Research Physicist

US-Office-of-Naval-Researc; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Naval Research Laboratory seeks a Research Physicist to advance EO/IR phenomenology and physics-based modeling in sensor technologies. This role emphasizes high-fidelity modeling, MATLAB, MODTRAN, and experimental design. Applicants should have experience at the GS-5 to GS-10 level and strong communication skills.

Responsibilities include developing countermeasure analyses, contributing to seeker and aerodynamics models, designing experiments, and presenting findings in proposals or reports.

Qualifications

• Selective placement factor screening indicates eligibility requires EO/IR phenomenology experience.
• At least 1 year of specialized experience at GS-5-10 or NP-02 in federal service or equivalent.
• Experience with physics-based computer model validation and high-fidelity modeling.

Responsibilities

• Support EO/IR countermeasures analysis with physics-based modeling.
• Contribute to mathematical models of seekers, trajectories, and aerodynamics.
• Design experiments to investigate problems and validate models.
• Communicate findings effectively in proposals and reports.

Skills

oral and written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Physics or related field

Tools

MATLAB

MODTRAN

Job description

You will serve as a Research Physicist within NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY

This position has a selective placement factor that will be used to screen out ineligible candidates. The selective placement factor is: This position requires demonstrated experience in EO/IR phenomenology, scientific/mathematical analysis software (such as MATLAB), IR detection modeling techniques, atmospheric propagation modeling (such as MODTRAN) and procedures/methodology for the validation of physics-based computer models.

In addition to the Selective Placement Factor and Basic Education requirements, your resume must also demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at the (GS-5-10) grade level or pay band (NP-02) in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

• Supporting the analysis of EO/IR countermeasures in a variety of scenarios with high fidelity physics modeling and lower fidelity behavior-based modeling.
• Contributing to mathematical models of weapon guidance, trajectories, seekers, and aerodynamics.
• Analyzing and researching problems and design experiments to investigate problems.
• Communicating effectively both orally and in writing and to respond as required for proposal or report content.

Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1300/physics-series-1310/

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.