Overview

The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) is a Federally-Funded Research and Development Center supporting the Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal agencies. IDA’s mission is to provide objective analyses of national security issues and related national challenges, particularly those requiring extraordinary scientific and technical expertise. IDA takes great pride in the high caliber and timeliness of its analyses, which are produced in an atmosphere that encourages collaboration, independent thinking, and objective results. 

Responsibilities

IDA’s Cost Analysis and Research Division (CARD) has openings for experienced researchers to join its growing team, specifically in technical fields such as physics, chemistry, engineering, computer science, economics, mathematics, statistics, operations research, and data science. CARD’s research staff members are expected to participate and, in short order, to lead multi-disciplinary teams to solve scientific and technical problems in the national security and related areas. The steps in that process include problem formulation, programmatic research, acquisition of data and information, mathematical or statistical modeling, and communication in the form of both briefings to decision makers and documented reports. IDA’s research products are subject to both internal and external peer review.

Recent examples of CARD studies include:

• Foundational assumptions that, if violated, lead to adverse cost, schedule, or performance outcomes for major defense acquisition programs;
• Evaluating and predicting performance of acquisition programs using machine learning;
• Representation of the threat from adversary nations’ advanced weapon systems;
• Projections of the costs of military contingency operations; and
• Assuring the volume and cyber-security of micro-electronics for military systems.

Qualifications

• A PhD, or a Masters Degree with at least 8 years of post-degree work experience, in the fields of physics, chemistry, engineering, computer science, economics, mathematics, statistics, operations research, or data science.
• Applicants must have demonstrated research excellence and a strong interest in applied research. Experience with machine learning techniques and large data sets is a plus.
• IDA takes great pride in the high caliber and timeliness of its analyses, which are produced in an atmosphere that encourages independent thinking and objective results. Researchers work closely with and are in frequent contact with government sponsors. Consequently, strong communication skills are greatly valued.
• US Citizenship is required. Applicants selected will be subject to a security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
• Successful completion of a criminal background check is required.