The Mission Concepts & Capabilities (MCC) division of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking a Mechanical Engineer or Chemical Engineer or Physical Scientist with experience and/or training in explosives and energetics materials properties, proper handling and testing. The successful candidate will perform as a member of a Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) contractor team responsible for providing technical direction and program management support expertise to government civilian and military program managers for projects focused on pre-Milestone A RDT&E of weapons and capabilities (TRL 3-6) designed for countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD). Candidate will be working on multiple initiatives at the component through the system level, from concept development through demonstration and transition to US military end users. The position offers the successful candidate good work-life balance as a hybrid position with duty in customer (government) offices located at Kirtland AFB and at home in the Albuquerque, NM area. This position is for full-time employment. The candidate should expect at times to travel up to 25% of the time. 

Essential Functions:

Participate in customer program technical meetings and contract performer engagements and technical planning meetings and reviews, to provide technical subject matter expertise in explosives and energetic materials development, testing, and integration Develop professional quality work product in fulfillment of program management support responsibilities to include writing white papers, researching and writing university-quality research papers, developing spreadsheets and PowerPoint briefings as required Review contracted performer activities and provide technical recommendations to government PMs regarding program cost, schedule, and performance

Required Qualifications:

US Citizen SECRET clearance with the additional ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance Masters degree in one of the following disciplines: Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, Material Science, Chemical Engineering 3-5 years relevant, formal training and/or hands-on experience in explosives/energetic materials to include: Programs involving explosives, energetic materials, weapon payload development, or weapons system integration Hands-on project development and execution for RDT&E of explosives/energetic materials, including energetics processing methods, formulation process development, testing, instrumentation and data analysis, payload development and integration, A working-level knowledge and/or experience with DOE explosive Modeling and Simulation (M&S) codes, such as CHEETAH, TIGER Graduate Level degree in Mechanical Engineering, Material Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry

Preferred Qualifications:

Graduate-level degree in Explosives Engineering Experience with DoD energetics/munitions programs Program management experience Acquisition and/or Technical Management certifications M&S experience with shockwave codes such as CTH and ALE3D or equivalent

 

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 ­­­­Chemical Enginer position.