Physical Scientist / Scientific Program Analyst

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

SD Solutions is seeking a Physical Scientist / Scientific Program Analyst to provide scientific, test and evaluation, laboratory operations, technical program, equipment-management, and technology-transition support to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Laboratories and Scientific Services (LSS), Interdiction Technology Branch (ITB). The selected individual will support the planning, execution, analysis, documentation, sustainment, and transition of laboratory and fielded interdiction technologies while working closely with CBP scientists, engineers, acquisition professionals, program managers, logisticians, data analysts, technology vendors, and operational stakeholders.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and/or CBP experience is strongly preferred.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and support laboratory, pilot, operational, and field test activities involving interdiction technologies.
• Assist in developing test objectives, methodologies, test plans, data-collection procedures, evaluation criteria, and test reports.
• Analyze laboratory and field-test data and prepare technical findings, conclusions, observations, and recommendations.
• Apply scientific expertise to evaluate technology performance and operational suitability.
• Prepare or review test plans, test reports, SOPs, CONOPS, technical procedures, technical memoranda, white papers, decision briefs, and stakeholder presentations.
• Support laboratory operations and technical coordination associated with equipment setup, testing, documentation, and laboratory records.
• Maintain and evaluate equipment calibration, maintenance, utilization, repair, and lifecycle records.
• Support inventory and Government property-management activities involving laboratory equipment, prototypes, consumables, and fielded systems.
• Coordinate logistics associated with receipt, shipment, deployment, repair, return, storage, and retirement of Government equipment.
• Support Government acquisition and program-management activities by developing or reviewing technical requirements, SOW/PWS inputs, specifications, evaluation criteria, and related acquisition documentation.
• Support requirements development and traceability, technical reviews, configuration management, risk identification, issue tracking, and lessons learned.
• Assist with program schedules, technical milestones, action items, spend-plan inputs, status reports, and stakeholder briefings.
• Provide technical reachback support to CBP operational personnel and field organizations.
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders, including Government laboratories, CBP operational components, equipment manufacturers, and technology providers.
• Assist data scientists and analysts with scientific interpretation of analytical results and data-quality assessments.
• Identify opportunities to improve laboratory, testing, documentation, logistics, and technology-sustainment processes and support technology demonstrations, operational assessments, deployment activities, and transition to operational users.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, physical science, materials science, forensic science, biology, environmental science, engineering, or another related scientific/technical discipline.
• Approximately 4-10 years of relevant professional experience supporting laboratory operations, scientific testing, engineering programs, technical programs, equipment management, research and development, or test and evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience supporting laboratory and/or field-test planning and execution.
• Experience analyzing scientific or engineering data and translating results into meaningful findings and recommendations.
• Experience developing technical reports, test documentation, SOPs, technical procedures, presentations, or similar technical products.
• Familiarity with scientific or engineering equipment management, maintenance records, calibration, inventory, or asset-management activities.
• Ability to work across scientific, engineering, program-management, acquisition, logistics, and operational organizations.
• Experience managing multiple simultaneous technical assignments and meeting defined schedules and deliverable deadlines.
• Excellent technical writing, analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to work primarily on-site in Ashburn, VA or Washington, DC and travel as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience supporting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
• Experience supporting CBP Laboratories and Scientific Services (LSS), Office of Operations Support (OS), Interdiction Technology Branch (ITB), or another CBP technical/operational organization.
• Previous DHS component experience.
• Experience supporting Federal laboratory, R&D, engineering, or test and evaluation programs.
• Experience supporting technologies used for homeland security, border security, law enforcement, defense, detection, screening, inspection, or interdiction.
• Experience with vehicle/cargo inspection technologies, detection technologies, sensors, imaging technologies, narcotics detection, radiation detection, tunnel detection, or forensic technologies.
• Experience supporting operational test and evaluation, technology demonstrations, field assessments, or deployment activities.
• Knowledge of Federal acquisition and systems-engineering processes, including SOW/PWS technical inputs, requirements, specifications, or evaluation criteria.
• Experience with Government property, equipment lifecycle, inventory management, or logistics.
• Experience with GIS, dashboards, advanced analytics, modeling, or simulation.
• Knowledge of laboratory quality systems, chain of custody, controlled equipment, and laboratory safety requirements.
• Active DoD Secret clearance.

Education

Required: Bachelor's degree in chemistry, physical science, materials science, forensic science, biology, environmental science, engineering, or a related scientific/technical discipline.

Preferred: Master's degree in chemistry, physical science, materials science, forensic science, engineering, or another relevant technical discipline.

Key Technical Skills

• Laboratory operations
• Scientific testing
• Test planning and execution
• Scientific data collection
• Data analysis / Microsoft Excel
• Technical report writing
• SOP / CONOPS development
• Equipment lifecycle management
• Calibration / maintenance tracking
• Inventory management
• Logistics coordination
• Technology transition
• Technical reachback
• Microsoft Office
• Requirements / systems engineering support
• Technical program management

Security / Access

Candidates must be able to satisfy applicable DHS and CBP background investigation, suitability, facility/system access, security briefing, CUI, privacy, training, and nondisclosure requirements. Certain positions may require a DoD Secret security clearance.

Location

22001 Loudoun County Parkway, Ashburn, VA 20147 or 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20004.

Additional support may be required at CBP locations throughout the United States, with occasional international travel. The majority of contractor personnel are expected to work full-time at an ITB office based on Government requirements.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The strongest candidate will be a scientist or technically oriented engineer who has supported DHS/CBP or another Federal operational technology program and understands how to move from scientific testing through evaluation, documentation, logistics, and eventual field deployment. A candidate with CBP experience, laboratory/test-and-evaluation experience, and an active Secret clearance would be especially well aligned to the role.

About SD Solutions

SD Solutions, LLC is a federal contractor supporting civilian and national security customers with mission, digital, data, and cybersecurity services. We value technical excellence, accountability, collaboration, and mission-focused delivery.

SD Solutions, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer