The Applied Research Associates, Inc., Test Technology Division (TTD) is seeking an accomplished Senior Scientist to lead advanced research, development, testing, and evaluation activities supporting Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosives (CBRNE) defense, national security, and emerging technology programs. This position combines deep technical expertise with program development, customer engagement, and small-team leadership to develop, field, and operate next-generation sensing, instrumentation, automation, and test technologies.
The successful candidate will serve as a technical leader and trusted advisor, working closely with government sponsors, scientists, engineers, technicians, and program managers to deliver innovative solutions and execute complex laboratory and field programs. This role is ideal for a hands-on scientist who thrives in both technical execution and the leadership of small multidisciplinary teams.
Key Responsibilities
Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Leadership
- Lead the planning, design, execution, and analysis of laboratory and field-based research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) activities.
- Develop test objectives, requirements, experimental plans, and technical approaches aligned with customer mission needs.
- Lead threat replication, characterization, signature discovery and exploitation, and technology evaluation efforts supporting DoD and national security customers.
- Design and oversee test bed preparation, test article integration, instrumentation ranging and fielding, and experimental execution.
- Support technology maturation and transition from early-stage research through operational field demonstrations and deployment.
Program Development & Technical Leadership
- Help identify, market, and develop new technical opportunities aligned with customer needs and ARA strategic growth areas.
- Support business development through customer engagement, white papers, proposal development, technical volume writing, basis-of-estimate development, and technical presentations.
- Develop technical roadmaps and research strategies to advance emerging technologies and capabilities.
- Build and maintain strong customer relationships through technical excellence, responsiveness, clear communication, and successful project execution.
- Coordinate with scientists, engineers, project managers, and external partners to develop integrated technical solutions.
Small Team Leadership & Mentorship
- Lead small multidisciplinary teams of scientists, engineers, technicians, and subcontractors in the execution of complex technical programs.
- Provide day-to-day supervision, technical direction, mentoring, and professional development for junior staff.
- Foster a culture of technical excellence, innovation, collaboration, accountability, and safety.
- Lead by example through active participation in experiment design, system development, field deployments, data analysis, and customer interactions.
- Coordinate resources, schedules, and technical activities to ensure successful project execution while maintaining budget and schedule performance.
- Support recruiting, onboarding, and development of technical staff as programs grow.
Instrumentation, Sensors & Technology Development
- Lead the design, development, integration, and deployment of advanced instrumentation systems for laboratory and field environments.
- Develop and field sensing systems supporting chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, explosive, environmental, shock physics, and weapon-effects experiments.
- Apply expertise in spectroscopy, chromatography, optical sensing, chemical detection, environmental monitoring, machine learning, and advanced measurement science.
- Design and integrate custom sensing systems, automation platforms, and high-speed data acquisition architectures.
- Support development and evaluation of novel sensors and instrumentation from concept through operational deployment.
Analog Electronics, RF Systems & Data Communications
- Develop and integrate analog sensor systems, signal conditioning electronics, amplifier circuits, and high-fidelity measurement systems.
- Apply RF and electromagnetic analysis techniques in support of remote sensing, radar, communications, and instrumentation applications.
- Design, implement, and troubleshoot data acquisition systems, distributed sensor networks, and communications architectures.
- Support integration of wired and wireless communications systems for remote and distributed testing environments.
- Utilize advanced data analytics, machine learning, chemometrics, and modeling techniques to extract value from complex experimental datasets.
Field Operations & Experimental Execution
- Lead deployment, installation, commissioning, operation, and troubleshooting of instrumentation systems in laboratory, field, and remote environments.
- Conduct testing at government ranges and secure facilities at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), Kirtland Air Force Base, or other CONUS locations, often under challenging operational conditions in austere environments.
- Ensure successful, high-quality data collection in harsh test environments.
- Coordinate field activities involving instrumentation, data collection, environmental monitoring, and operational support systems.
- Ensure compliance with safety requirements, hazardous material procedures, explosive safety considerations, and environmental regulations.
- Support execution of high-tempo field campaigns requiring adaptability, technical problem-solving, and close coordination with customers and stakeholders.
Customer & Stakeholder Engagement
- Serve as a primary technical interface with government customers, laboratories, industry partners, and internal ARA organizations.
- Communicate technical progress, program risks, test results, and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Collaborate across disciplines and organizational boundaries to deliver innovative solutions and successful program outcomes.
- Present research findings, technical capabilities, and program results to customers, stakeholders, and professional organizations.
Required Qualifications
- US Citizen with the ability to obtain a DoD security clearance.
- M.S. in Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Data Science, Computer Science, Nuclear Science, or a related technical discipline with 5-7 years experience of direct hand-on leadership experience.
- Demonstrated experience leading R&D, S&T, or test and evaluation programs.
- Experience leading small technical teams and coordinating multidisciplinary project efforts.
- Strong background in scientific experimentation, data analysis, instrumentation, sensing technologies, or measurement science.
- Experience developing and executing laboratory and field experiments.
- Familiarity with program planning, schedule management, budgeting, and technical risk management.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively with customers and stakeholders.
- Willingness to travel and support field operations as required.
- Tolerance for working in both outdoor and office environments:
- Long periods of standing, walking, and hiking over uneven terrain
- Regularly lifting and moving materials, tools, or equipment weighing up to 30 pounds
- Frequent bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, crawling, and overhead or below-shoulder reaching
- Remaining in a stationary seated position at a desk or workstation for office work
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting DoW, DTRA, AFRL, DOE, DHS, or other national security customers.
- Ph.D with Background in CBRNE defense, weapons effects, threat characterization, or advanced sensing technologies with 2-3 years experience.
- Experience with spectroscopy, chromatography, optical sensing, LIDAR, Raman spectroscopy, environmental monitoring, or remote sensing systems.
- Experience with analog electronics, RF systems, data acquisition systems, communications networks, and system integration.
- Experience with machine learning, artificial intelligence, data science, modeling and simulation, or digital engineering.
- Proposal development and capture support experience.
- Active DoW security clearance.
What Success Looks Like
Successful candidates are recognized as technical leaders who combine scientific excellence with practical execution. They are capable of leading small high-performing teams, building strong customer relationships, developing new technical opportunities, and delivering innovative solutions to challenging national security problems. They are equally comfortable developing a technical strategy, mentoring junior staff, presenting to customers, troubleshooting instrumentation in the field, or leading a critical test event.
At ARA, this role sits at the intersection of technical excellence, innovation, customer engagement, and team leadership. It is intended for a scientist who wants to remain deeply involved in technology development while helping grow people, programs, and capabilities.
Company Information:
Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) 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, employs over 2,200 professionals and continues to grow. 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.
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, opportunities and autonomy to take active roles as employee owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are expected to advance new capabilities to support company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The core values “Passion, Freedom, Service and Growth” and the motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sum up the ARA experience. For additional information and an opportunity to join this unique workplace, please visit our website at www.ara.com.
