This role provides technical leadership and advisory evaluation support of research and development in the DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), as part of a multidisciplinary team of high-performance professionals tackling the client’s most vexing technical and technological challenges related to the security of the nation’s critical infrastructure, and developing solutions to meet the next homeland security threats.
This technical subject matter expert (SME) role entails evaluation and support of Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) activities to prevent malign actors, specifically those related to terrorism or targeted violence to support DHS in its mission. This role entails working closely with stakeholders in the various DHS components, R&D performers, and DHS S&T program management teams to manage technical collaborations and develop assessments and products that are successfully transitioned to operations.
The roles and responsibilities of the successful candidate may include, but are not limited to:
- Researching current and emerging technologies and standards and trends in both industry and academia.
- Evaluating the utility of technical approaches or models using quantitative and qualitative methods.
- Applying behavioral science principles to protect the government, public, and/or critical infrastructure.
- Reviewing technical reports and providing critiques of methods and results.
- Developing and evaluating R&D strategies based on technical results.
- Assessing the efficacy, safety, cost lifecycle of proposed or realized technical solutions.
- Participating in industry events, working groups, and trainings.
- Assisting federal SME leads in coordinating, tracking, and submitting responses to federal government RFIs.
- Providing technical assistance in the development of statements of work (SOW), project planning, and coordination.
- Identifying the viable technical approaches for addressing technology gaps from the existing state of the art and ongoing Research, Development, and Innovation (RD&I) efforts.
- Applying technical acumen and strategic thinking in RD&I program and portfolio strategies.
- Intaking requirements from DHS Agencies (e.g., FEMA, TSA, CISA, USCG, etc.) and articulating them to DHS S&T agency stakeholders.
- Analyzing and documenting potential development of technical solution pathways.
- Assisting federal SME leads in reviewing deliverables against requirements.
- Communicating scientific findings to technical and non-technical audiences as needed.
Required Qualifications:
- Advanced degree and 5 years of relevant experience or equivalent credits/certification and 10 years of relevant experience in Behavioral Science, Neuroscience, Applied Psychology, Social Science, Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, Systems Engineering, or related scientific or engineering discipline.
- Minimum level clearance – Secret
- Applicants selected must be eligible to receive DHS Suitability.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience providing direct or consultant support to programs, projects, or offices, preferably in national security, which required evaluation, analysis, and development of recommended solutions.
- Experience facilitating resolution of customer requirements, including helping to identify and document capability gaps, formulate, and develop technological solutions, and participate in and contribute to strategic discussions.
- Experience preparing and reviewing presentations, reports, project schedules and weekly status inputs.
- Comfort reading, analyzing, and critiquing scientific manuscripts, similar to a peer-review process usually learned in graduate school.
- Comfort discussing technical aspects of laboratory research
- Experience with applying behavioral science principles to protect the government, public, and/or critical infrastructure.
- Experience with qualitative and quantitative methods.
- Ability to work in a dynamic team-oriented environment, demonstrate teamwork and initiative, and function productively in the face of new assignments and the re-prioritization of existing assignments.
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and presentation skills. Proven results-oriented problem-solving abilities, and ability to convey recommendations to technical and non-technical audiences in a clear and concise manner.
- Able to organize and manage work, deal with competing priorities.
- Experience providing guidance, feedback, and consulting services to federal program managers.
- Interest in learning about and researching new technical areas; the right candidate will ask questions and seek to understand both technical and programmatic issues .
- Expertise in the field of threats of interest to domestic national security.
- Publications, patents, or other documented evidence of expertise in these fields.
- Self-motivation and the ability to map out paths to success.
- Experience providing strategic scientific guidance, such as technology roadmaps, feasibility analysis, and market research regarding the boundaries of state-of-art technology.
- Experience supporting technology transition from research and development to operational use.
- Experience adapting to changes in processes, requirements, and priorities.
- Experience supporting DoD and/or DHS components (e.g., TSA, CBP, CISA, FPS, DNDO/CWMD, USCG, ICE).
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (especially PowerPoint, Excel, and Project).
- Candidates with a Secret (Top Secret/SCI) clearance and DHS Suitability are strongly preferred.