Materials Scientist

• - NJ- Egg Harbor Township
• Egg Harbor Township, NJ, USA
• Full Time

Position Purpose:  The primary purpose of this position is to support the simulant development laboratory (SDL) at the Transportation Security Laboratory (TSL).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintain a clean laboratory environment and perform routine equipment calibration and maintenance.
• Perform material characterization techniques such as laser diffraction particle size analysis, mechanical properties testing, powder flow analysis, and density analysis.
• Prepare and analyze samples following established standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Measure and characterize the properties of energetic and inert materials on Explosive Detection Systems (EDSs) and evaluate the corresponding X-ray attenuation response.
• Provide immediate explosive characterization and simulant development support during rapid response activities.
• Develop draft program documents (plans, procedures, technical and data reports, and presentations) to support R&D related activities.
• Maintain libraries and databases on chemical inventory, explosives characterization information, and simulant formulations.
• Develop formulations that match the properties of a target explosive to include X-ray attenuation (density and Z-effective), color, morphology, granularity, texture, and/or smell.
• Develop simulant and surrogate test articles that accurately mimic explosives configurations.
• Safely handle explosive and other hazardous materials.
• Source materials and submit purchase requests.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSA's):

• Required KSA's
• Laboratory experience with a focus on material characterization
• Working skillset of software and tools necessary for job functions including Microsoft Office suite, C, Python, MATLAB, and ImageJ
• Understanding of numerical optimization processes
• Ability to work to a schedule driven operation
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Good interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Good software development skills
• Preferred KSA's
• Understanding of material behaviors, specifically powder packing and flow
• Experience handling hazardous or energetic material
• Experience using EDSs

Education/Experience: Incumbent professional should have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in materials scienceor in chemistry with a focus in physical, inorganic, or polymer science.

Certificates and Licenses: No specific certificates or licenses are required for this position.

Clearance: The ability to obtain a Secret clearance and Department of Homeland Security fitness is required for this position.

Supervisory Responsibilities: The incumbent professional has little to no supervisory responsibilities.

Working Conditions/ Equipment: The incumbent professional is expected to work and/or be available during regular business hours.  He/she should also generally be available via e-mail or phone during non-business hours as needed to address critical issues or emergencies.  He/she may be required to travel on behalf of the company up to 25%.

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position.  Incumbents will follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.