Cimarron
Cimarron is a privately held, woman-owned aerospace and defense engineering firm providing mission-critical flight software, real-time command and control, systems engineering, and hardware manufacturing primarily to NASA, the Department of Defense, and select commercial space customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersHouston, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cimarron does
Cimarron is a privately held, woman-owned small business founded in 1981 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, providing command, control, software, and engineering services to NASA, the Department of Defense, and select commercial space customers. The company operates through four divisions — Civil & Commercial Space, Defense & National Security, Technical Services, and the Watring Technologies (WTI) hardware subsidiary — and has supported NASA's Mission Control Center continuously since 1988, as well as missile defense programs (EKV, GBI), the SHIELD layered defense IDIQ, US Space Force R2C2, and NSSL Phase 2 launch support.
Core capabilities center on safety-critical aerospace software and systems engineering, including the proprietary Aurora flight software framework, high-fidelity Software Integration Labs with hardware-in-the-loop simulation, real-time command and control for human spaceflight, model-based systems engineering (MBSE), and assembly, integration, and test (AI&T) services. Through Watring Technologies, Cimarron also designs and manufactures AS9100D-certified electromechanical systems, thermal equipment, and complex assemblies for defense and aerospace customers.
Cimarron generates revenue primarily through cost-plus and fixed-price government contracts — IDIQ vehicles, task orders, and milestone-based deliverables — earned via direct awards and as a subcontractor to primes such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, KBR, SAIC, Leidos, and Peraton. GTM is enterprise field sales into government agencies and prime contractors, with no indirect channels. Certifications including CMMI Level 3, CMMC Level 2, ISO/IEC 27001:2013, ISO 9001:2015, and AS9100D underpin eligibility for mission-critical programs.
Cimarron firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cimarron
- Legal name
- Cimarron Software Services, Inc.
- Website
- https://cimarroninc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Cimarron is a privately held, woman-owned aerospace and defense engineering firm providing mission-critical flight software, real-time command and control, systems engineering, and hardware manufacturing primarily to NASA, the Department of Defense, and select commercial space customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cimarron industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aerospace and Defense Engineering Services
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Modeling, Simulation, Digital Twins & Mission Rehearsal Systems (IMABAOAL), Spacecraft Integration, Assembly & Test (IAT) (IMABACAK)
Keywords
Where Cimarron is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Houston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Cimarron business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Government Contracts - Professional Services: Cimarron generates revenue primarily through government contracts with NASA and the Department of Defense. These include IDIQ (indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity) contracts for engineering services, mission operations, software development, and technical support. Revenue is earned through labor hours, task orders, and milestone-based deliverables on long-term contracts.
- Defense Programs - Mission-Critical Engineering: Revenue from defense programs including missile defense, ICBM sustainment, and national security systems. Work areas include Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV), Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI) programs, advanced aircraft modernization, and infrastructure engineering.
- Hardware Products (Watring Technologies): Through its wholly-owned subsidiary Watring Technologies (WTI), Cimarron generates revenue from custom-engineered hardware products including electromechanical systems, thermal equipment (ovens, furnaces, brazing systems), circuit card assemblies, and complex assemblies. WTI delivers turnkey products built for precision and performance in defense and aerospace applications.
- Commercial Space Services: Revenue from commercial space programs including support to emerging space stations (Starlab), commercial crew programs, and spaceflight operations. Services include software development, engineering, testing, and mission integration support for commercial space pioneers.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Cimarron product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cimarron provides mission-critical aerospace and defense engineering services spanning advanced flight software development, real-time mission operations, systems engineering, software integration labs with hardware-in-the-loop testing, and assembly integration and test for human spaceflight and missile defense programs. The company supports NASA, the Department of Defense, the Missile Defense Agency, and commercial space customers through IDIQ contracts and subcontractor arrangements, and manufactures precision hardware through its wholly-owned subsidiary Watring Technologies (WTI).
Product overview
Cimarron is a multi-division engineering and technology company providing advanced software, engineering, and technical solutions for aerospace defense and commercial sectors. The company operates through four main divisions: Civil & Commercial Space (NASA and commercial space missions), Defense & National Security (missile defense and national security), Technical Services (engineering and support), and Watring Technologies (hardware manufacturing). Core capabilities include Advanced Flight Software (featuring the Aurora framework), Software Integration Labs, Mission Operations, Engineering Services, and Assembly Integration & Test. Founded in 1981, Cimarron has evolved from a specialized software firm into a full-spectrum organization supporting NASA's human spaceflight programs and Department of Defense missions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- DKI Consulting: A division of Cimarron providing Enterprise Data Management Solutions, retained after the 2012 merger.
