A simulation engineer designs and tests tools and systems that recreate events or circumstances to provide predictability and safety. They research, design, troubleshoot, supervise, report, sell, and manage simulation projects, coordinating with other professionals and presenting progress reports to project directors.
A simulation engineer designs tools and systems that recreate events or circumstances. These tools are extremely useful because they allow users to gain some predictability about what might happen. With this data, a person can learn to perform risky tasks in a safe environment. As part of this job, the simulation engineer is a researcher, designer, tester, analyst, liaison, problem solver, reporter, salesperson, and manager.
A simulation engineer’s job begins with determining the simulation design constraints. This means that the simulation engineer figures out exactly what conditions or events to include in the simulation tests so that the simulation provides as realistic an experience as possible. It also means that the simulation engineer identifies the best tools to use. To do this, the engineer researches and consults with the people responsible for the simulation project.
Once the engineer knows what the simulation team wants to accomplish and what the routes to achieving those goals are, he designs programs or initial prototypes to try. He then runs tests using these programs and prototypes and studies the results. If the results are not satisfactory, the simulation engineer investigates the possible causes of the problems.
When a simulation engineer finds a problem with a program or prototype and knows the possible causes for those problems, he starts troubleshooting. During this stage of the work, the engineer’s goal is to adjust the program or prototype until it works as desired. This may involve physically tuning the hardware. It can also mean writing new software code to fix bugs. In some cases, the engineer may call on other professionals with more advanced training in a specialized area that the engineer needs to address; therefore, the ability to collaborate and communicate well often translates into project progression.
Once the engineer is confident he has a stable and secure program or prototype, he lets others use the equipment. Ideally, the equipment should work the same for these testers as it does for the software engineer. If not, the engineer must go back again and continue reviewing. In this case, the project director usually authorizes the release of software or the construction of full-scale hardware models based on the prototype.
At all points in a simulation project, a simulation engineer can supervise other people working on the same project. For example, he can delegate work to specific mechanics. The engineer must coordinate the work of all the people he supervises so that parts of the simulation project are completed on schedule and so that they can be combined into the project as needed.
From time to time, simulation project directors want to know how the project is progressing. In these cases, the engineer prepares reports that show what the simulation team has completed and what is still incomplete. The engineer provides input that helps the director understand whether the project is on budget and meeting its initial goals and deadlines. The engineer can casually forward these reports to the director, but sometimes the engineer must attend formal meetings and present the data in person, especially if there are large stakeholders in the simulation project.
Another function of the simulation engineer is that of a salesperson. Before and during a simulation project, the simulation engineer must convince the project director that his design will work and that it has real market potential. Being able to translate the technical aspects of a project into layman’s terms and the end result of improved performance or profit is often essential to this. In some cases, the simulation engineer will demonstrate how the simulation program or hardware works for potential customers.
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