Polymer R&D Engineer/Scientist

Precise Systems, Inc.•Washington, DC

3d•$77,571 - $116,357•Hybrid

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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 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.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
U.S. Citizenship is required.

Nice To Haves

Master’s or Ph.D., or a combination of B.S. or M.S. and years of experience in polymer/plastics engineering, materials science/engineering, mechanical engineering, or chemistry.
Experience with polymers/non-metallics in severe exposure environments or naval applications
Experience with structural modeling of polymers in COMSOL Multiphysics.
Project Management- Excellent data handling, documentation, critical milestone creation, and organization skill.
Experience with automating data acquisition and analysis in MATLAB.
Experience with data acquisition with MATLAB.
Former active-duty Navy or other military service.
Problem-solver willing to learn new skills (in addition to apply skills already mastered).

Responsibilities

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.
Perform 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.