Adjunct RSM

Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA)•Bowie, MD

17d•$112,924 - $263,335•Onsite

About The Position

The Adjunct Research Staff Member provides technical and analytical expertise in support of IDA’s long-term mandate to help the intelligence community identify and solve difficult technical problems, including in cryptography and cryptanalysis, high-performance computing, speech and signals analysis, and network defense and exploitation. The work involves tackling challenging problems with intellectual breadth, significant autonomy, willingness to take risks, and attention to how results will be used, while seeking opportunities to develop new scientific ideas. The role develops and applies technical knowledge to identify and advocate for promising approaches; stays current with relevant developments in mathematics and science and maintains connections to academic research; and pursues solutions individually and collaboratively through mathematics, algorithms, code, data generation, and analysis. The researcher works with colleagues and sponsors to prioritize work, document progress, maintain relevant research direction, and identify opportunities for collaboration. The position may include preparing formal papers, presenting findings, and contributing to the organization’s technical community through activities such as workshops, expository writing, academic liaison work, recruiting, arranging speakers, and conference briefings. The position is located at IDA’s Center for Computing Sciences in Bowie, Maryland. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and able to meet security clearance requirements, specified as TS/SCI with polygraph. Travel may be required. The stated salary range is $112,924–$263,335, with individual salary based on experience, skills, qualifications, and other relevant factors.

Requirements

At least a BS and 8 years of experience, an MS and 6 years of experience, or a Ph.D. in a discipline appropriate for the position.
Demonstrated ability to perform independent research.
Proven ability to publish findings and present findings orally.
Ability to present ideas, concepts, and theories orally and in writing.
Demonstrated innovative thinking and problem resolution.
Ability to work in an unstructured environment and/or on more than one project concurrently.
Ability to interact with government or industry representatives.
U.S. citizenship.
Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance; the posting specifies TS/SCI with polygraph.
Ability to work effectively and independently in an unstructured environment.
Relevant expertise applicable to difficult problems.
Sound judgment.
Ability to manage time effectively across multiple research projects.
Ability to collaborate well.
Ability to effectively and appropriately leverage computing resources.
Clear and effective verbal and written communication.
Ability to independently identify and address challenges and assume technical leadership as needed.

Responsibilities

Develop and apply technical knowledge and experience to identify, articulate, and advocate promising approaches to difficult problems.
Stay current on developments in mathematics and science relevant to sponsor problems and maintain strong connections to the academic research community.
Pursue and achieve solutions individually and in groups through mathematics, algorithm and code development, data generation, and analysis.
Work with researchers and the sponsor to prioritize effort across multiple difficult problems.
Document ideas and incremental progress and share them within the research community.
Communicate with the sponsoring organization to keep research direction relevant, promising, data-driven, and non-duplicative.
Develop and sustain working relationships with the sponsor and surface opportunities for collaboration.
Prepare formal papers documenting methods, conclusions, and findings, individually or as part of a team, and present findings to sponsors or select audiences as appropriate.
Contribute to the organization’s technical health, including by leading SCAMPs, workshops, or sustained efforts; writing expository papers; serving as a liaison to academic departments; recruiting and interviewing researchers; arranging external speakers; and briefing colleagues on conferences attended.