Products and services
- Advanced Flight Software Space-grade flight software solutions for NASA human spaceflight missions, including real-time embedded flight software, high-fidelity hardware simulators, and advanced avionics test environments. The flagship Aurora framework provides modular architectures, automated test and integration, and continuous verification workflows aligned with NASA and DO-178-style safety-critical standards.
- Software Integration Labs (SILs) Advanced Software Integration Labs supporting system-level integration, verification, and validation for mission-critical aerospace and defense software, featuring hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, mission-realistic condition simulation, early defect detection, and end-to-end system performance evaluation prior to deployment.
- Mission Operations Real-time command and control for human spaceflight, including mission planning, astronaut and flight controller training, and console operations for NASA exploration and LEO missions. Cimarron has supported NASA's Mission Control Center continuously since 1988.
- Engineering Services Cross-disciplinary engineering services spanning systems, mechanical, electrical, software, and test engineering with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and digital workflows for air, space, and ground domains across NASA and DoD programs.
- Assembly Integration & Test (AI&T) Assembly, integration, and test of complex aerospace and defense systems, handling everything from precision subassemblies to fully integrated hardware with strict adherence to quality, environmental, and performance standards.
- Civil & Commercial Space Division Services Supports NASA and commercial space missions including Artemis, Commercial Crew and Cargo, ISS, commercial space stations (e.g., Starlab), and next-generation LEO and lunar platforms with spacecraft design, flight software, assembly, testing, and mission operations.
- Defense & National Security Division Services Missile defense, nuclear triad infrastructure, advanced aircraft, and complex space and intelligence systems engineering with support for Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV), Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI), advanced communications, ISR systems, FPGA/ASIC development, and real-time embedded software.
- Technical Services Division Services Elite technical talent and engineering support for aerospace, defense, and energy sectors including launch systems, spacecraft assembly, integration, testing, and operations support tailored to customer needs.
- Watring Technologies (WTI) Precision Hardware Products AS9100D-certified custom-engineered hardware and control systems including electromechanical prototypes, thermal equipment (ovens, furnaces, brazing systems), circuit card assemblies, and complex assembly, integration and test services with 10K clean room capabilities for defense and aerospace customers.
Quantifiable outcome
- NASA Mission Control operations support since 1988 with continuous delivery of mission-critical systems
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Cimarron
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Cimarron technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Cimarron partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Missile Defense Agency (MDA)coreCimarron was awarded the MDA SHIELD (Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense) IDIQ contract with a ceiling of $151 billion. This encompasses a broad range of work areas enabling rapid delivery of innovative missile defense capabilities to the warfighter.
- KBRcoreCimarron is a member of the KBR team awarded NASA's Integrated Mission Operations Contract III (IMOC III) at Johnson Space Center. Provides support for spaceflight operations capability development and execution including ISS operations and Artemis missions.
- SAICmajorCimarron is part of the SAIC team awarded the NASA Safety and Mission Assurance Engineering Contract III (SMAEC). Provides safety, reliability, and quality engineering support for NASA programs in deep space.
- LeidosmajorCimarron continues support to Leidos and NASA on the NASA Cargo Mission Contract 4 (CMC4). Provides mission support for ISS, Artemis campaign, and cargo missions.
- US Space ForcecoreCimarron is part of the US Space Force's R2C2 (Rapid Resilient Command and Control) program for developing next-generation ground system built on commercial cloud architecture.
- StarlabmajorCimarron supports commercial space station development on the Starlab program, partnering with commercial innovators for next-generation LEO platforms.
- Watring TechnologiescoreCimarron acquired Watring Technologies, Inc., a Huntsville, Alabama technology-based design and manufacturing company specializing in custom hardware and turnkey solutions for Aerospace and Defense. WTI operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary.
- United Launch Alliance (ULA)coreCimarron is part of ULA team selected as launch provider for U.S. Space Force's National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 procurement. Provides engineering support for Vulcan Centaur team and national security missions.
- PeratonmajorCimarron is a member of the Peraton team awarded NASA's Space Exploration Network Services and Evolution (SENSE) contract. Supports relay and direct-to-earth networks and evolution toward future architecture at Goddard Space Flight Center.
- BechtelmajorCimarron is a member of the Bechtel team awarded NASA's Mobile Launcher 2 (ML2) contract for the ground structure to assemble, process, and launch SLS Block 1B rocket and Orion spacecraft from Launch Pad 39B at KSC.
- Lockheed MartincoreCimarron was awarded the Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (LMSSC) Technical Services contract. Has supported Lockheed Martin for over 25 years including Orion program support under this five-year IDIQ contract.
- L3 CommunicationsmajorCimarron is a member of the L3 Communications team awarded US Air Force NETCENTS-2 (NetOps and Application Services) contracts providing netcentric and IT solutions for the Department of Defense.
- Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies (SGT)coreCimarron is a member of the SGT team awarded NASA's IMOC II contract. Provides support for Mission Operations Directorate, ISS Program, and Flight Crew Operations Directorate at NASA's Johnson Space Center for nine-year period.
- Wyle LaboratoriesmajorCimarron is a member of the Wyle team awarded NASA's Fully Integrated Lifecycle Mission Support Services (FILMSS) contract supporting flight programs at NASA's Ames Research Center.
- DKI ConsultingcoreCimarron merged with DKI Consulting in 2012, expanding capabilities in Enterprise Data Management Solutions. DKI became a Commercial Division of Cimarron, adding years of experience and accelerating growth.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cimarron competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- KBR: Major government services contractor leading the IMOC III consortium that includes Cimarron. KBR is a direct peer in NASA mission operations support, science and engineering services, and defense/aerospace technical services, competing for the same IDIQ contracts and consortium positions.
- SAIC: Major federal IT and engineering services contractor leading the SMAEC consortium (which includes Cimarron). SAIC directly competes with Cimarron for NASA and DoD engineering services contracts, particularly in systems engineering, safety, and mission assurance.
- Leidos: Large federal services and IT contractor leading CMC4 (which includes Cimarron as teammate). Leidos is a direct peer for NASA mission support, defense engineering, and mission integration services, with overlapping customer relationships at NASA and DoD.
- Peraton: Federal services contractor leading NASA's SENSE contract (which includes Cimarron as teammate). Peraton competes directly with Cimarron for NASA ground network, satellite communications, and space exploration engineering services.
- MEI Technologies (now Aegis Aerospace): Mid-size aerospace and defense engineering services company providing mission operations, flight hardware, and spaceflight engineering. Closely comparable to Cimarron in size, customer base (NASA, DoD), and service offerings; also includes hardware manufacturing capabilities.
- Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies (KBRwyle): Former SGT (now part of KBR) led the IMOC II contract in which Cimarron was a teammate. SGT/KBRwyle was a direct peer for NASA mission operations, ISS support, and flight crew operations at Johnson Space Center.
Broad incumbents
- Jacobs Solutions: Global engineering and technical services firm with substantial aerospace and defense practice. Jacobs is a broader incumbent competing for NASA and DoD engineering services, mission operations, and systems engineering contracts, with much greater scale and resources than Cimarron.
- CACI International: Federal IT and engineering services contractor with significant DoD and intelligence community presence. CACI competes for similar command and control, mission systems, and aerospace engineering work as Cimarron, with a broader portfolio spanning national security.
- Parsons Corporation: Major defense and infrastructure contractor with growing aerospace, missile defense, and space portfolio. Parsons competes with Cimarron on defense engineering, missile defense programs, and space systems work, with broader geographic and capability coverage.
Emerging players
- Draper Laboratory: Nonprofit engineering and R&D organization specializing in guidance, navigation, control, and mission-critical systems for space and defense. Comparable to Cimarron in mission-critical aerospace engineering depth and embedded position on DoD and NASA programs, with a distinctive research-oriented model.
Market position
Strengths2 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cimarron social profiles
Digital presenceCimarron compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Cimarron financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cimarron leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Cimarron subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Cimarron funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Cimarron M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cimarron
What does Cimarron do?
Cimarron provides mission-critical aerospace and defense engineering services spanning advanced flight software development, real-time mission operations, systems engineering, software integration labs with hardware-in-the-loop testing, and assembly integration and test for human spaceflight and missile defense programs. The company supports NASA, the Department of Defense, the Missile Defense Agency, and commercial space customers through IDIQ contracts and subcontractor arrangements, and manufactures precision hardware through its wholly-owned subsidiary Watring Technologies (WTI).
Is Cimarron a public or private company?
Cimarron is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Cimarron founded?
Cimarron was founded in 1981. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Cimarron based?
Cimarron is headquartered in Houston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cimarron make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Contracts - Professional Services are the primary driver. The others are defense Programs - Mission-Critical Engineering, hardware Products (Watring Technologies) and commercial Space Services.
Who are Cimarron's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are KBR, SAIC, Leidos, Peraton, MEI Technologies (now Aegis Aerospace) and Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies (KBRwyle). Broad incumbents are Jacobs Solutions, CACI International and Parsons Corporation. Draper Laboratory is listed as an emerging player.
Does Cimarron have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cimarron.
What industry is Cimarron in?
Cimarron's product category is Aerospace and Defense Engineering Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAI, Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software, with a secondary code of IMABAOAL, Modeling, Simulation, Digital Twins & Mission Rehearsal Systems. Its NAICS code is 336414 and its SIC code is 3760.