Environmental Scientist, Waste Management (NASA KSC)

Leidos LLC; Merritt Island (FL); On-site; USD 59,000 - 107,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking an Environmental Scientist to join the NASA Environmental and Medical Contract (NEMCON) at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The role supports waste operations, including waste disposal shipments and supervision of post-emergency spill cleanup, ensuring compliance with RCRA, DOT, TSCA and related regulations.

You will work to maintain federal and state regulatory compliance for KSC and USSF, coordinate waste handling, and contribute to environmental studies and reporting while

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental science, chemistry, or related discipline with eight years of related work experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of federal, state, and local waste management and emergency response regulations (OSHA HAZWOPER).
• DOT HAZMAT certification within 90 days of employment and biennially thereafter.
• RCRA TSDF worker certification within six months of employment.
• OSHA HAZWOPER within one month of employment and annually thereafter.
• Strong reading, analytical, and written/verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Valid driver’s license and eligibility for federal facility clearance.
• Must pass an occupational health physical.

Responsibilities

• Analyze environmental problems using scientific methods to prevent pollution and devise solutions.
• Review and interpret regulations to determine impact on facility programs and compliance needs.
• Evaluate wastes from KSC/USSF to classify regulatory requirements for transport, recycling, treatment, or disposal.
• Coordinate shipments of waste materials for disposal or recycling in compliance with regulations.
• Function as Site Supervisor for post-emergency spill cleanup per OSHA HAZWOPER requirements.
• Prepare environmental reports detailing pollution causes and future risks.
• Develop procedures and internal guidelines to meet environmental compliance objectives.
• Ensure safe operation and proper handling of by-products and hazardous wastes.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Hazardous waste

OSHA HAZWOPER

DOT HAZMAT

MS Office

Communication

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Job Description

We are seeking an Environmental Scientist to join the NASA Environmental and Medical Contract (NEMCON) located at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida. As a key member of the NEMCON, you will play a valuable part in supporting the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The Environmental Scientist will provide support within waste operations, conducting waste disposal shipments, and supervising post-emergency spill cleanup activities. This position ensures that KSC and the United States Space Force (USSF) are in compliance with all Federal, State, and local regulations pertaining to waste regulated under, but not limited to, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Department of Transportation (DOT), and Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). Must be able to pass a Public Trust background investigation; U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Permanency is required due to length of investigation for non-U.S. persons.

Responsibilities

• Anaylzing and evaluating environmental problems by applying scientific knowledge or chemical, civil, mechanical, or other engineering methods to prevent pollution and develop solutions to existing environmental problems and predict the possibility of future environmental pollution.
• Responsible for the review, evaluation, and interpretation of Federal, State, or local environmental regulations and determines the applicability and impact on facility environmental programs and identifies compliance requirements.
• Evaluate solid wastes generated by KSC, USSF, and other entities to classify and determine regulatory requirements to properly transport, recycle, treat, and/or dispose of the waste materials.
• Assist in the development of contract requirements necessary to conduct specialized environmental studies, reports, and establish capabilities for waste recycling/treatment/disposal, contamination investigation, remediation, and innovative and alternative environmental technologies.
• Assist in the coordination of shipments of various types of waste materials for disposal and/or recycling in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements (DOT, RCRA, TSCA, etc).
• Functions as Site Supervisor for post-emergency spill cleanup activities and first responder operations level responses to waterborne spills of hazardous substances in accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) requirements.
• Prepare environmental reports or studies detailing types and causes of pollution and the probability of future environmental problems.
• Prepares procedures, handbooks, and internal operating instructions to establish guidelines for meeting general environmental compliance objectives.
• Ensures safe operation and properly manages by-products, which may include hazardous wastes, resulting from workplace activities.
• Specific responsibilities may include proper waste segregation, containerization, handling, and responding to emergencies in a manner consistent with company policies/procedures and site-specific workplace instructions.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental science, chemistry, or related scientific discipline with eight years of directly related work experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Federal, State, and local regulations and rules regarding waste management (hazardous waste, universal wastes, polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs], asbestos, biomedical, Drug Enforcement Administration [DEA] controlled substances, etc.), transportation (DOT), and emergency response and post-emergency response cleanup from releases of hazardous substances (OSHA HAZWOPER).
• Obtain DOT HAZMAT employee (49 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 172 Subpart H) within 90 days of employment and biennially thereafter.
• Obtain RCRA Hazardous Waste/Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities (TSDF) worker (40 CFR 264.16 and Florida Department of Environmental Protection [FDEP] Operating Permit) within six months of employment and annually thereafter.
• Obtain OSHA HAZWOPER (29 CFR 1910.120 (e) and (p)) within one month of employment and annually thereafter.
• Mathematical skills and the ability to read, analyze and understand written information including regulations, and communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, where the information being communicated includes precise data and terminology, possibly of a confidential nature.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Programs (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Possess valid driver’s license and be eligible for clearance at a federal facility.
• Successfully pass an occupational health physical to obtain and maintain qualifications and certifications required to perform this work.
• Must possess excellent organizational skills and the ability to thrive in a team atmosphere including the ability to effectively communicate and work with all levels of employees.

Working Conditions

Work will mainly be performed in an office setting and occasionally with irregular hours. Demands of work assignments may occasionally require periodic physical exertion such as walking on uneven terrain, stooping, and possibly lifting up to 50 pounds, sometimes while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), outdoors in all weather conditions and sometimes for an extended period of time.

Marketing

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We’re not hiring followers. We’re recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We’re already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Posting Details

Original Posting: September 2, 2026 For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range

Pay Range: Pay Range $59,150.00 - $106,925.00 The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Company Description

Leidos Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $17.2 billion for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2026. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and Benefits Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available here.

Securing Your Data

Securing Your Data Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information at any part of the employment application process. And Leidos will communicate with you only through emails that are sent from a Leidos.com email address. If you receive an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information, please report the email to [e-mail].

Commitment and Diversity

Commitment and Diversity All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.