Senior Scientist 1

The Test Technology Division of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Scientist to provide a key technical and business growth role in energetic effects testing and demilitarization process development while building a lasting career with ARA. The successful candidate should have a background in Engineering, Chemistry, or Physics and should have a strong desire to grow their expertise, work with government and commercial counterparts to develop, test, and analyze programs and make significant contributions to team and division goals and planning efforts. The candidate will have the opportunity to work in a dynamic team environment with frequent client interaction that requires strong multi-tasking and communication skills.

The successful candidate will be required to build relationships with both Commercial and Government clients and prospective clients. They will be required to conduct business development activities and develop programs in conjunction with clients that result in contract work for ARA. They must have the ability to capture new business and develop winning proposals in a collaborative team environment.

The candidate will support planning and execution of shock tube testing. These test events are critical to the development of high-fidelity models that safeguard our nation from future threats. There will be additional opportunities to work with technologies in advanced energetic materials, ground shock, thermal effects, structural response, radiation detection, chem/bio defeat, 3D printing, and autonomous unmanned systems.

The candidate will possess an in-depth understanding of shock tube and blast physics, energetic chemistry, and chemical kinetics.

Program management experience is required, which includes managing cost, schedule, and performance. The successful candidate requires problem solving and innovative skills to meet test objectives. Test program support will require formulation of the experimental approach, development of experimental designs, successful experiment execution, data analysis, and technical reporting.

• Development and testing of blast effects programs
• Shock tube test planning, execution, analysis, and reporting
• Customer portfolio development and business capture
• Proposal development and leadership
• Ability to travel to and from test sites
• Ability to work both at the desk and in the field

• Ability to obtain a DoW security clearance
• US citizenship is required
• Master's Degree in Engineering, Chemistry, or Physics, plus 8+ years’ experience
• Understanding of shock tubes, blast effects, explosive chemistry, and chemical kinetics
• Broad technical engineering / science capabilities
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work well both within a team and independently
• Experience with field experiment planning and execution
• Program management knowledge in monitoring budgets, timelines, client expectations, and deliverables

• Background in defense-related experimentation