Senior Research Seismologist

Applied Research Associates, Inc.

(ARA) is seeking an accomplished Senior Research Seismologist to join the Applied Algorithms, Modeling, and Assessment (AMA) Division.

In this role, you will work within the Geophysical Models, Signatures, and Systems (GEMSS) Group, a team that conducts cutting‑edge research in support of U.S.

nuclear monitoring missions and other critical national security objectives.

We are looking for a candidate with a strong record of leading advanced seismic research and a deep understanding of computational geophysics, sophisticated signal analysis, and numerical modeling.

The ideal individual is motivated by applying geophysics to detect, locate, characterize, and discriminate underground nuclear explosions and other events of national security interest.

You will collaborate with a diverse set of scientists and engineers while contributing both hands‑on technical excellence and leadership in developing innovative solutions.

Salary Range: $120K-$160K

Key Responsibilities


* Lead and execute advanced scientific research addressing complex geophysical challenges relevant to nuclear test monitoring and other defense missions.


* Acquire, process, and analyze seismic data to detect, locate, and discriminate natural and anthropogenic signals.


* Perform sophisticated time‑series and spectral‑domain analyses using advanced statistical and computational approaches.


* Design research studies and develop innovative algorithms, tools, and workflows for data processing, signal detection, and event characterization.


* Conduct numerical modeling and simulation of seismic wavefields (e.g., finite/spectral element methods, FK analysis, 3D ray tracing).


* Produce high‑quality technical reports, publications, proposals, and presentations for scientific, programmatic, and sponsor audiences.


* Stay current on emerging techniques, technologies, and scientific advances in geophysics, monitoring systems, and signal analysis.


* Engage directly with clients to understand technical requirements and deliver effective solutions, including through proposal development.

Required Qualifications


* B.S.

in Geophysics/Seismology, or a closely related field, and at least 8-10 years of direct experience in earthquake or explosion seismology.


* Proven experience leading basic and applied research and development (R&D) projects to solve complex scientific problems in seismology funded by U.S.

Government agencies, commercial firms, or other organizations.


* Recognized as an emerging expert in nuclear monitoring seismology with the ability to perform advanced data analyses independently.


* Exceptional analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and generate compelling visualizations that support scientific conclusions.


* Demonstrated proficiency with modern numerical modeling tools and the pre‑/post‑processing of seismic floating‑point data (e.g., Python and sc...