Principal Scientist

Mission Support and Test Services, LLC

$121K — $185K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in health physics, nuclear engineering, or similar calculus-based STEM field, plus 9 years of relevant experience.
  • Desired experience in gamma-ray spectroscopy, health physics, and training development/delivery.
  • Enhanced skills in radiation detection, algorithm development, and programming are a plus.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills in complex project environments.
  • Ability to effectively interface with technical personnel and government agencies.
  • Willingness to work during non-standard hours and deploy on short notice.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain SCI access.

Responsibilities

  • Collect and analyze radiological data to advise public safety officials.
  • Utilize specialized tools to assess impacts of radiological incidents.
  • Maintain emergency responder qualifications and training.
  • Serve on-call duty for approximately a third of the year.
  • Assist in developing emergency response guidelines and procedures.
  • Provide training materials and train emergency responders.
  • Conduct testing and evaluation of radiation detection equipment.

Benefits

  • Flexible work schedules: 4/10s, 9/80, or 5/8s.
  • Opportunities for extensive training and professional development.
  • Involvement in national-level emergency response operations.
  • Potential for global travel related to deployments and exercises.
Full Job Description
Job Description

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

The Remote Sensing Laboratory - located at Joint Base Andrews outside of Washington, DC - is searching for an enthusiastic and energetic individual looking to join our dynamic emergency response organization that is responsible for supporting several national-level radiological and nuclear emergency response assets. The selected candidate will be expected to:

  • Collect and analyze radiological data from a variety of platforms and advise public safety officials on the consequences of a radiological incident.
  • Utilize specialized tools and applications to calculate potential impacts to the public, workers, and the environment to support radiological emergencies.
  • Attain and maintain qualification as an emergency responder.
  • Serve rotating, on-call duty for approximately a third of the year, typically in one-week increments.
  • Ability to deploy worldwide for exercises and responses, with as little as two-hour notice when on call.
  • Maintain training and ensure job-specific qualifications remain current; as well as attend onsite and off-site training as necessary to maintain competency.
  • Assist in the development of company and emergency response guidelines, manuals, procedures, etc.
  • Develop and implement corrective actions and lessons learned.
  • Develop training materials and train emergency responders accordingly across the DOE community.
  • Assist with the preparation of technical reports and recommendations.
  • Organize, evaluate, and interpret data by comparison against standards and guidelines.
  • Plan and conduct work requiring judgment in the evaluation, selection, application, adaptation, and modification of standard techniques, guidelines, procedures, and criteria.
  • Maintain the ability to present analysis results to a technical or non-technical audience.
  • Conduct testing and evaluation of radiation detection equipment and acquisition/analysis software.
  • Provide expertise, feedback, and input into the development of improved radiation detection systems and analysis algorithms.
  • Provide scientific guidance on projects involving an interdisciplinary team of engineers, software developers, scientists, and technicians.
  • Operate radiation detection equipment in field operations.
  • Maintain subject matter expertise and proficiency on detection equipment to instruct during courses or offer troubleshooting during operations or events.
  • Develop and design scientific and technical content for training exercises.
  • Perform other duties as assigned by Supervisor/Manager.
  • In addition to fulfilling basic ESH&Q obligations:
    • Must address all aspects of safety in design and execution of work.
    • Work may affect public health and safety.
    • May help formulate ESH&Q protocols.


Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in health physics, nuclear engineering or a similar calculus-based (STEM) field, plus at 9 years' relevant experience. Skill building experience must demonstrate either deeper technical specialization or additional cross-disciplinary knowledge. Graduate research experience may be recognized.
  • Experience with one or more of the following is highly desired: gamma-ray spectroscopy, operational health physics, and customer service and/or training development and delivery.
  • Additional enhanced experience includes radiation detection, algorithm development, transport codes, programming, prototype design and testing, and training design or delivery.
  • Must have strong written and oral communications skills and must show a demonstrated ability to work on complex applied projects in a group atmosphere.
  • Must have the ability to interface effectively with technical personnel from other MSTS organizations, outside organizations, and government agencies.
  • Must be willing and able to perform work during non-standard hours, take on-call duty, and deploy worldwide on short notice.
  • Must be able to perform critical job functions while under high stress environments such as those presented in real world deployments.
  • Must be able to meet Company requirements for worldwide travel including completing a medical physical and immunizations.
  • Ability to work independently or in a team environment on a wide variety of tasks.
  • Working knowledge of Office365, Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat, and Outlook is required.
  • Must be fitted for and qualify for use with various respiratory protection and personal protective equipment.
  • Must be able to lift 50 lbs.
  • Must be able to participate in National Response Asset Deployment activities, including flight onboard government aircraft for missions and deployments.
  • Candidate must be able to obtain and maintain SCI accesses.
  • The primary work location will be at the Remote Sensing Laboratory-Andrews on Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
  • The selected candidate can choose from the following work schedules: 4/10s, (Monday through Thursday); 9/80 (off every other Friday); 5/8s, (Monday through Friday) (subject to change)
  • Pre-placement physical examination, which includes a drug screen, is required. MSTS maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing.
  • Must possess a valid driver's license.


Annual salary range for this position is: $121,867.20 - $185,848.00.

Starting salary is determined based on the position market value, the individual candidate education and experience and internal equity.

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