Applied Physical Scientist

FTI Defense - Frontier Technology Inc.; Beverly (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A defense technology company based in Beverly, MA is seeking an experienced Applied Physical Scientist to focus on Space Domain Awareness. The role involves algorithm development, scientific analysis, and software deployment. A Master's degree in a related field and an active TS/SCI security clearance are required. Candidates should be proficient in Python and Java/Spring Boot, and familiarity with Docker and Kubernetes is preferred. This position is 100% on-site due to the nature of the work.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant discipline is required.
• Fluency in Python and experience with scientific computing libraries.
• Knowledge of containerized workflows and CI/CD pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement algorithms for SDA applications.
• Develop production-quality code in Python and Java/Spring Boot.
• Collaborate with domain experts to validate algorithms.

Skills

Statistical analysis

Data modeling

Python programming

Java/Spring Boot development

Collaboration

Education

Master’s degree in Astronomy, Physics, Applied Mathematics

Tools

NumPy

SciPy

Docker

Kubernetes

MongoDB

Git

Job description

Overview

Frontier Technology Inc. is seeking an experienced Applied Physical Scientist to join our Sensor and Data Services team in Beverly, MA. This role focuses on Space Domain Awareness (SDA), including advanced analysis, physics‑based modeling, algorithm development, and deployment of solutions for space‑based systems. Experience with EOIR sensors is beneficial but not required. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team of scientists and software engineers, developing and deploying algorithms and services that enhance space situational awareness. Our team operates in a cloud‑native development environment using modern DevOps practices. This position is currently 100% on‑site at our Beverly, MA facility due to the classified nature of the work. Active TS/SCI security clearance is required.

Responsibilities

Scientific Analysis and Algorithm Development

• Design and implement algorithms for SDA applications, including object detection, tracking, and characterization in space environments.
• Analyze SDA‑related datasets and simulations to improve space situational awareness and decision‑making capabilities.
• Apply expertise in statistics, data modeling, simulation, and advanced mathematics to identify patterns and deliver innovative solutions.
• Perform image processing, coordinate transformations, sensor calibration, and related analytical tasks as needed.

Software Development and Deployment

• Develop production‑quality code in Python and Java/Spring Boot, following modern software engineering practices including version control, code review, automated testing, and CI/CD.
• Containerize algorithms and services using Docker for deployment to Kubernetes clusters.
• Participate in the full development lifecycle: design, implementation, testing, deployment, and monitoring.

Collaboration and Communication

• Collaborate with SDA and EOIR domain experts to refine algorithm requirements and validate results.
• Partner with software engineers to integrate scientific algorithms into robust, deployable services.
• Engage with customers to present technical results, gather feedback, and define future tasking. Communicate complex technical results clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences.

Education/Qualifications

Education

• Master’s degree in Astronomy, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a closely related discipline.

Domain Knowledge

• Strong technical background in astronomy or physics.
• Practical knowledge of telescopes and optical systems, including observation planning or mission design.
• Experience with standard astronomical data analysis and reduction procedures.
• Strong mathematical foundation, with experience applying statistical methods to scientific data.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance is required. U.S. citizenship is required.

Software Development

• Programming fluency in Python with scientific computing libraries (NumPy, SciPy, or equivalent).
• Experience with Java development; Spring Boot experience strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with containerized development workflows (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins or equivalent).
• Working knowledge of MongoDB or similar document databases.
• Proficiency with Git for version control and collaborative development.
• Experience writing automated tests (unit, integration) for scientific and production code.
• Desired experience with STK (Ansys Systems Tool Kit), OD++ or similar orbit determination software.