Computational Physicist

At ARA, we strive to hire valuable colleagues with not only the right skills but also demonstrate our core values of passion, freedom, service, and growth. As a computational physicist on our team, you are the backbone of our modeling initiatives and will be responsible for developing technology critical to the success of our projects as well as national security.

ARA’s Arlington, VA office is seeking a candidate for a position developing advanced physics numerical models for DoD applications. The candidate will have a strong passion and background in algorithm development for multi-physics phenomena related to nuclear weapon environments and their effects on military systems. Areas of emphasis include radiation transport, plasma physics, optics, atmospheric and ionospheric chemistry, electromagnetic wave propagation, and space weather. The multi-disciplined collaborative team of engineers and scientists working on these models are part of our employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences, and you will be on this team!

The opportunity for career advancement and continued learning at ARA does not stop there. We strive to identify cross-training opportunities and encourage staff to become involved in upcoming R&D efforts as well as interject new ideas into our longstanding modeling and simulation programs. At ARA, we foster an environment where technical staff is empowered to research and develop their own ideas –with resources and support from a strong internal technical team and external partners. You can expect day-to-day to have flexibility in choosing the level of autonomy suited to you, while at the same time enjoying a challenging technical career with great opportunities for personal growth.

The successful applicant will be responsible for running and modifying existing legacy models as well as developing new models. Familiarity with Python and C++ is strongly desired. You will need experience with scientific programming using one or more of C, C++, C#, Java, and Python, and be comfortable working in both Windows and Linux HPC operating environments. If you have familiarity with configuration management tools such as Git, that is a plus.

If you can accomplish the above, you’ve got what it takes. However, realistically you need a BS in a science or engineering field with 5-7 years of scientific programming experience, an MS with 3-5 years of experience, or a Ph.D with 1-3 years of experience.

Due to the work, you’ll perform and interactions with the intelligence community and DoD programs, you will need to be eligible to apply for and hold a US security clearance (selected applicants will undergo a security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements at the time of employment). However, if you have held an Active Secret clearance within the last two years we want to talk to you!

About Us:

Applied Research Associates, Inc. (aka ARA) is an employee-owned international research and engineering company known for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. We were founded in Albuquerque, NM in 1979 as the disco era was, thankfully, closing out and the personal computer era was beginning. We employ over 1,500 professionals and continue to grow. ARA offices throughout the U.S. and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense, civil, and health technologies, computer software, and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement.

ARA also prides ourselves on having a challenging culture where innovation & experimentation are the norm. At ARA, employees are our greatest assets, so we give our employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take active roles as owners. The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience. The company realizes employee ownership spawns greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. We are also very proud of our Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) whose purpose is to motivate, support, and encourage professional career development for women to maximize career and professional accomplishments.

To find out more about the Algorithms, Modeling & Assessments Division visit our website at: https://www.ara.com/raleigh/

   Experience

Required

    * 5 - 7 years: Relevant Work Experience

   Education

Required

    * Bachelors or better

Preferred

    * Doctorate or better

    * Masters or better

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)