Structural Engineer

Ara; Fort Belvoir (VA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking a Structural Engineer for the MCC division at the MCC headquarters.

The role provides operational, research, and training support and serves as a subject‑matter expert to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency as part of its 24/7 Technical Reachback Support program. The ideal candidate will apply subject‑matter expertise and problem‑solving skills to develop, integrate, test, verify, validate, and apply CBRNE software/scenarios based on experiments

Qualifications

• MS in Structural/Civil Engineering or related field.
• 0–2 years of experience.
• Willing to work rotating shifts for 24/7/365 operations.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Hands‑on experience using computer‑based software to develop structural models.

Responsibilities

• Review current research in various and potentially diverse subject areas.
• Provide general knowledge and structural engineering‑related expertise to government agencies and first responders.
• Assist in the development of program plans, timelines, and technical documents.
• Attend technical and programmatic meetings to coordinate responses from scientific community members and review the assembled materials for technical accuracy, consistency, and completeness.
• Be willing to be cross‑trained to provide modeling and information across the CBRNE spectrum.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Problem solving

Technical presentation

Education

MS in Structural/Civil Engineering

Tools

Structural modeling software

Job description

Job Category: Engineering Support Services

Requisition Number: STRUC009973

• Posted: July 16, 2026
• Full-Time
• On-site

Locations: The Missons, Concepts and Capabilities (MCC) division of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA). This position is based at the MCC headquarters.

The MCC division of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is looking for a Structural Engineer. The role provides operational, research, and training support, and serves as a subject‑matter expert and decision support to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) as part of its 24/7/365 Technical Reachback Support program. The ideal candidate will apply subject‑matter expertise and problem‑solving skills to develop, integrate, test, verify, validate, and apply CBRNE software/scenarios based on experiments and predicted phenomena using theoretical and computational methods. Responsibilities include performing complex engineering and scientific modeling, analyses, and providing scientific reports and technical assessments to military decision‑makers. Team members are cross‑trained on all models and undergo a rigorous certification process on the use of CBRNE models.

Responsibilities

• Review current research in various and potentially diverse subject areas.
• Provide general knowledge and structural engineering‑related expertise to government agencies and first responders.
• Assist in the development of program plans, timelines, and technical documents.
• Attend technical and programmatic meetings to coordinate responses from scientific community members and review the assembled materials for technical accuracy, consistency, and completeness.
• Be willing to be cross‑trained to provide modeling and information across the CBRNE spectrum.

Required Qualifications

• MS in Structural/Civil Engineering or a related field.
• 0–2 years experience.
• Willing and able to work rotating shifts for 24/7/365 operations.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Hands‑on experience using computer‑based software to develop structurally sound and comprehensive models.
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. DoD TS/SCI security clearance.
• Strong communication skills, both oral and verbal; technical presentation, teamwork mentality, graphic visualization, and Microsoft Office proficiency.

Desired Qualifications

• Active U.S. DoD Secret or Top‑Secret clearance.
• Knowledge of blast effects on structures.
• Proficiency in reviewing and interpreting blueprints to extract structural specifications for integration into modeling programs.

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Range: $80,000 – $110,000 per year based on experience, degree, and special skills. ARA offers competitive benefits. See our benefits page at https://www.ara.com/benefits/

Equal Opportunity Employer / Protected Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities: This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.