Defense Cost Analysis Researcher (Adjunct)

Institute for Defense Analyses; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 113,000 - 277,000; Part time

Job summary

Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) in Virginia is seeking an Adjunct Research Staff Member - Cost Analyst for the Cost Analysis and Research Division (CARD). This broadly scoped, part-time role learns across programs and emphasizes teamwork and clear communication with sponsors. The analyst will develop cost estimates, manage data from government and contractors, and build cost models with rigorous analyses.

A Ph.D. or a master's with 10+ years' experience is required; U.S.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Operations Research, Economics, Statistics, Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, Materials Science, Finance, or related field.
• OR a Master's with 10+ years of relevant cost-analysis experience.
• Strong cost-estimation, data analytics, and modeling capabilities.
• Ability to communicate complex results to senior stakeholders and sponsors.

Responsibilities

• Develops cost estimates and cost element structures for defense programs.
• Collects, normalizes, and validates data from government and contractor sources.
• Builds, documents, and maintains cost models using multiple methods.
• Conducts cost-risk, uncertainty, and sensitivity analyses.
• Assesses reasonableness of estimates, methodologies, and data sources.
• Documents methods, data lineage, and results for transparency.
• Drafts sections of briefings and reports; presents results to sponsors.
• Contributes to improvements in analytical methods and tooling.
• Supports multiple tasks and meets sponsor deadlines.
• Mentors and trains junior cost analysts.

Skills

Leadership

Written & oral communication

Independent work

Data analysis

Quantitative reasoning

Education

Ph.D. in quantitative field

Master's +10 years experience

Tools

Python

R

ACEIT/CEAC

@RISK

Crystal Ball

Job description

Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) in Virginia is seeking an Adjunct Research Staff Member - Cost Analyst for the Cost Analysis and Research Division (CARD). This broadly scoped, part-time role learns across programs and emphasizes teamwork and clear communication with sponsors. The analyst will develop cost estimates, manage data from government and contractors, and build cost models with rigorous analyses.

A Ph.D. or a master's with 10+ years' experience is required; U.S.