Strategic Deterrent Nuclear Survivability Analyst

Role Overview

We are seeking a Strategic Deterrent Nuclear Survivability Analyst for the Sentinel strategic missile system. This is an on‑site position at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, working alongside APL personnel, the government sponsor, other government mission partners, and the Sentinel Prime Contractor.

• Work directly with the sponsor to understand their needs and collaborate with APL technical leaders to recommend, support, and execute work in support of the Sentinel Program Office’s desire to “own the technical baseline.”
• Serve as part of APL’s forward‑based team supporting the Sentinel program, maintaining regular communication with program and project managers, line‑side leaders, and the KBY on‑site technical team to increase awareness of Sentinel activities, decisions, and opportunities.
• Act as a technical advisor, integrator, and trusted agent to government leadership, providing nuclear hardness & survivability (NH&S) technical subject matter expertise and independent assessment to the government for the execution of NH&S activities for the Sentinel system.
• Assist the APL team by conducting and assessing technical evaluations of hostile and natural space environments and their effects on the weapon system, supporting development and assessment of NH&S and natural environment entrance and exit criteria for project milestones, and providing independent assessment of contractor performance.
• Lead, coordinate, and execute APL support of nuclear survivability‑related certification efforts.
• Support APL’s efforts to assist the government in developing near‑ and long‑term NH&S and natural environment technical planning.
• Serve as the primary on‑site liaison between APL’s Laurel‑based NH&S team and the Sentinel Program and Prime Contractor.
• Contribute to technical baseline definition and provide NH&S and natural environment support to acquisition and systems engineering strategy development and program restructuring activities.

• Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a closely related technical field.
• 2+ years of relevant experience providing nuclear survivability support to strategic weapon systems.
• 2+ years of experience supporting Air Force strategic weapon systems, including the Minuteman or Sentinel (GBSD) weapon systems.
• Experience with nuclear weapons effects modeling and simulation of nuclear weapons outputs and their interaction with systems.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and demonstrated critical thinking skills.
• Ability to effectively shape day‑to‑day tasking to meet sponsor needs, multitask, and adapt to changing demands with minimal guidance.
• Willingness to relocate to Utah near Hill AFB, with periodic travel (up to 6 trips per year of one week or less) to APL Laurel campus, contractor sites, and other locations.
• Active Secret security clearance and eligibility to obtain a Top Secret/SCI clearance; U.S. citizenship required.

• Graduate degree in Nuclear Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a closely related field and 5+ years of nuclear survivability experience.
• 5+ years of experience providing nuclear survivability support to strategic weapon systems.
• 5+ years of experience supporting Air Force strategic weapon systems including the Minuteman or Sentinel (GBSD) weapon systems.
• Proven thought leader with sponsor engagement experience.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities.

If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accommodations.

$100,000 – $245,000 annually.