Senior Chemist 1

ARA’s Test Technology Division has an opportunity for a Senior Chemist to provide a key technical and business-growth role in energetic-effects testing and demilitarization-process development.

About the role

The successful candidate will build relationships with government and commercial clients, conduct business-development activities, and capture new contract work through winning proposals. You will support planning and field testing for energetic-effects and demilitarization processes, contributing to technologies that safeguard national security. Opportunities exist to work with advanced energetic materials, ground shock, thermal effects, structural response, radiation detection, chem/bio defeat, 3D printing, and autonomous unmanned systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and test weapons-effects programs
• Advance demilitarization processes
• Grow customer portfolio and capture new business
• Lead proposal development
• Travel to and from test sites
• Work both at a desk and in the field
• Formulate experimental approaches, design experiments, execute tests, analyze data, and prepare technical reports
• Manage program cost, schedule, and performance

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship (required for DoD security clearance)
• Degree in Engineering, Chemistry, or Physics plus 8+ years’ experience
• In-depth understanding of energetic chemistry, chemical kinetics, purification procedures, compatibilities, and storage considerations
• Experience with explosives, explosive chemistry, and explosive effects
• Broad technical engineering/science capabilities
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment
• Field-test planning and execution experience
• Program-management knowledge (budgets, timelines, client expectations, deliverables)

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in defense-related test support