Lead Applied Operations Research Analyst

MITRE; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 155,000 - 233,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE seeks an Operations Research Analyst to join its Operations Analysis department. You will apply advanced analytics to support defense and public-sector projects, frame problems, and present insights with visualizations. The role requires on-site work four days a week and active U.S.

security clearances. Ideal candidates have 8+ years of OR/analytics experience or a PhD with relevant background, plus experience with optimization tools and programming languages.

Qualifications

• Minimum years of experience in operations research and analytics as listed in the ad.
• Ability to use optimization packages like Gurobi/CPLEX/PuLP/AMPL.
• Proficiency in at least one programming language (Python/R/Java).

Responsibilities

• Apply advanced analytical and mathematical modeling techniques for policy decisions.
• Frame problems, collect data, develop algorithms, identify risks, and add context.
• Present results in an intuitive, actionable manner with data visuals.
• Work independently and with a team of technical staff and domain experts.
• Work both remotely and on-site four days a week.

Skills

Optimization packages

Programming languages

Simulation platforms

Security clearance

On-site requirement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Data Science/Analytics, Applied Mathematics/Statistics

Master’s degree in related field

PhD with experience in related field

Tools

Gurobi

CPLEX

PuLP

AMPL

Job description

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We’re a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies – collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation’s health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose — and help shape the future.

Department Summary:

This is an opportunity for a motivated Operations Research Analyst to join MITRE’s Operations Analysis department. We are a large group of over 60 operations research professionals, including over 20 PhDs, who provide thought leadership on a variety of strategic and technical issues, perform analysis that enable our sponsors to make more effective decisions, lead internal research and development activities to bring new technical capabilities into the public sector, and serve as trusted third-party advisors to government sponsors on a variety of technical topics.

In short, we apply our problem-solving skills to complex interdisciplinary problems that occur within or at the intersection of organizations, operations, and technology. We support sponsor projects across the defense and public sectors including homeland defense, military logistics, radio-spectrum frequency management, health care delivery, cybersecurity analytics, fraud detection, satellite planning, homeland security and civilian aviation. We apply advanced analytic techniques such as longitudinal analysis, large-scale integer programming, metaheuristics, agent-based modeling, reinforcement learning, predictive modeling, mathematical modeling, time series & forecasting, machine learning, optimization, statistics, probability modeling, regression analyses, Bayesian analysis, and different types of simulation to solve the nation’s toughest problems. And our research pushes the boundaries on topics such as complex scheduling, medical image analysis, identifying changes in data streams and incorporating the latest AI advancements into our processes for efficiency and rigor.

If you are passionate about project-based analytical work in the public interest, you have found the right place.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Apply advanced analytical and mathematical modeling techniques to inform difficult policy and acquisition decisions, to maximize operational effectiveness and efficiency, and achieve highest quality engineering solutions
• Frame problems, collect and manipulate data, develop & code customized algorithms, identify risks, and incorporate domain-specific context, as necessary & applicable, to supplement and enhance insight gained solely from mathematical analyses
• Present results in an intuitive, actionable manner that can be understood by all sponsor audiences, regardless of technical expertise, including creative data visualization artifacts
• Work independently and collaborate with a team of technical staff and domain experts
• Work successfully both in a remote environment and with in-person presence

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Data Science/Analytics, Applied Mathematics/Statistics, or equivalent knowledge and skills in a related field or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years of experience or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Be passionate about applying operations research, statistics, and data analytics to real world problems
• Be willing to adapt and learn
• Demonstrated ability to use at least one optimization package (e.g., Gurobi, CPLEX, PuLP, AMPL)
• Demonstrated ability to use at least one modern programming language (e.g., Python, R, Java)
• Demonstrated ability to use at least one simulation platform (e.g., Stella, Simio, Arena, AnyLogic, SimPy, RSimmer)
• Must have an active Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance and must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Top Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires 4 days a week on site

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s or Ph.D. degree in Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Data Science/Analytics, Applied Mathematics/Statistics, or equivalent knowledge and skills in a related field
• Preference given to qualified candidates with active clearance (e.g. TS/SCI)
• Experience working with/for agencies and/or departments of the US Government (e.g., FAA, DoD, DoE, DHS, Treasury, IRS)
• Demonstrated ability to develop and incorporate a variety of AI/ML models, techniques, and principles into analytical work to efficiently achieve rigorous outcomes
• Familiarity and/or experience with Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) organizations, concepts, modeling, testing, and assessment, to include the Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Center (JEC), Joint Electromagnetic Warfare Center (JEWC), Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO), Electromagnetic Battle Management—Joint (EMBM-J), Spectrum Consumption Modeling (SCM), and Electronic Warfare (EW)
• Familiarity and/or experience with the Mission Engineering paradigm of decomposing a key operational problem, establishing a system-of-systems model of components, technology, policies, procedures, and techniques, and ultimately simulating the process on a technical platform

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Top Secret

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$155,200 - $194,000 - $232,800 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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