Research Scientist/Engineer Senior

University of Washington Medical Center•Seattle, WA

2d•$102,000 - $114,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) has an outstanding opportunity for a Research Scientist/Engineer Senior to join the Environmental and Information Systems Department. Reporting to the Senior Principal Oceanographer, the Research Scientist/Engineer Senior will develop and lead research programs that consist of common tools and teams applied to a diverse range of projects and funding agencies. The incumbent selected will plan and execute ongoing funded projects through grants and contracts. The projects include complex and novel tasks that require the development of new sensors, platforms, and sensing paradigms to answer fundamental questions in oceanography and to advance the use of autonomous underwater vehicles. Specifically, the research will advance the use of long-endurance autonomous instrument platforms through sensor integration, development of advanced shoreside and embedded control algorithms, and adaptive autonomous deployment and recovery methods. The research will focus on the synergistic use of autonomous sampling methodology to produce data that support ocean modeling efforts, and will support the study of physical, acoustic, and other applied oceanographic processes of basic and applied concerns in both coastal and deep ocean settings.

Requirements

Master's degree in Engineering or a related field, and 8 years of experience.
An existing DoD security clearance.
US Citizenship.
A federal security clearance is required to hold this position. The person hired into this position must be a U.S. citizen and successfully obtain and continue to maintain a Department of Defense (DOD) Personnel Security Clearance.
General knowledge of oceanographic instrumentation and engineering systems.
Knowledge of buoyancy-controlled underwater platforms, including fundamentals of operation, sensors, controls, and data analysis techniques.
Proficiency in scientific computing (MATLAB, Python) for simulation and data analysis for sensor integration and control development.
Demonstrated ability to plan, conduct, and interpret at-sea ocean observations.

Nice To Haves

A demonstrated history of working with US Navy research partners on autonomous systems.
Excellent verbal and written skills.
Ability to work independently and with a team.
Strong research, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
Demonstrated technical communication and collaboration abilities.
Must have a history of developing instruments or vehicles that meet an unfilled capability.
Experience leading collaborative engineering teams.
Broad knowledge of physical oceanography, robotics, and autonomy is also desired.

Responsibilities

Conceives research and develops new technologies to address scientific questions.
Develops research plans/proposals that are fundable and maximize project successes.
Pursues research funding opportunities through regular federal channels (NSF, NASA, DOE, ONR) and any additional emergent relationships with other sponsors (including local or state governments, philanthropic organizations, or companies).
Writes and submits single- and multi-investigator proposals, which include articulation of the scientific question and methods used to explore its answer, and the development of a detailed, comprehensive research project plan and budget.
Develops research projects with collaborators within APL, within UW, and across external organizations.
Oversees budgets and adheres to sponsor requirements and deliverables.
Executes funded research projects.
Oversees engineering development including technology conception, design, fabrication, laboratory testing, and field demonstration.
Performs data collection, processing, analysis, and interpretation.
Develops and writes software programs to control underwater platforms, directs their sampling, and interprets their measurements.
Oversees and directs engineering and science teams to meet project goals.
Supervises and mentors junior engineers and scientists.
Provides research experience and outreach to undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdocs.
Engages with and contributes to the department and lab.
Coordinates with sponsors for project updates and sponsor meetings throughout the project, including project completion.
Cultivates and maintains rapport with applied research sponsors.
Communicates research results through presentations (oral and poster).
Creates outreach materials or disseminates publicity from suitable projects.
Writes and publishes scientific reports, papers, and presentations.
Files disclosures of inventions or patent applications as appropriate.