Part-Time High Energy Laser Scientist

Notice: All vacancies on this contract are currently subject to a hiring freeze as the Missile Defense Agency is performing a manpower assessment. nou Systems is continuing to accept applications and consider candidates so that we will be prepared to resume staffing the contract when the freeze is lifted.

nou Systems, Inc. (nSI) is here to solve diverse and challenging technical problems in a dynamic, stimulating environment, while providing unsurpassed value to our customers. 

We are pleased to announce an opening for a Missile Defense System High Energy Laser Scientist who will join our Engineering Services Team at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and become part of our rapidly growing technology company operating in missile defense, cybersecurity, test range modernization, and space control marketspaces. Qualified candidates will be part of an exceptional team supporting the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) mission to develop and deploy a layered Missile Defense System to defend the United States, its deployed forces, allies, and friends from missile attacks in all phases of flight. 

Responsibilities: 

Qualified candidates will be providing technical support for the MDA Technical, Engineering, Advisory and Management Support (TEAMS)-Next Specialized Engineering Analyses (SEA) contract. The unique, highly qualified SEA Team is critical to ensuring the MDA can rapidly develop and deploy Missile Defense System capabilities to defeat advanced missile threats by aggressively pursuing advanced concepts and technologies for leap-ahead capability in directed energy, hypersonic missile defense, radiation hardened electronics, space-based sensors, and Israeli defense systems. The SEA Team provides comprehensive Missile Defense System Developmental Test analyses, future Missile Defense System architecture modeling and design, advanced technology analyses, and specialized engineering support to improve the development, testing, and fielding of cybersecure and tamper-proof upgrades to Missile Defense System Elements. 

nSI has a critical opening for a Senior Laser Scientist supporting the MDA Chief Architect, Chief Scientist Team, MDA/CA-E. The MDA/CA-E team performs evaluations for emerging advanced concepts and provides technical advice on critical technical challenges facing the MDA and the Missile Defense System. MDA/CA-E makes recommendations to the MDA Chief Architect for new concept demonstrations and potential inclusion in future deliveries of Missile Defense System Elements.

The selected candidate will be evaluating and improving the design of a high energy laser defensive weapons system concept.  Specific focus will be on high energy laser systems design, platform integration, and architecture performance assessment against defined threats. Duties include:

• Develop Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) System Concepts with supporting subsystems and integration into candidate ground sites, air vehicles, or spacecraft
• Perform Missile Defense System-level many-on-many scenario level effectiveness analyses of the potential DEW System Concepts
• Develop an assessment of the feasibility of implementing each candidate DEW System Concept in a Directed Weapon System Concept Feasibility Report
• Characterize the DEW concept’s projected capabilities and limitations, critical path(s), and risks associated with the development schedule to provide a Directed Energy Technology Survey
• Perform preliminary engineering analyses and design to develop concepts for DEW Platform Integration of the DEW System into candidate ground sites, air vehicles and spacecraft using Platform-customized CAD tools to determine laser system mass and volume constraints
• Develop statistical analyses of the potential for clouds and precipitation along weapon lines of sight for the air vehicle or ground site operating altitude of interest. Develop statistical analyses of the beam attenuation and backscatter effects in a Cloud Effects Analysis Report 

Basic Qualifications:

At a minimum, qualified candidates must have:

• A Master’s degree in a technical field such as engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, or computer science.
• At least 12 years of full-time professional experience in a technical field related to missile defense and/or technical analysis of a complex Department of Defense (DoD) weapon system.
• Must be eligible to obtain or have an active SECRET clearance, with the ability to obtain TS/SCI clearance.
• Must be able to work at our customer site on Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Lacking any one of these disqualifies any applicants from this job. 

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Experience with systems engineering of high energy weapons