Strategic Deterrent Nuclear Survivability Analyst

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Hill AFB, UT

5d•Onsite

About The Position

This is an on-site position at Hill Air Force Base (AFB) in Utah, representing APL on a significant program of national importance. The role involves applying Nuclear Hardness & Survivability (NH&S) expertise in a fast-paced, high-impact environment on a long-term strategic weapon system, specifically the Sentinel strategic missile system. The analyst will work directly with the sponsor, government mission partners, and the Sentinel Prime Contractor. As part of the System Definition and Validation Group (KBY), the primary responsibility is to serve as part of APL’s forward-based team supporting the Sentinel program, facilitating daily interaction with the sponsor and Prime Contractor. This role enhances APL’s ability to support the government sponsor by maintaining regular communications with APL’s program and project managers, line-side leaders, and fellow on-site team members to increase awareness of Sentinel activities, developments, decisions, areas of concern, and opportunities for APL to assist. The analyst will serve as a technical advisor, integrator, and trusted agent to government leadership, providing subject matter expertise and independent assessment for the execution of NH&S activities for the Sentinel strategic missile system, including expertise in nuclear weapons effects and natural environments. The role involves conducting and assessing technical evaluations of hostile and natural space environments and their effects on the weapon system, supporting the development and assessment of NH&S and natural environments entrance and exit criteria for project milestones, independent assessment of contractor performance, leading and coordinating APL support of nuclear survivability-related certification efforts, and assisting the government in developing near- and long-term NH&S and natural environments technical planning. The analyst will also serve as the primary on-site liaison between APL’s Laurel-based NH&S team and the Sentinel Program and Sentinel Prime Contractor, contributing to technical baseline definition and providing NH&S and natural environments support to acquisition and systems engineering strategy development and program restructuring activities.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a closely-related technical field.
2+ years relevant experience providing Nuclear Survivability support to strategic weapon systems.
2+ years experience supporting Air Force strategic weapon systems including the Minuteman or Sentinel (GBSD) weapon systems.
Nuclear weapons effects modeling and simulation experience of nuclear weapons outputs and their interaction with systems.
Especially strong verbal and written communication skills, as well as demonstrated strong critical thinking skills.
Able to effectively shape the day-to-day tasking to meet sponsor needs, multi-task, and adapt to changing demands with minimal guidance.
Willing to relocate to Utah in the vicinity of Hill AFB, with periodic travel (potentially 5-6 trips per year of duration one week or less) to APL Laurel campus, contractor sites, and other locations.
Hold an active Secret security clearance and are able to obtain a Top Secret/SCI level clearance.
Must meet the requirements for access to classified information.
Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Serve as part of APL’s forward-based team supporting the Sentinel program.
Maintain regular communications with APL’s program and project managers, line-side leaders and organizations, and fellow members of the KBY on-site technical team to increase awareness of Sentinel activities, developments, decisions, areas of concern, and opportunities where APL can help the Sentinel program.
Serve as a technical advisor, integrator, and trusted agent to government leadership, providing subject matter expertise and independent assessment to the government for the execution of NH&S activities for the Sentinel strategic missile system.
Provide NH&S technical subject matter expertise and natural environments subject matter expertise.
Assist the APL team supporting the Sentinel team through conducting and assessing technical evaluations of assessed hostile and natural space environments and their effects on the weapon system.
Support development and assessment of NH&S and natural environments entrance and exit criteria for project milestones and 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 environments technical planning.
Serve as the primary on-site liaison between APL’s Laurel-based NH&S team and the Sentinel Program and Sentinel Prime Contractor.
Contribute to technical baseline definition.
Provide NH&S and natural environments support to acquisition and systems engineering strategy development and program restructuring activities.