Principal Radiation Architecture Engineer

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.; Burlington (MA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. in Cambridge, MA seeks a Principal-level Radiation Architecture Engineer to lead design and verification of radiation-hardened systems. The role requires hands-on experience and the ability to mentor engineers, with at least 60% on-site time.

You will guide cross-functional teams, develop requirements, and communicate results through reports and presentations, ensuring mission-critical performance in hostile radiation environments.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor's in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or related field; a Master's or PhD is preferred.
• 7–10 years of Radiation Engineering or related experience.
• Excellent communication and leadership abilities; able to mentor junior engineers.

Responsibilities

• Support radiation effects decisions on system performance across architecture levels.
• Design radiation hardening and verify performance against TID, SEE, and NDD.
• Lead medium-sized teams (5–10 people) and mentor others.
• Develop requirements, propose solutions when requirements are unclear, and manage risks.
• Document and share best practices and teach others across disciplines.

Skills

Verbal & written communication

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Radiation interactions knowledge

Education

Bachelor's in Physics

Bachelor's in Electrical/Nuclear Engineering

Master's or PhD preferred

Job description

Overview

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.

Job Description Summary

The Contested Environment System Analysis group is seeking a Principal-level Radiation Architecture Engineer to support cross-functional teams to develop system concepts, architectures, and requirements that support operation in natural and hostile radiation environments. The candidate is expected to have hands on experience in delivering radiation hardened systems, including what is necessary to ensure a system meets performance requirements in these environments. The candidate will be expected to work effectively in a team environment, mentor junior engineers, and communicate progress and results through published reports and presentations. This role requires at least 60% time on-site at a Draper campus.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Support engineering decisions based on radiation effects on overall system performance.
• Design harden and verify the performance of systems across multiple radiation effects, including dose rate, total ionizing dose (TID), neutron displacement damage (NDD), and single event effects (SEE).
• Support interdisciplinary teams to ensure that radiation hardening is maintained across the product lifecycle.
• Independently drive solutions to complex problems - develop requirements, propose ways forward when customer requirements are unclear or incomplete, and adapt appropriately to changes in requirements
• Sustained record of successful task leadership. Identifies risks and develops and executes mitigation strategies for them.
• Demonstrated ability to lead medium-sized teams (5-10 people). Reliably aligns team towards program goals and builds trust within the team.
• Subject Matter Expert (SME) able to perform advanced radiation effects analyses
• Able to provide insight and suggest design modifications based on analysis outcomes, and to apply analysis techniques across a range of technical challenges and disciplines
• Identify program/system-level technical risks and develop and execute mitigation strategies for them
• Develop, document, and teach best practices to less experienced engineers
• Demonstrate strong organization, planning, and time management skills to achieve program goals.
• Actively mentors. Recognizes strengths and weaknesses in others and provides thoughtful constructive feedback.
• Performs other related duties as needed

Skills/Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively and openly with multi-disciplinary program team members. program leadership, and non-technical personnel.
• Excellent analytical skills to support modeling and analysis tasks.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, especially with regard to planning critical test and analysis activities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Team player able to work in a fast-paced environment with the ability to balance multiple competing tasks and demands.
• Solid understanding of radiation interactions with materials and devices.

Education

Requires a Bachelor's in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or other relevant field. A Master's degree, or PhD is preferred.

Experience

7-10 years Radiation Engineering or related experience.

Additional Job Description

Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

Job Location

City: Cambridge

State: Massachusetts

Postal Code: 02139-3563

Salary

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $95,000.00 - $245,000.00 Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.

Benefits

Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities.

Diversity and Inclusion

Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We understand the value of inclusivity and its impact on a high-performance culture.

Equal Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information.

Reasonable Accommodation

Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact [e-mail].