The Capital Area Division (CAD) of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) seeks to hire a Weapon Development System Engineer to provide technical and program management support to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) for Counter-WMD weapons and capabilities development. The candidate will perform a variety of system engineering support/technical program management support functions to DTRA’s CWMD Weapons and Capabilities Division across a diverse portfolio of programs and activities.

Job Duties:

Technology Concept Development

• Engage US Warfighters, stakeholders and capability development partners to develop and document capability requirements
• Develop threat analyses to inform capability concept development
• Conducting weapons and capability market surveys
• Develop, evaluate, and down-select materiel solution concepts
• Conduct and document SWaP analysis, trade-space analysis for selected concepts

Program Planning and Execution Support

• Draft technology program plans
• Develop and document system and subsystem performance metrics
• Draft work breakdown structures (WBS)
• Perform technology program risk assessments and draft risk mitigation plans
• Participate in program technology and quality reviews/assessments

Test Planning and Test Execution Support

• Conduct test planning with program teams and performers/testbeds
• Develop test plans, identify and recommend test methodologies and testbeds
• Perform test execution support (personnel accountability, photo/video documentation, etc.)
• Review performer data acquisition plans and data analysis

General

• Write white papers and reports
• Produce independent, professional quality work product using Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Project, etc.)
• Brief program managers, teams, and senior leaders on program support activities and status
• Hybrid work eligible. While candidates will be required to be able to provide in-person support to DTRA within one hour of notification Monday-Friday during normal business hours, a typical work week should offer opportunities for off-site work.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in engineering or hard science
• 7 years of total experience across one or more of the following disciplines: Weapons Development and/or Testing, Systems Engineering, Technical Program Management/Support, DoD System Acquisition and Program Management
• Must be a US Citizen
• Current / active SECRET clearance with ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters degree in engineering or hard science
• Experience in explosive related phenomenology, e.g., blast overpressure, fragmentation, and thermal effects, non-kinetic lethality mechanisms, and WMD materials and their associated effects
• Experience with the various DoD weaponeering lethality tools and high-fidelity modeling and simulation codes.

COMPANY INFORMATION:

Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs over 2000 professionals. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership fosters greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience. For additional information and an opportunity to join this unique workplace, please visit our website at www.ara.com.

Please apply at www.careers.ara.com for the ­­­­Weapon Development System Engineer position.