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DESCRIPTION/RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Capital Area Division (CAD) of Applied Research Associates (ARA), Inc. is seeking a Systems Engineer with background in Department of Homeland Security analysis and planning. The successful candidate will support the requirements analysis branch in identifying and decomposing operational requirements for DHS components’ R&D needs. In addition, the applicant should understand DHS Science and Technology’s organization and its relationship to the Joint Requirements Council and operational components. The overall goal is to evaluate capability gaps, conduct requirements analysis and set up gap decompositions for further solutions analysis.

Specific Duties include:
• Coordinate with S&T and DHS Component stakeholders, especially FEMA, CISA, and First Responders Resource Group, to identify and document capability gaps and Component R&D needs.
• Decompose capability gaps into operational performance parameters while considering mission context, measurable performance metrics, operational environment, and assumptions.
• Prepare gap decomposition documents detailing the results of decomposition activities.
• Coordinate and communicate with stakeholders for both incoming and outgoing information for understanding and clarity.
• Exercise considerable originality to define problems, visualize approaches, coordinate technical guidance, and apply and extend new methods requiring innovative systems engineering or operations research approaches.
• Coordinate completed studies and analyses with the DHS Headquarters (Specifically at S&T), Components staff and its identified stakeholders such as technical SMEs from FFRDCs, contractors, national laboratories, universities, DHS Components, and interagency partners in performing complex, highly specialized analyses (systems analysis, requirements analysis, gap analysis, operations analysis, and systems engineering) that will inform DHS enterprise-wide investment decisions.
• Analyze management problems and provide advice and insight about the probable effects of alternative solutions to these problems.

Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline with a minimum of 3-4 years’ work experience in the field.
• Experience working with, and ideally facilitating, multiple stakeholder groups to reach consensus decisions.
• Experience coordinating across multiple levels of organizations, including senior leadership.
• Familiarity with providing analyses and assessments supporting development, integration, and fielding of technical capabilities.
• Experience working with DHS, its Components, or similar organizations.
• Experience providing quick turnaround deliverables that deliver authoritative analysis, assessments, and recommendations.
• Experience developing standardized, defensible, and repeatable processes to support enhanced decision-making.
• US citizen
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
• Able to obtain and maintain DHS Suitability.

Desired Qualifications:
• Familiarity with the Joint Requirements Integration Management System (JRIMS) and associated requirements generation products and processes, including Capability Analysis Reports (CAR), Mission Needs Statements (MNS), Concepts of Operation (CONOP), and Operational Requirements Documents (ORD).
• Direct experience supporting FEMA, CISA, or First Responders requirements generation and development of technical capabilities.
• Active DHS Suitability.
• Bachelors or better with 5 years of experience.

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 1000 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 spawns 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 System Engineer position.

Experience
Required
• 3 - 4 years: Relevant work experience

Education
Required
• Bachelors or better

Behaviors
Required
• Team Player: Works well as a member of a group
• Functional Expert: Considered a thought leader on a subject
• Enthusiastic: Shows intense and eager enjoyment and interest
• Detail Oriented: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well
• Dedicated: Devoted to a task or purpose with loyalty or integrity

Motivations
Required
• Self-Starter: Inspired to perform without outside help
• Ability to Make an Impact: Inspired to perform well by the ability to contribute to the success of a project or the organization

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)