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Principal Scientist/Engineer: Applied Hypersonics Research

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Physical Sciences Inc., an employee-owned company located north of Boston in Andover, MA, is seeking to employ a Physical Chemist or Applied Physicist/Engineer to support expanding opportunities in programs related to simulating the hypersonic flight environment in the laboratory and characterizing the impact of hypersonic flight on materials and structures.  We are seeking candidates with an extensive hands-on experimental background in one or more of the following areas:

  • High enthalpy flow:  Generating and characterizing the effects of high enthalpy flow on materials and structures.  Relevant technology experience in high pressure plasma generation, high enthalpy flow diagnostics (e.g. Schlieren, Pitot and calorimeter probes), materials effects (e.g. ablation rate, mechanical strength effects, etc.), vacuum systems, and/or optical diagnostics to characterize the high enthalpy flow environment including both active (e.g. laser absorption, PLIF, etc.) and passive (e.g. emission spectroscopy) techniques:  UV – Long Wave IR.
  • Chemical Kinetics:  1) Application of experimental methods to measure reaction rates and 2) Applying chemical kinetic analysis to elucidate reaction mechanisms.
  • Molecular Beams:  Crossed molecular beam experiments to characterize the products of hyperthermal interactions.
  • Spectroscopic Simulations: Application of spectroscopic simulation tools to determine the molecular source of observed signatures

Prior experience with plasma technologies is preferred.  Candidates should have an extensive background in performing experiments and analyzing data and have a strong record of technical leadership documented by a record of peer-reviewed technical publications.  Excellent English written and oral communication skills are required.  The successful applicant will join a team of scientists and engineers working on programs funded largely by US DoD contracts.  Candidates should have a PhD or equivalent experience in Chemistry, Physics or Applied Engineering.  U.S. Citizenship is required.

For a list of company benefits, visit PSI benefits