Chemical Spectroscopist

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

We are seeking a Chemical Spectroscopist to lead the identification and adjudication of chemical signatures from airborne passive FTIR and hyperspectral sensors, to maintain and extend the program's spectral detection libraries, and to support real-time and reach-back analysis during operational deployments. This is a mission-facing analytical role in a deadline-driven, QA-governed environment. The candidate is ideally located near Addison, TX, but remote delivery may be available depending on qualifications. If remote delivery, periodic travel is required to Addison, TX, and to the deployment sites. This person will have to travel to Addison, TX, to support on-site meetings.

About the Program:

EPA ASPECT provides airborne chemical and radiological threat-detection capability in support of emergency response and large public events. On the chemical-detection side, the program operates passive Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry and longwave hyperspectral imaging from a fixed-wing platform to detect, identify, and map chemical releases — including toxic industrial chemicals/materials (TICs/TIMs) and chemical warfare agents — and to deliver time-sensitive analysis to incident command and interagency partners. The system supports emergency responses, Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) events, and Nationally Significant Security Events (NSSE), and must be held at the highest operational readiness standard.

Key Responsibilities

• Operate and calibrate active and passive infrared spectrometer systems.
• Analyze and adjudicate spectral data from airborne passive FTIR spectrometers and longwave hyperspectral imagers to detect and identify chemical compounds, including complex spectra resulting from the release of multiple chemicals and mixed combustion products from various fire types.
• Develop, validate, and maintain spectral reference libraries and automated pattern-recognition detection sets; perform manual adjudication when automated recognition is degraded.
• Support real-time in-flight detection and post-flight reach-back analysis, producing analytical products within program reporting timelines. Serve on the scientific reach-back team during deployments; perform QA review and certify the scientific validity of processed data in as short a time as possible
• Perform instrument performance verification, spectral calibration checks, and quality control in accordance with the program Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP).
• Measure and verify sensor performance criteria — noise-equivalent spectral radiance (NESR), throughput, and D* — and perform system diagnostics and sensor-health checks.
• Support the development, validation, and extension of the airborne chemical detection library (digital filter coefficients); test detection algorithms against a false-alarm-rate standard; regenerate coefficients when spectrometers are replaced or upgraded.
• Provide software support across the ASPECT chemical-processing stack: FORTRAN, C/C++/C#, MATLAB, IDL/ENVI, Python, the TELOPS Reveal Airborne Suite, and KML.
• Familiarity with machine learning / AI tools (PCA) for development of classifiers.
• Perform preventive and emergency maintenance, diagnostics, and repair of infrared sensing systems; support power-supply and systems-issue diagnosis; travel to the ASPECT aircraft in Addison, TX to transport equipment and service systems.
• Prepare SOPs, letter reports, technology assessments, and monthly status inputs to government-deliverable standards.
• Document detections, methods, and results to government-deliverable standards; prepare technical summaries and briefings for government stakeholders.
• Collaborate with integration/network engineers, radiation specialists, aircrew, and interagency partners during deployments.
• Support instrument troubleshooting and the training/validation of backup sensors.

Required Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship.
• The ability to meet the program's background- investigation/clearance requirement.
• Advanced degree: Ph.D. preferred or M.S. with relevant experience in chemistry, analytical/physical chemistry, physics, spectroscopy, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience in infrared/FTIR spectroscopy and spectral data analysis, including identifying chemical compounds from infrared spectra.
• Demonstrated ability to identify chemical compounds from infrared spectra, including spectral signature analysis and library/spectral matching.
• Experience developing or applying detection/pattern-recognition algorithms for spectral data.
• Proficiency with scientific analysis tooling such as MATLAB, Python, and ENVI/IDL.
• Strong technical writing and communication skills, including presenting technical findings to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work in an operational, time-sensitive environment with travel for deployments.
• Ability to travel to Addison, TX, to support on-site meetings.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Telops sensors.
• Experience with airborne chemical detection FTIR systems.
• Experience with longwave hyperspectral imaging and associated processing suites (e.g., TELOPS Reveal Airborne Suite).
• Familiarity with passive standoff/remote chemical detection of TICs/TIMs and chemical warfare agents.
• Experience supporting government contracts under a formal QA/QAPP framework.
• Experience supporting CBRN emergency response, national special security events, or interagency operations
• Candidate is ideally located near Addison, TX, but remote delivery may be available depending on qualifications. If remote delivery, periodic travel is required to Addison, TX, and to deployment sites