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Job Description

Are you passionate about influencing the scientific direction of research teams working on projects vital to national security?

Do you strive to invent creative materials solutions by collaborating with other highly motivated scientists and engineers?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL.

The Multifunctional Materials & Nanostructures Group is seeking a creative and ambitious person to help steer our research in hypersonic materials. Using your understanding of challenges presented by this extreme environment, you will lead the development, modeling, and integration of materials solutions to relevant and emerging hypersonic platforms. You will define the materials development blueprint for our team with regard to compositions, architectures, and approaches for material systems to achieve targeted performance characteristics that solve the Government's challenges.

We are a hardworking team of scientists and engineers with a broad range of proficiencies that is committed to developing advanced prototypes. Our team is driven by changing what is attainable in hypersonic flight and weaponry. We strive to cultivate a collaborative atmosphere with world-class expertise that achieves groundbreaking impact. Our APL team values integrity and innovative ideas that will ensure our nation’s preeminence in the 21st century.

As a Hypersonic Materials Lead, your primary responsibilities will be to…

• Understand challenges posed by the hypersonic environment, as well as other extreme environments, and the system level impacts of materials design choices.
• Provide technical vision and develop strategy for our Hypersonic Materials Team
• Guide teams of scientists and engineers to meet project objectives and build advanced prototypes for government sponsors by providing technical direction and insight
• Stay current on the latest research in the development and prototype of new materials/structures (ex. superalloys, refractory metals, ultra-high temperature ceramics, thermal coatings, functional/graded structures, etc.) novel thermal management approaches, and their system level implications on performance.
• Represent our team by communicating with APL technical and programmatic staff seeking materials for hypersonic environments.
• Engage your hypersonic community network to foster new collaborations and successfully propose new research concepts internally and to our government sponsors
• Document and present technical work internally and externally, at meetings involving the hypersonic R&D community, and publish in high quality journals.

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Possess a MS in Materials Science & Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemistry, or related field with 15+ years of proven experience creating novel high temperature materials or material systems, thermal protection & management systems, and related fabrication processes including relevant publications and presentations in this research area.
• Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of hypersonic challenges.
• Have a strong reputation and close contacts in the hypersonics research community.
• Collaborate with systems engineers and solve systems-level hypersonic materials challenges.
• Lead transition of experimental work including scale-up of materials/processes and development of prototypes as part of developing solutions to advanced system-level problems.
• Are willing and able to perform work in a laboratory setting and travel for testing, sponsor visits, conference attendance, and presentations.
• Are able to acquire an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately acquire a Top Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.
• Can demonstrate that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. To ensure the safety and well-being of the community, APL has established a policy requiring that all staff be vaccinated against COVID-19. All staff members must provide proof of full vaccination or have an approved medical or religious accommodation by their start date. 

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...

• Possess a PhD in Materials Science & Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemistry, or related field with 10+ years of proven experience.
• Demonstrate a record of successful proposals, work with government program offices, publications in highly cited peer-reviewed journals, and display a vision for technical strategy.
• Engage in research on thermal protection systems, refractory materials, various coating processes for materials in extreme environments (e.g., thermal spray coatings, CVD coatings, etc.), RF and optical properties of materials, aperture development, aerodynamics, metallurgical thermodynamics, oxidation kinetics, or unique structures providing advanced performance potential in hypersonic environments.
• Have experience with various test environments (e.g., arc jet, wind tunnels, high speed particle impact tests, flight tests, etc.) and their ability to provide distinctive insights into materials and system performance.
• Have organized hypersonic research meetings or conferences.

Why work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at http://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

APL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

APL is committed to promoting an innovative environment that embraces diversity, encourages creativity, and supports inclusion of new ideas. In doing so, we are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accommodations@jhuapl.edu. Only by ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard are we empowered to be bold, do great things, and make the world a better place.