Deputy Director, Principal Scientist or Engineer

Deputy Director, Principal Scientist or Engineer

Job Category
:
Scientific/Analytical

Requisition Number
: DEPUT
009526

• Posted :
  February 3, 2026
• Full‑Time

VA02 – Arlington

801 North Quincy Street, Ste 700

Arlington, VA 22203, USA

ARA is seeking a Principal Scientist or Engineer for a growing list of projects involving design and modernization of explosives and energetic materials production facilities, munitions production, integrated energetic systems, and novel production system design.

In this role, you will provide delegate authority in overseeing operational coordination of technical and program staff, explosives and munitions subject matter experts, and customer stakeholders. Additionally, to support a pipeline of research and development opportunities, you will engage in capture activities, proposal development, and building customer intimacy. Candidate for this position must be a US citizen residing within the US with an active Secret security clearance.

This is an in‑person and hybrid schedule.

Program and management support, research, develop, test, evaluate (RDT&E) subject matter expertise. Support process/product design activities in energetic materials, including focus areas such as electronics, robotics/autonomous systems, embedded systems, mechatronics, rapid prototyping, and chemical synthesis/scaling. Working and partnering with subject matter experts to ensure safe and cost‑effective execution of projects for energetic materials and related applications (drones, life‑critical safety systems, munitions, rockets, warheads, etc.).

Primary tasks will include:

• Delegate management and oversight support of day‑to‑day directorate operations.
• Business Development and new scope capture.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with existing and new stakeholders.
• Independently and collaboratively determine and develop approaches to solutions and manage large projects and programs in parallel.
• Ensure proper execution of existing projects including planning, scheduling, and procurements.
• Manage and prioritize numerous assignments.

• Bachelor’s in a related science or engineering field with >12 years of experience.
• Supervisor or management experience.
• Experience with the production, handling, processing, and design of energetic materials related to defense applications.
• Demonstrated ability to provide clear written and oral briefings, including the ability to adopt content for specific audiences.
• Proposal writing and business capture (>$1 M).
• Knowledge of energetics quality requirements and system qualification.
• Active DOD or DOE security clearance at minimum Secret level (L).

• Master’s in a related science or engineering field with >10 years of experience or PhD in a related science or engineering field with >8 years of experience is preferred.
• MBA or PMP is preferred.
• Experience managing large organizations and/or demonstrated organizational growth.
• Experience with explosives synthesis and characterization.
• Experience in integrated energetic systems (weapons, render‑safe tools, etc.).
• Established history of leading proposal writing and business capture (>$5 M).
• Energetics process engineering and production integration knowledge.
• Knowledge of explosives and propellant formulations and applications.
• Active DOD TS/TS‑SCI or DOE Q/Q‑SCI security clearance.

Yes. Travel will predominantly be routine visits to Arlington and Indian Head.

Do you want to work for a purpose? Applied Research Associates, Inc. (aka ARA) is an employee‑owned international research and engineering company. We have been providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences since 1979. ARA has over 2,243 employee owners and continues to grow rapidly. Together, our offices throughout the U.S. and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense, civil, and health technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership spawns greater…