Principal Radiation Effects Engineer

Overview Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. Job Description Summary The Contested Environments System Analysis group is seeking a Principal Radiation Effects Engineer to support hostile and natural space radiation analysis in support of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The Principal Radiation Effects Engineer will be integrated in the MDA Survivability Knowledge Center (SvKC) and serve as an interface between Draper and the MDA. Candidates are expected to have experience with radiation environment definition, effects of radiation on electronic systems, and probability of survival analysis. The candidate must work effectively across multiple teams including engineers from various locations and disciplines, have a strong understanding of the Systems Engineering process, electrical design, and missile/interceptor analysis, and must be on-site at least 50% of the time at the MDA in Huntsville, AL, while based at Draper’s Huntsville campus. Duties/Responsibilities Support engineering decisions based on radiation effects on overall system performance. Design harden and verify the performance of systems across multiple radiation effects, including dose rate, total ionizing dose (TID), neutron displacement damage (NDD), and single event effects (SEE). Support interdisciplinary teams to ensure that radiation hardening is maintained across the product lifecycle. Independently drive solutions to complex problems – develop requirements, propose ways forward when customer requirements are unclear or incomplete, and adapt appropriately to changes in requirements. Maintain a sustained record of successful task leadership, identifying risks and executing mitigation strategies. Lead medium-sized teams (5‑10 people), reliably aligning team toward program goals and building trust within the team. Serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) able to perform advanced radiation effects analyses. Provide insight and suggest design modifications based on analysis outcomes, applying analysis techniques across a range of technical challenges and disciplines. Identify program/system‑level technical risks and develop and execute mitigation strategies. Develop, document, and teach best practices to less experienced engineers. Demonstrate strong organization, planning, and time‑management skills to achieve program goals. Actively mentor by recognizing strengths and weaknesses in others and providing thoughtful constructive feedback. Perform other related duties as needed. Skills/Abilities Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to collaborate and communicate effectively and openly with multi‑disciplinary program team members, program leadership, and non‑technical personnel. Excellent analytical skills to support modeling and analysis tasks. Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, especially with regard to planning critical test and analysis activities. Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills. Team player able to work in a fast‑paced environment with the ability to balance multiple competing tasks and demands. Solid understanding of radiation interactions with materials and devices. Education Requires a Bachelor’s degree in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or other relevant field. A Master’s degree or Ph.D. is preferred. Experience 7‑10 years of Radiation Engineering or related experience. Additional Job Description Familiarity with radiation transport tools such as MCNP. Familiarity with environment definition tools such as ASSIST, FAB4DA, and SPIET‑D. Conduct Probability of Success (Ps) analysis for parts, including use of Weibull curves for SEE. Technical background and experience with other FFRDC/UARCs. Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance. Active Secret Clearance is required. Location City: Huntsville, State: Alabama, Postal Code: 35806. Salary The US base salary range for this full‑time position is $95,000.00 – $237,500.00. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement’s approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only and do not include bonuses or benefits. Benefits Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work‑life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off‑site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities. Job Posting Information Apply now at Equal Employment Opportunity Statement Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We understand the value of inclusivity and its impact on a high‑performance culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io. Company Culture We are in the business of redefining what is possible. Join our inclusive, multidisciplinary team to engineer the groundbreaking solutions of tomorrow. Explore life at Draper with our unique culture and benefits at draper.com. #J-18808-Ljbffr The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.