Job Description

The Interceptor and Sensor Technology Group seeks candidates to work with our dynamic and innovative teams on challenging analysis and technology development/evaluation problems. Project opportunities will vary and may include missile and hypersonic vehicle analysis, threat capability assessment and red teaming, guidance and control, advanced tactical algorithm development, phenomenology modeling and exploitation, seeker and sensor performance analysis, kill chain modeling and simulation, and analysis of experimental and flight-test data.

Candidates should have demonstrated aptitude for solving difficult technical problems and identifying practical solutions. We seek technical generalists who can apply strong foundations in physics, mathematics, and engineering to solve a broad range of problems and who are comfortable developing new skills as program needs evolve. Candidates should be able to reason from first principles and develop insightful physics-based solutions, while also making effective use of numerical methods, optimization, data-driven techniques, and AI/ML approaches when appropriate. Strong candidates should have an intellectual curiosity that drives them to explore new ideas and rapidly learn unfamiliar technical areas and should be able to continuously place their efforts within the bigger picture.

While collaboration with teams is crucial, candidates should be able to autonomously identify challenges and seek out the resources to solve them. The candidate will work with teams of subject matter experts and should be able to identify and leverage the expertise necessary to solve complex multidisciplinary problems.

Candidates will eventually be expected to lead small-to-medium technical teams and should possess the project management and interpersonal skills to do so. Strong oral presentation and writing skills are crucial to effectively communicating with sponsors and partners. The candidate should also be willing to obtain and maintain accounts on various networks, across security clearance levels, to facilitate external collaboration.

Top candidates will have demonstrated experience working with and/or leading teams delivering impactful technical insights or solutions. Experience with missile defense, hypersonic systems, missiles, interceptors, seekers, guidance and control, sensors and algorithms, or related technologies is highly desired. Candidates with experience assessing emerging threat capabilities, challenging system assumptions, identifying vulnerabilities and limitations, or conducting technical red-team analyses are also highly valued. In lieu of specific experience in these categories, candidates may demonstrate significant technical achievements across diverse and adaptable contexts.

Requirements

Candidates should have a PhD, or an MS and five to seven years of experience in Physics, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a similar quantitative discipline. A degree in Physics or Aerospace Engineering is highly desired.

Candidates should have demonstrated exceptional technical problem-solving ability, intellectual curiosity, and an aptitude for rapidly learning and applying new technical concepts. Experience developing algorithms, models, simulations, or quantitative analyses is highly desired. Experience with missile defense, hypersonic systems, threat capability assessment, technical red teaming, guidance and control, sensors, seekers, or related defense technologies is highly valued.