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Worker Type

Job Description

AV has an opportunity available for a full-time research scientist to work with the Polymer and Responsive Materials Research Team at Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), OH. The successful candidate will join a team of diverse and multi-disciplinary scientists with a broad range of skills including synthetic chemistry, nanomaterial development, mechanical engineering, and polymer modeling. The candidate will be responsible for the design and synthesis of 2D conjugated polymers, such as Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs), for optoelectronic applications. Successful candidates must possess strong synthesis skills, specifically related to the preparation of low-dimensional organic materials and conjugated polymers, as well as expertise in film fabrication. Furthermore, knowledge of and experience with a wide array of electrochemistry and optoelectronic characterization techniques are highly desired. The candidate will be expected to contribute to the thought leadership of the project and will have the opportunity to expand their skillset in a wide array of materials chemistry and engineering while refining their written and oral communication skills.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, synthesis, and processing of conjugated polymers or COFs for optoelectronic materials
• Electrochemical and optoelectronic characterization of COFs or conjugated polymers
• Collaboration with other experts to further characterize and expand the applicability of synthetic platforms beyond the chemistry
• Communicate methodologies effectively both written and verbal to a community of peers
• Manage and mentor the research and professional development of junior team members

Requirements:

• This position is working within a government facility and requires US Citizenship (and may require the ability to obtain a security clearance).
• PhD in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field of study required
• 0-3 years’ experience
• Ability to understand and apply principles of organic polymer synthesis to develop next-generation materials systems
• Strong quantitative and problem-solving skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Willingness to collaborate and communicate with other scientists with professionally and personally diverse backgrounds
• Familiarity with productivity software suites (Microsoft Office, Google Suite) that are used for email, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, cloud file sharing, and virtual meetings

Additional Skills Preferred:

• Familiarity with the synthesis and processing of COFs or conjugated polymers
• Electrochemical characterization skills (e.g., Cyclic Voltammetry, Spectro-electrochemistry, etc.)
• Experience in characterization of crystalline porous materials (e.g., PXRD, Grazing incidence X-ray, gas sorption, etc.)
• Knowledge and understanding of electronic-structure theory of organic materials
• Design, synthesis, and characterization of organic molecules (e.g., NMR, FT-IR, Mass Spec, UV-Vis, PL, Raman, etc.)

Clearance Level

The salary range for this role is:

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.

Who We Are

Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we’ve been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world’s most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection in Washington, DC.

Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty – and succeed.

What We Do

Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company’s hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR