Senior Chemist

Join our rapidly growing team dedicated to solving complex problems in a dynamic environment at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division.

We are currently seeking Senior Chemists with robust experience for a growing list of projects involving modernization of explosives and energetic materials production facilities, munitions production, and novel production system design. These projects require close coordination with explosives and munitions subject matter experts, federal stakeholders, and extensive knowledge of research and development capabilities and ongoing production operations. Our Chemists must have strong technical backgrounds to provide creative technical solutions to complex problems while participating in and leading teams. An ideal candidate has robust experience in analytical techniques, small molecule synthesis or scaling from beaker to batch, creative design, and prior exposure to pyrotechnics, propellants, combustion reactions, or other high hazard chemical environments .

Due to the nature of this work, candidates for this position must be U.S. citizens residing within the US. This position is located at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head (NSWC-IH) and will require you to be onsite. This position does not allow for a remote or hybrid work schedule.

This position is contingent upon the issue of technical instructions.

As a Senior Chemist at NSWC-IH, your position will include the following key responsibilities.

• Work and partner with the client organizations, provide leadership and vision for safe and cost-effective execution of production capabilities for energetic materials and related applications (munitions, rockets, warheads, etc.)
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with client representatives and key decision makers and achieve client satisfaction in all areas of performance.
• Provide expert input to development of synthetic pathways for producing energetic materials and their precursors.
• Conduct and supervise conduct of traditional analytical techniques (TGA, GC-MS, various spectroscopies).
• Provide extensive technical knowledge of mass and heat transport in chemical process systems in support of synthetic pathway and process development projects.
• Ensure proper execution of the project including planning, scheduling, and procurements, per the customer’s requirements.
• In conjunction with the project managers develop, plan, and execute goals and objectives which support the client’s objectives.
• Responsible for the development and implementation of safety and quality programs by all project staff.
• Lead technical analyses in support of process development, troubleshooting, and optimization.
• Develop test plans to validate to support proof on concept designs.

Senior Chemist Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry (or equivalent), with 8-10 years of experience, or a Masters degree with 6-8 years of experience.
• Excellent leadership and coordination skills, with a track record of leading and mentoring multi-disciplinary teams across different project phases.
• Experience in a wide variety of analytical techniques for monitoring solvated and crystalized synthetic small molecule production.
• Experience leading development of test plans, reports, presentations, laboratory safety assessment plans, standard operating procedures, and other support documentation.
• Maintain qualification in chemical, radiation, and laser safety, and explosive handling as mandated by facility procedures and training.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple, complex projects, including the integration and coordination of diverse stakeholders such as government agencies, contractors, and vendors.
• Ability to work effectively in high-pressure, dynamic environments, managing rapid changes in program scope, funding, and priorities.
• Experience with process safety and material handling ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to tailor presentations and reports to diverse technical and non-technical audiences.
• S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain a security clearance.
• Ability to undergo and pass a Department of Transportation compliant medical physical exam.
• Ability to undergo and pass a drug screening.

Senior Chemist Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced Degree in chemistry or a related technical field is preferred.
• Experience with the production, handling, processing, and design of energetic materials related to defense applications.
• Experience managing production modernization projects, including new capabilities design and devel