When it comes to obtaining security clearance, it can only be provided by government agencies, requested by your employer and without this, it is impossible to find employment in any of these areas.
Security clearance seems to be broke in two five key areas;
Developed Vetting is the highest level and highly unlikely for any modelling related job outside top secret prototyping. If for example I wished to find a job with this security clearance level on the modelling side, the amount of knowledge required and connections would take at least 10-15 years plus to develop and a minimum of 10 years in the UK.
Security Check is probably the highest requirement i could ever logically face when looking in to modelling and simulation jobs. There a few job openings i would like to breakdown relating to this level and the software i would be required to learn but these are still employment ideas that would be years down the line. This clearance level relates to substantial access to secret or occasional top secret assets. With a requirement of 5 years in the UK and zero criminal convictions, I have been informed that i should have no problems achieving this currently.
Counter Terrorist Check is required for anyone wanting to work in close proximity to public figures, provides access to information/ material vulnerable to terrorist attack and unrestricted access to many government and commercial establishments. Unless i suddenly tried to take a turn towards law enforcement or something far more physical, i cant see this ever being relevant to me career wise for the future.
Baseline Personnel Security Standards. This is one of the lowest levels, for non formal security clearances. A package of pre-employment checks that are a representation of good recruitment and employment practice. This level is not as serious as the previous and simply takes the form of identity screening e.g; identification documents and references, guaranteeing that the individual in question is reasonably trustworthy and reliable. With no worries in regards to gaining SC clearance, this shouldn't be a problem in the slightest.
Nato has multiple levels of security classification. Restricted, Confidential, Secret and Cosmetic Top Secret. There is very little easily accessible information (that i want to access) in relation to Nato clearance although it's said to be handled in a very similar way to the prior checks. It may seem a little odd mentioning Nato but if I'm looking towards military simulation and putting my modelling talent towards this goal, its not entirely out the realms of possibility. Most job roles relating to modelling do happen to be in the areas of Defense Engineering but in such a lucrative area, I really can't see them being all too publicly advertised.
Simulation and Modelling Engineer
The Opportunity
- Models to support initial feasibility and concept proving studies.
- Models to support design development and trade-off studies.
- Models to support ground testing including Hardware in the loop testing.
-Models to support trials programmes, including trials predictions used as part of the fit-to-fire decision and post-trials analysis for detailed trials evaluation.
-Full system reference models used to produce formal performance statements to support the certificate of design and design verification processes for the guided weapon system.
What will you be doing?
-Responsible for development of specific aspects of the performance model used to support a key programme within MBDA. You will also be responsible for integration of components from within the team, previous or similar models and from other project areas.
-Act as a point of contact for Simulation and Modelling's interactions with the other project teams e.g. Guidance Navigation & Control, Software, Hardware-in-the Loop, Systems Design & Validation.
-Performing technical analyses and investigations into a full range of issues and problems not just from formal trials and prepare and develop solutions either individually or as a member of a project team.
-Engaging with the model users, understand and respond to their needs and ensure that the model is fir for its intended use.
-Influence the design and development of all models developed by Simulation and Modelling, for example through the application of new functionality of the Mathworks Toolset.
Qualification Requirements
- Degree qualification e.g. Systems/ Aerospace Engineering/ Electrical Engineering/ Mathematics, Physics or equivalent experience. (This does mean that straight off the bat, I would have to look towards doing a second degree which could be fairly expensive but still entirely plausible).
- A proven track record in the following:
- Simulation & Modelling - preferably on aerospace projects. ( This could be possible with my current degree and hopefully work with the forensics department will allow me some experience in the simulation field. Either way, this could still require a fair bit of extra knowledge and the possibility of an apprenticeship).
- High level programming languages, e.g. FORTAN, C Ada. ( I currently don't possess this knowledge but have always wanted to learn. Of course this means that the job possibility wouldn't be for many years but I have dabbled in C#, a bit in Java and a fair bit in HTML. Over Christmas i have been planning on following through the "make your first game" Java script course on code academy. I believe that even as a 3D artist, having programming knowledge could help me greatly.)
-The MathWorks products = specifically Simulink, Embedded MATLAB and Stateflow. ( This software looks incredibly complex with a heavy basis on maths, physics and circuit construction which could be quite a problem but thankfully there are huge number of video tutorials on Youtube that I'll skim through before judging the possibility of learning it).
-Ability to produce a computer simulation (simulink model) from a mathematical specification. (This runs back in to learning the Mathworks software. I'll trial it, attempt to create a simulation on a simple task and attempt to improve it although i have no idea at this stage how difficult this could be).
-A keen understanding of the modelling process and working within a quality process. (This is very hit and miss. From the current course, I've gained a lot of knowledge when it comes to the modelling front but had very reason to learn absolute precision modelling. This should could with practice though with the fundamentals already in place.)
-Ideally will have knowledge and experience of the following:
-Software configuration controls. (This sounds quite open but im guessing that its fixated on an understanding of how to set-up and configure any software packages used within the prototyping process).
-DOORS or similar requirement traceability tool. (After a fair bit of research, this software seems to be entirely based on organization and overall doesn't seem like too awkward a piece to learn. As it's free to download, it'll be added to the list of software suits to play with but could also be quite beneficial for GameDev when it comes to project planning and organization).
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Beyond these points, the software suites are simply repeated with a list of skills that would be required for any job. E.g; team building skills, ability to work within a large group, leadership experience, strong willingness to excel etc...
Is it possible?
In maybe five years, Yes. Straight out of university? No possible unless i applied for work experience. For this, the only requirements are a 2:1 on any university course to show work commitment and at least 4 Bs at GCSE. Grade wise this shouldn't be a problem especially with the Double A* and C at college/ sixth form alongside the 4 A's, 5 B's, C, and D in GCSE. If i wished to apply for this job role as an unpaid position or even a posibility of an internship i would need to achieve the best grade i can muster and attempt to sell myself as a viable employee by either January - July 2016 or 2017. Not many are given the opportunity though so it would still be heavily left down to chance.
Another thing that could be brought in to question is the morality behind the choice. For example, the best job example I could find was hosted by "MBDA Missile Systems" which supplies RAF with almost their entire munitions stockpile. Not exactly a job roll that will help you sleep at night.
I cannot provide a direct link to this job as they expire on a weekly basis but each roll practically has the same requirements so all of this is still entirely relevent;
https://www.securityclearedjobs.com/searchjobs/?Keywords=modelling&radialtown=&LocationId=&RadialLocation=20
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