Overview

The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) is a non-profit federally funded research and development center think tank. IDA provides answers to questions posed by the Department of Defense and other agencies that require careful analysis. IDA takes great pride in the high caliber and timeliness of its analyses, which are produced in an atmosphere that encourages independent thinking and objective results.

Qualifications

The System Evaluation Division has an immediate opening for a Research Staff Member. The longstanding mission of the System Evaluation Division (SED) is to provide high-quality analyses of the most challenging national security issues. SED was established to undertake scientific analyses of weapon systems and new equipment and technologies and to assess operational data derived from combat and field exercises. These types of classic “systems analyses” have remained a chief focus for SED studies, increasing in importance to our sponsors as contemporary defense systems have become more intricate and costly. The topics we examine include the performance of individual air, land, sea, and space-based systems, new concepts or system architectures, and the effectiveness of various force mixes. Although the subjects of our research are always changing as a result of technological advances, newly recognized threats, and the continuously evolving international political environment, our mission remains constant: to provide a wide range of independent analyses for a variety of sponsors within the Department of Defense.

Required Qualifications

• Candidates must meet one of the following education/experience combinations:
• A minimum of a Doctoral Degree in Chemistry (Physical, Theoretical, Nuclear), Computer Science, Information Technology, Bioengineering, Engineering (Computer, Mechanical, Nuclear, Electrical, or Aerospace), Physics, Applied Mathematics, or an interdisciplinary program encompassing one or more of these fields coupled with relevant work experience (via industry, research fellowships, or internships); OR
• A minimum of a Master’s Degree in Chemistry (Physical, Theoretical, Nuclear), Computer Science, Information Technology, Bioengineering, Engineering (Computer, Mechanical, Nuclear, Electrical, or Aerospace), Physics, Applied Mathematics, Operations Research or an interdisciplinary program encompassing one or more of these fields coupled with 10+ years’ related experience supporting the military/government.
• Significant computing experience, e.g.: server management, networking configuration, statistical software or programming languages used in research (e.g. Python, R, Stata, MATLAB, etc).

U.S. Citizenship is required

Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance is required

Equal Opportunity Employer