a major plus. * Experimental Mindset: Familiarity with basic instrumentation and experimental techniques for validating simulations * Team Player: Collaborative mindset with the ability to work in cross-functional teams (design, systems, testing) * Curiosity & Drive: Demonstrated initiative, problem-solving ability, and a desire to grow into technical leadership * Soft Skills: Ability to translate complex physics data into actionable design recommendations for the mechanical team. * Commitment: 100% dedication to Harmattan AI’s mission and ambitious growth plans, ready to go the extra mile to ensure operational excellence. We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.