WMD Analyst (Nuclear Enterprise Defense)

Applied Research Associates, Inc.; Reston (VA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Research Associates, Inc. is seeking a WMD Analyst (Nuclear Enterprise Defense) in Reston, VA to identify, monitor, and assess foreign threats to U.S. nuclear enterprise and its information systems.

The role conducts all-source analyses and prepares foundational assessments, warning reports, and technical briefings for defense customers. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s degree with 3 years of intelligence cycle experience (or 7 years without a degree), strong multi-INT analysis

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 3 years of experience conducting intelligence cycle functions and/or creating intelligence reports, assessments, or deliverables; or, 7 years of same experience without a bachelor’s degree.
• Familiarity with identifying, assessing, and developing products related to foreign threats to U.S. nuclear-related information systems, critical infrastructure, personnel, and resources.
• Experience with intelligence analysis, including employing multi-INT databases to develop analytic assessments and briefings.
• Working familiarity with established Intelligence Community directives, standards, and tradecraft documents.
• Ability to work effectively within or lead a team of peers, and possess excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
• Ability to communicate complex analyses to diverse military audiences and senior government representatives.
• Ability to clearly express in writing technical analysis results and program characterizations.
• Experience assessing risks to identify impacts and vulnerabilities from foreign and malign cyber threat actors.
• Familiarity with foreign adversary nuclear/strategic weapons programs and related infrastructure.
• Understanding of C4I and CNA capabilities and technologies.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intelligence analyses and contribute to foundational assessments, warning reports, and technical briefings.
• Collaborate with the Intelligence Community, Defense Department, national labs, and academia to address nuclear threat issues.
• Provide guidance to less experienced staff and contribute to multi-functional analytic teams.
• Represent Defense Intelligence Enterprise analytic units during customer engagements and articulate official positions.

Skills

Intelligence analysis

Team leadership

Interpersonal skills

Written communication

Briefings

Multi-INT analysis

Cyber threat awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Job Category: Technical Analysis

Requisition Number: WMDAN010131

• Posted : September 29, 2026
• Full-Time
• On-site

Locations

Showing 1 location

Reston, VA 20191, USA

Description

The Capabilities, Analysis and Development (CAD) division of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) has an outstanding opportunity for a WMD Analyst (Nuclear Enterprise Defense) with experience identifying, monitoring, and assessing foreign threats to the U.S. nuclear enterprise and its information systems, networks, and/or critical infrastructure. This position routinely conducts technical and all-source analyses that characterize foreign actors and threats in order to effectively warn and protect U.S. nuclear-, strategic, and C4I-related elements. The Intelligence Analyst contributes to Defense Intelligence Enterprise deliverables, including but not limited to foundational assessments, warning reports, technical briefings, and other analytic documents. The position collaborates with the Intelligence Community, Defense Department, national labs, and academia to address nuclear enterprise-related threat issues. The Intelligence Analyst provides guidance to less experienced staff, reviews the work of others, authoritatively contributes to multi-functional analytic teams, and maintains currency in understanding relevant technologies, trends, and threats. The position is expected to understand and articulate official government analytic positions during customer engagements and represent Defense Intelligence Enterprise analytic units as directed.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and 3 years of experience conducting intelligence cycle functions and/or creating intelligence reports, assessments, or deliverables; or, 7 years of same experience without a bachelor’s degree.
• Demonstrate current familiarity – experience within the last two years – identifying, assessing, and developing products associated with foreign threats to U.S. nuclear-related information systems, critical infrastructure, personnel, and resources.
• Tangible experience with intelligence analysis, including employing multi-INT databases to develop analytic assessments and briefings.
• Working familiarity with established Intelligence Community directives, standards, and tradecraft documents.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively within or lead a team of peers, as well as excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
• Ability to communicate complex analyses at a level comprehensible to diverse military audiences and senior-level government representatives.
• Ability to clearly express in writing technical analysis results and program characterizations.
• Experience assessing risks to identify potential impacts and vulnerabilities associated with foreign and malign cyber threat actors.
• Familiarity characterizing and assessing foreign adversary nuclear and strategic weapons programs, developments, and its supporting infrastructure.
• Understanding of foreign military and adversary C4I and CNA capabilities and technologies.
• Understanding of global technology control, arms-control, nonproliferation, and threat reduction efforts associated with combating WMD.
• Active TS clearance with SCI eligibility.

Desired Qualifications:

• Military or defense-related experience and working familiarity Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) missions and entities.
• Familiarity characterizing and assessing foreign adversary maritime nuclear and strategic weapons programs, developments, and its supporting infrastructure.
• Understanding of the Defense Intelligence Enterprise, DIA, and Service intelligence production centers.
• Experience participating in or leading nuclear security and/or strategic exercises, forums, and working groups.
• Experience effectively devising, utilizing, and communicating methodological approaches to complex problem sets.
• Familiarity working with USSTRATCOM, DTRA, and S&T analytic centers within the DOD, IC and/or Interagency.

Compensation & Benefits: Pay Ranges: From $100,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year based on years of experience, degree and any special skills and knowledge that you may bring to the position. We mostly reserve the upper half of our compensation bands for internal growth. During all call with one of our recruiters or hiring managers, they can further clarify the salary range and total compensation. ARA offers competitive benefits that address our employees’ needs now and in the future. Learn more about each of our benefits at https://www.ara.com/benefits/

COMPANY INFORMATION:

Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs over 1200 professionals. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership fosters greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, "Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit" sums up the ARA experience. For additional information and an opportunity to join this unique workplace, please visit our website at www.ara.com.

Thought Provoking

Capable of making others think deeply on a subject

Team Player

Works well as a member of a group

Innovative

Consistently introduces new ideas and demonstrates original thinking

Functional Expert

Considered a thought leader on a subject

Enthusiastic

Shows intense and eager enjoyment and interest

Detail Oriented

Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well

Dedicated

Devoted to a task or purpose with loyalty or integrity

Motivations

Required

Self-Starter: Inspired to perform without outside help

Growth Opportunities

Inspired to perform well by the chance to take on more responsibility

Goal Completion

Inspired to perform well by the completion of tasks

Entrepreneurial Spirit

Inspired to perform well by an ability to drive new ventures within the business

Education

Preferred

Bachelors or better in Intelligence Studies or related field.

Experience

Required

3-5 years:

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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