Senior Nuclear Effects Engineer

MITRE's Nuclear Weapon Systems and C2 Platforms Department is seeking a lead senior engineer to make critical contributions in understanding the effects of natural radiation and nuclear events on relevant systems. Our department leads a dynamic work program focused on accelerating the evolution of the United States’ nuclear deterrent capabilities, provides threat-informed data-driven modernization recommendations, prototypes, and analyses that accelerate the fielding of warfighter capability and allow for the cost-effective modernization of Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) and Nuclear Weapon Systems. This position will have a unique opportunity to support design and mitigation strategies to develop and field a survivable weapon system with operational requirements involving the following nuclear threat environments: Electromagnetic Pulse, Ionizing Radiation, Thermal Radiation, Air-Blast and Radiological exposure. 

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Analyze nuclear effects on aircraft, spacecraft and communications systems to support development of all nuclear hardness system level design, including system level analysis and testing  

• Generating weapon system design criteria supported by design analysis, modeling & simulation, equipment and system-level trade studies, system integration, piece-part, component, equipment, and system test artifacts 

• Execute the analysis and/or evaluation/validation of components, equipment, subsystems, or weapon system analytical models and actual system implementation for weapons compliance to operationally relevant nuclear threat environments 

• Contribute to and review NH&S Design Analysis Reports (DAR) and nuclear hardness system test plans and reports documenting equipment compliance and weapon system certification 

• Conduct essential design evaluations and provide technical assessments on systems survivability by understanding system responses to nuclear events by utilizing home-developed and third-party software/physics codes on effects of radiation, electromagnetic pulses and/or electromagnetic interference 
   

Domain Specific Responsibilities/Technical Skills  

• Working knowledge of nuclear weapons effects and resulting Transient Radiation Effects on Electronics (TREE) and Electromagnetic pulse on DoD and commercial systems.  

• Technical planning, specification requirements derivation, test and analysis, design, planning and execution, documentation, and requirements/validation supporting overall system compliance.  

• Experience with electrical circuit rad-hard design and test including piece-part screening, analysis, modeling, and test of component and systems for radiation environment compliance i.e. prompt dose rate, total ionizing dose, neutron displacement damage, neutron induced upset, single event effects. 

• Knowledge of Circumvention & Recovery techniques for component, circuit, equipment subsystems compliance and weapon system level probabilistic performance assessments during pre/trans and post nuclear weapon environment exposure.  

• Evaluate uncertainty and risks associated with rad-hard requirements and design mitigation strategies.  
   

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 3 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with relevant experience who can immediately contribute at this job step; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
   
• Strong theoretical and practical knowledge of particle physics, solar physics, or nuclear physics 
   
• Strong mathematical and statistical background 

• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills 

• Travel up to 20% of the time as needed 

• The ability to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret clearance 
   
• U.S. Citizenship required

• This position requires an on-site presence of minimum of 4 days a week. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD degree Physics, Engineering, or a related field 

• Active DoD Secret or Top-Secret Clearance 

• Nuclear Command, Control & Communication weapon system survivability design experience  

• Analysis experience with radiation environments including man-made and natural space environment. 

• Experience in leading technical projects in the area of nuclear physics 

• Experience with transport problems in atmosphere or within structures 

• Experience and/or familiarity with the following standards and handbooks: DODI 3150.09, MIL-STD-1766, AFWL-TR-86-26, MIL-STD-464, MIL-STD-3023, MIL-STD-2169, MIL-STD-461, MIL-HDBK-814, MIL-HDBK-815, MIL-HDBK-816, MIL-HDBK-817, MIL-STD-3054 

• Experience and/or familiarity with the following engineering software/tools: ANSYS (EMC Plus, Charge Plus), CST, FEKO, MATLAB, SPIET –D, ASSIST, NORSE, FAB4DA, MCNP, CEPXS, IRENE or similar 

• The ability to be on-site 5 days a week 

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

Work Location Type:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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