Weapon Development System Engineer

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 simul...