Senior Chemist​/Explosive Ordnance Disposal; EOD Specialist – Advanced Energetics & Effects

Position Overview

This position is for upcoming work and is contingent upon task award/funding. It is an onsite position at Fort Belvoir, VA.

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Chemist or Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) professional to support critical mission areas within the Advanced Energetics and Effects domain. This role requires deep technical expertise in explosives science, weapons systems, and energetic materials, combined with operational experience in special operations environments. The position encompasses new conventional weapons development, additive manufacturing and weapons enhancements, and advanced energetics/non-energetic materials research and application.

• Explosives Formulation – Develop, evaluate, and optimize explosive compositions for specialized applications
• Additive Manufacturing of Warheads/Explosives – Leverage advanced manufacturing techniques to design and produce novel warhead geometries and explosive configurations
• Weapons Design – Contribute to the design and development of conventional weapons systems with enhanced performance characteristics
• Blast Door Response & Equipment Fragility – Assess and model blast effects on protective structures and sensitive equipment; inform survivability and vulnerability analyses
• Niche Energetics – Research and develop specialized energetic materials for unique operational requirements
• Kinetic and Non-Kinetic Effects – Analyze, model, and optimize both kinetic (explosive, fragmentation, penetration) and non-kinetic (electronic, directed energy, cyber‑physical) effects for mission success

• Master's degree or higher in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a closely related field; OR equivalent combination of education and extensive EOD/energetics experience
• Active SOF background with demonstrated operational experience
• Minimum 10 years of experience in explosives science, energetic materials, or weapons effects
• Deep knowledge of explosive formulation chemistry, detonation physics, and blast phenomenology
• Experience with additive manufacturing processes as applied to energetics or munitions
• Familiarity with weapons design principles, including warhead mechanics and lethality optimization
• Understanding of blast‑structure interaction, fragility assessment, and protective system design
• US Citizen with an Active Top Secret / SCI security clearance (required at time of application)

• PHD in Chemistry, Energetic Materials, or related discipline
• Prior assignment or direct support to USSOCOM, JSOC, or component SOF units
• Published research or patents in energetics, detonation science, or advanced materials
• Experience with computational modeling tools (e.g., CTH, AUTODYN, LS-DYNA) for blast and fragmentation analysis
• Familiarity with DoD acquisition processes and technology transition pathways
• Experience briefing senior military and civilian leadership on technical findings

Posted Salary Range: USD $ - USD $ / Yr.

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