National Airspace Safety Research Scientist & Technical Lead

Description

Do you want to lead research that makes the National Airspace System (NAS) safer as new autonomous and AI-enabled capabilities emerge?Are you energized by translating rigorous analysis into practical solutions for aviation mission owners?

APL's Critical Infrastructure Protection Group is seeking a National Airspace Safety Research Scientist and Technical Lead to define and execute an applied research agenda in aviation safety and security. You will combine deep airspace expertise with the ability to guide interdisciplinary teams working on the safe integration of trusted systems into the NAS.

Our group develops capabilities that move beyond the laboratory into operational settings. Our work spans modeling and simulation, field-data analysis, monitoring, prediction, estimation and control, and systems integration. You will have opportunities to use and help shape research facilities such as our CYPRESS Laboratory .

As a National Airspace Safety Research Scientist & Technical Lead, you will...

• Lead and shape research on NAS safety, including emerging airspace operations and the integration of trusted autonomous and AI/ML-enabled systems.
• Translate sponsor and mission-owner needs into research questions, technical approaches, milestones, and measurable outcomes.
• Direct modeling, simulation, data analysis, and experimentation to evaluate system behavior, risks, resilience, and operational safety.
• Advance methods to establish evidence, justification, and confidence in safety-critical AI/ML and autonomous systems.
• Guide the development and evaluation of monitoring, prediction, estimation, decision-making, and control approaches for aviation safety.
• Lead interdisciplinary scientists and engineers; mentor junior staff, review technical work, and help set research priorities.
• Move promising research toward application through prototypes, integration demonstrations, field-data collection, and flight testing as appropriate.
• Present findings and recommendations to sponsors and technical audiences; publish research and contribute to proposals for new investigations.

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Have a Masters in aerospace engineering, systems engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, applied mathematics, or another field related to the duties as described above, and at least five (5) years of experience.
• Have substantive research or engineering experience involving the NAS, aviation safety, air traffic management, aircraft collision avoidance, or airspace integration.
• Can lead technically complex research from problem formulation through analysis, validation, and clear recommendations.
• Have hands-on experience in modeling, simulation, and data analysis, with proficiency in at least one relevant programming environment (e.g., Python, MATLAB, C/C++).
• Bring strong communication, collaborative leadership, and systems-thinking skills to multidisciplinary and sponsor-facing work.
• Are able to obtain Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a Top Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...

• Are a Ph.D. candidate nearing completion with a demonstrated record of independent research.
• Have expertise in safety assurance, decision-making under uncertainty, trusted autonomy, AI/ML, or robust monitoring, prediction, and control.
• Have experience with operational aviation data, integrated testing, flight testing, or transitioning research into operational systems.
• Have a record of peer-reviewed publications, competitive research proposals, or external technical leadership.
• Hold an active Secret o r higher U.S. security clearance.

Minimum Rate

$100,000 Annually

Maximum Rate

$245,000 Annually