Polymer R&D Engineer/Scientist

Precise Systems; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 78,000 - 116,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life and AD&D coverage

Disability insurance

Retirement plans

Holiday pay

Employee-managed leave

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

Precise Systems in Washington, DC or Key West, FL seeks a highly skilled materials engineering professional to join a diverse, multidisciplinary team. The role focuses on polymers, composites, and metals, evaluating mechanical and environmental degradation to support Navy programs.

You will conduct mechanical testing, develop test data, and create material qualification specifications while collaborating with research leads, program management, and technical engineers to drive research into

Qualifications

• 3 years' experience in materials research and engineering projects.
• Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) modeling.
• Experience with MATLAB for data acquisition, analysis and presentation.
• Knowledge of physical and mechanical properties of structural polymers, composites, and adhesives.
• Understanding of polymer formulations to develop screening approaches.
• Understanding of adhesion science concepts including surface chemistry and viscoelasticity.
• Experience with polymer/composite degradation and accelerated life testing.
• Ability to develop material qualification specifications.
• Ability to use modeling, experimental, and analytical data to inform investigations.
• Ability to communicate with cross-functional groups to advance research to product delivery.

Responsibilities

• Develop test data for Navy designs focusing on mechanical, structural, and environmental degradation of polymers, composites, and metals.
• Research, define, and communicate engineering approaches to plastics, composites, elastomers, sealants, and adhesives in seawater environments.
• Perform mechanical testing and generate experimental data to support ongoing research.
• Develop material qualification specifications.
• Use modeling and data to inform theory-based investigations.
• Interface with cross-functional teams to progress research toward product delivery and fleet applications.

Skills

FEA modeling

MATLAB data analysis

Materials science

Adhesion science

Polymers & composites

Education

Undergraduate, Masters or Ph.D. in polymer/plastics engineering, materials science/engineering, mechanical engineering, or chemistry

Tools

COMSOL Multiphysics

Job description

Precise Systems delivers integrated, mission-ready solutions that advance warfighter readiness and strengthen our nation's most critical defense programs. Through the power of our combined capabilities, we provide deep expertise in Advanced Engineering; Digital Transformation; Electromagnetic Warfare; Interactive Training & Simulation; Physical Sciences Research; Platform Lifecycle Support; and Foreign Military Sales. Unified by decades of trusted performance and expanded through strategic growth, our team applies innovative technologies, engineering rigor, and customer-focused execution to solve complex challenges and accelerate mission success. Guided by our commitment to partnership, precision, and performance, we deliver the scalable solutions and technical excellence our customers depend on-today and into the future.

Precise Systems is seeking to immediately hire a full-time person to join a diverse, multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers to work as a project team member on specific materials, environmental effects, and engineering projects. The team includes personnel at NRL's headquarters in Washington, DC (NRLDC), at NRL's blue-water test facility in Key West, FL (NRLKW), as well as offsite personnel from other Navy facilities and collaborating companies in private industry. Work may occur in the office, the laboratory, or the field (including, potentially, shipboard work), as necessary. The job will be based in Washington, DC or Key West, Florida but regular travel to perform work at NRLKW is required.

Duties:

• Develop test data in support of setting requirements and predicting field performance for Navy applicable multi-layer multi-material (metallic and non-metallic) designs of interest with a specific focus on mechanical, structural, and environmental degradation effects of polymer, composite and metallic systems
• Responsible for researching, defining, and communicating engineering approaches in order to meet relevant design gaps for use of plastics, composites, elastomers, sealants, and adhesives in the seawater environment.
• Perform mechanical testing for material property understanding, as well as produce experimental data to support ongoing research
• Develop material qualification specifications.
• Use modeling, experimental, and analytical data to inform theory-based investigations
• Communicate and interface with cross-functional groups, research leads, program management, technical engineering and key stakeholders with intent to successfully progress research through product delivery phase, which may include practical fleet applications and solutions.
• Demonstrated failure mode analysis, root cause investigation, and problem solving for product quality issues.

Required Education:

• Undergraduate, Masters degree or Ph.D. in polymer/plastics engineering, materials science/engineering, mechanical engineering, or chemistry.

Required Experience:

• 3 years' experience in materials research, environmental effects, and engineering projects
• Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) modeling
• Experience with MATLAB for data acquisition, analysis and presentation
• Sound knowledge and understanding of physical and mechanical properties and behavior of structural polymers, composites, and adhesives
• Understanding of polymer formulations in order to develop approaches to material screening
• Proven understanding of adhesion science concepts to include adhesive bonding, surface chemistry, and viscoelasticity
• Understanding of polymer/composite degradation and/or accelerated life testing for use in determining root cause mechanisms to predict lifecycle performance
• Ability to perform mechanical testing for material property understanding, as well as produce experimental data to support ongoing research
• Ability to develop material qualification specifications
• Ability to use modeling, experimental, and analytical data to inform theory-based investigations
• Ability to communicate and interface with cross-functional groups, research leads, program management, technical engineering and key stakeholders with intent to successfully progress research through product delivery phase, which may include practical fleet applications and solutions
• Demonstrated failure mode analysis, root cause investigation, and problem solving for product quality issues.

Desired Education and Experience:

• Master's or Ph.D., or a combination of B.S. or M.S. and years of experience in polymer/plastics engineering, materials science/engineering, mechanical engineering, or chemistry.
• Experience with polymers/non-metallics in severe exposure environments or naval applications
• Experience with structural modeling of polymers in COMSOL Multiphysics.
• Project Management- Excellent data handling, documentation, critical milestone creation, and organization skill.
• Experience with automating data acquisition and analysis in MATLAB.
• Experience with data acquisition with MATLAB.
• Former active-duty Navy or other military service.
• Problem-solver willing to learn new skills (in addition to apply skills already mastered).

Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance. Due to the sensitivity of customer-related requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required.

Precise Systems values employee contributions, promotes diverse opportunities for professional growth, and prioritizes overall well-being.

• health insurance
• life and accidental death and dismemberment coverage
• disability insurance
• retirement plans
• holiday pay
• employee-managed leave
• professional growth opportunities

We recognize exceptional performance and alignment with our core values through our STAR Award recognition program.

Compensation at Precise Systems is determined by various factors, including education, experience, skills, competencies, and contract-specific requirements. The salary range for this position is $77,571.36 - $116,357.04 (annualized USD). This range represents the standard pay for this role and is just one component of Precise Systems' total compensation package.

Precise Systems is committed to fair and equitable pay practices in alignment with applicable pay transparency laws and equal employment opportunity standards.

Precise Systems is dedicated to a shared vision and core values of Integrity, Respect, and Responsibility, which foster innovation and drive our continued success in the global marketplace. Precise Systems and its subsidiaries are Equal Opportunity /Affirmative Action Employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, status as an individual with a disability, or any legally protected status under federal, state, or local law. Visit www.GoPrecise.com for a listing of current openings and our comprehensive, employee friendly benefits summary. Precise Systems participates in E-Verify.