Lead Nuclear Effects Engineer

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We’re a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies – collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation’s health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose — and help shape the future.MITRE's Nuclear Weapon Systems and C2 Platforms Department is seeking a lead engineer to make critical contributions in understanding the effects of natural radiation and nuclear events on relevant systems. Our department leads a dynamic work program focused on accelerating the evolution of the United States’ nuclear deterrent capabilities, provides threat-informed data-driven modernization recommendations, prototypes, and analyses that accelerate the fielding of warfighter capability and allow for the cost-effective modernization of Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) and Nuclear Weapon Systems. This position will have a unique opportunity to support design and mitigation strategies to develop and field a survivable weapon system with operational requirements involving the following nuclear threat environments: Electromagnetic Pulse, Ionizing Radiation, Thermal Radiation, Air-Blast and Radiological exposure.Roles & Responsibilities:Analyze nuclear effects on aircraft, spacecraft and communications systems to support development of all nuclear hardness system level design, including system level analysis and testing.Generate weapon system design criteria supported by design analysis, modeling & simulation, equipment and system-level trade studies, system integration, piece-part, component, equipment, and system test artifacts.Execute the analysis and/or evaluation/validation of components, equipment, subsystems, or weapon system analytical models and actual system implementation for weapons compliance to operationally relevant nuclear threat environments.Contribute to and review NH&S Design Analysis Reports (DAR) and nuclear hardness system test plans and reports documenting equipment compliance and weapon system certification.Conduct essential design evaluations and provide technical assessments on systems survivability by understanding system responses to nuclear events by utilizing home-developed and third-party software/physics codes on effects of radiation, electromagnetic pulses and/or electromagnetic interference.Technical planning, specification requirements derivation, test and analysis, design, planning and execution, documentation, and requirements/validation supporting overall system compliance. Evaluate uncertainty and risks associated with rad-hard requirements and design mitigation strategies. Basic Qualifications:Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a B.S degree in Engineering or Physics related field, or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experienceStrong theoretical and practical knowledge of particle physics, solar physics, or nuclear physics.Strong mathematical and statistical background.Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills.Working knowledge of nuclear weapons effects and resulting Transient Radiation Effects on Electronics (TREE) and Electromagnetic pulse on DoD and commercial systems. Experience with electrical circuit rad-hard design and test including piece-part screening, analysis, modeling, and test of component and systems for radiation environment compliance i.e. prompt dose rate, total ionizing dose, neutron displacement damage, neutron induced upset, single event effects.Knowledge of Circumvention & Recovery techniques for component, circuit, equipment subsystems compliance and weapon system level probabilistic performance assessments during pre/trans and post nuclear weapon environment exposure. Travel up to 20% of the time as neededActive Secret clearance with the ability to obtain a Top Secret clearancePer the U.S. Government's eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S. Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.This position has an on-site requirement of 5 days a week on-site.Preferred Qualifications: PhD in Physics, Engineering, or a related field.Nuclear Command, Control & Communication weapon system survivability design experience.Analysis experience with radiation environments including man-made and natural space environment.Experience in leading technical projects in the area of nuclear physics.Experience with transport problems in atmosphere or within structures.Experience and/or familiarity with the following standards and handbooks: DODI 3150.09, MIL-STD-1766, AFWL-TR-86-26, MIL-STD-464, MIL-STD-3023, MIL-STD-2169, MIL-STD-461, MIL-HDBK-814, MIL-HDBK-815, MIL-HDBK-816, MIL-HDBK-817, MIL-STD-3054.Experience and/or familiarity with the following engineering software/tools: ANSYS (EMC Plus, Charge Plus), CST, FEKO, MATLAB, SPIET –D, ASSIST, NORSE, FAB4DA, MCNP, CEPXS, IRENE or similar.This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):SecretThis requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):Top SecretSalary compensation range and midpoint:$156,400 - $195,500 - $234,600 AnnualWork Location Type:OnsiteIt is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.Commitment to Non-DiscriminationAll qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.MITRE intends to maintain a website that is fully accessible to all individuals. If you are unable to search or apply for jobs and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of MITRE’s employment process, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for general support and View email address on click.appcast.io for intern positions. This service is for individuals requiring reasonable accommodation requests. Please note that vendor solicitations will not receive a reply.Benefits information may be found here.Copyright 1997-2026, The MITRE Corporation. All rights reserved. MITRE is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation. Material on this site may be copied and distributed with permission only.Job SummaryJob number: R116835Profession: Specialized Sciences