Polymer R&D Engineer​/Scientist with Security Clearance

Precise Systems delivers integrated, mission-ready solutions that advance warfighter readiness and strengthen our nation's most critical defense programs. Through the power of our combined capabilities, we provide deep expertise in Advanced Engineering;
Digital Transformation;
Electromagnetic Warfare;
Interactive Training & Simulation;
Physical Sciences Research;
Platform Lifecycle Support; and Foreign Military Sales. Unified by decades of trusted performance and expanded through strategic growth, our team applies innovative technologies, engineering rigor, and customer-focused execution to solve complex challenges and accelerate mission success. Guided by our commitment to partnership, precision, and performance, we deliver the scalable solutions and technical excellence our customers depend on-today and into the future.

Precise Systems is seeking to immediately hire a full-time person to join a diverse, multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers to work as a project team member on specific materials, environmental effects, and engineering projects. The team includes personnel at NRL's headquarters in Washington, DC (NRLDC), at NRL's blue-water test facility in Key West, FL (NRLKW), as well as offsite personnel from other Navy facilities and collaborating companies in private industry.

Work may occur in the office, the laboratory, or the field (including, potentially, shipboard work), as necessary. The job will be based in Washington, DC or Key West, Florida but regular travel to perform work at NRLKW is required. Duties:
* Develop test data in support of setting requirements and predicting field performance for Navy applicable multi-layer multi-material (metallic and non-metallic) designs of interest with a specific focus on mechanical, structural, and environmental degradation effects of polymer, composite and metallic systems
* Responsible for researching, defining, and communicating engineering approaches in order to meet relevant design gaps for use of plastics, composites, elastomers, sealants, and adhesives in the seawater environment.
* P erform mechanical testing for material property understanding, as well as produce experimental data to support ongoing research
* Develop material qualification specifications.
* Use modeling, experimental, and analytical data to inform theory-based investigations
* Communicate and interface with cross-functional groups, research leads, program management, technical engineering and key stakeholders with intent to successfully progress research through product delivery phase, which may include practical fleet applications and solutions.
* Demonstrated failure mode analysis, root cause investigation, and problem solving for product quality issues. Required

Education:

* Undergraduate, Masters degree or Ph.D. in polymer/plastics engineering, materials science/engineering, mechanical engineering, or chemistry.

Required Experience:

* 3 years' experience in materials research, environmental effects, and engineering projects
* Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) modeling
* Experience with MATLAB for data acquisition, analysis and presentation
* Sound knowledge and understanding of physical and mechanical properties and behavior of structural polymers, composites, and adhesives
* Understanding of polymer formulations in order to develop approaches to material screening
* Proven understanding of adhesion science concepts to include adhesive bonding, surface chemistry, and viscoelasticity
* Understanding of polymer/composite degradation and/or accelerated life testing for use in determining root cause mechanisms to predict lifecycle performance
* Ability to perform mechanical testing for material property understanding, as well as produce experimental data to support ongoing research
* Ability to develop material qualification specifications
* Ability to use modeling, experimental, and analytical data to inform theory-based investigations
* Ability to communicate and interface with cross-functional groups, research leads, program management, technical engineering and key stakeholders with intent to successfully progress research through…