Job Opportunity: Senior Research Seismologist, Applied Research Associates, Inc.

[Delaine Reiter]

Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking an accomplished Senior Research Seismologist to join the Applied Algorithms, Modeling, and Assessment (AMA) Division. In this role, you will work within the Geophysical Models, Signatures, and Systems (GEMSS) Group, a team that conducts cutting‑edge research in support of U.S. nuclear monitoring missions and other critical national security objectives.

 

We are looking for a candidate with a strong record of leading advanced seismic research and a deep understanding of computational geophysics, sophisticated signal analysis, and numerical modeling. The ideal individual is motivated by applying geophysics to detect, locate, characterize, and discriminate underground nuclear explosions and other events of national security interest. You will collaborate with a diverse set of scientists and engineers while contributing both hands‑on technical excellence and leadership in developing innovative solutions.

 

Full-Time Employee Salary Range: $120K-$160K/year

Work Location: Hybrid

 

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and conduct advanced scientific research addressing complex geophysical challenges relevant to nuclear test monitoring and other defense missions.
• Design research studies and develop innovative algorithms, tools, and workflows for data processing and seismic event characterization.
• Acquire, process, and analyze seismic data to detect, locate, and discriminate natural and anthropogenic signals.
• Perform sophisticated time‑series and spectral‑domain analyses using advanced statistical and computational approaches.
• Perform numerical modeling and simulation of seismic wavefields (e.g., finite-difference or spectral-element methods, etc.)
• Produce high‑quality technical reports, publications, proposals, and presentations for scientific, programmatic, and Government sponsor audiences.
• Stay current on emerging techniques, technologies, and scientific advances in geophysics, monitoring systems, and signal analysis.
• Engage directly with funding agencies to understand technical requirements and deliver effective solutions, including through proposal development.

 

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Geophysics/Seismology or a closely related field, and at least 3-5 years of direct experience in earthquake or explosion seismology, or M.S. in Geophysics/Seismology or a closely related field, and at least 6-8 years of direct experience in earthquake or explosion seismology.

• Proven experience leading basic and applied research and development projects to solve complex scientific problems in seismology funded by U.S. Government agencies, commercial firms, or other organizations.
• Recognition as an emerging expert in nuclear monitoring seismology with the ability to perform advanced data analyses independently.
• Exceptional analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and generate compelling visualizations that support scientific conclusions.
• Demonstrated proficiency with modern numerical modeling tools and the pre‑/post‑processing of seismic floating‑point data (e.g., Python and scientific libraries; MATLAB; Linux shell scripting; C/C++/Fortran/Julia or other high‑performance computing languages).
• Experience working with Linux-based high-performance computing systems.
• Highly self-motivated with a demonstrated ability to work independently on complex, high-impact projects.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to collaborate effectively and present complex concepts to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• U.S. permanent residency status (must have current “green card”)
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. national security clearance.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Field experience with geophysical instrumentation and data acquisition, including distributed acoustic sensing systems.
• Experience mentoring junior scientists.

 

About Us:

Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is an employee-owned international research and engineering company known for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. We were founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979 and currently employ over 2,240 staff members in ARA offices throughout the U.S. and Canada. We provide our clients with broad and expanding technical expertise in defense, civil, and health technologies, computer software, and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement.

 

ARA also takes pride in its culture, which values innovation & experimentation. At ARA, employees are our greatest assets, and we give our employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take active roles as owners. The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience. The company recognizes that employee-ownership spurs greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and client satisfaction levels.

 

To apply, please visit this link: Senior Research Seismologist | ARA Career Opportunities