Senior Physicist

Leidos is seeking a Senior Physicist who thrives in research, algorithm development, modeling, simulation, and implementation. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong scientific curiosity, sound physical intuition, excellent mathematical skills, and a commitment to continuous learning.  Our team consists of highly skilled scientists and engineers focused on extracting maximum intelligence and applying engineering and scientific expertise to develop near digital twin models of complex industrial processes and facilities capable of supporting effects based simulations in order to identify vulnerabilities and potential defeat vectors.

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 Key Responsibilities

• Characterize Hardened Facilities: Analyze structural, material, and functional attributes of adversary underground and hardened facilities using advanced physics principles and empirical data.
• Investigate and characterize the mechanics, vulnerabilities, and physics governing adversary effects, networks, and delivery processes in order to develop physics-based models, simulations, and analysis algorithms that support National Defense applications.
• Design, refine, and validate physics-based computational models and simulations to identify critical structural weaknesses and viable exploitation vectors.
• Research, design, and evaluate innovative approaches for High-speed flow phenomenology, detection, characterization, and data exploitation.
• Apply analytical, numerical and experimental techniques to extract useful information from complex measured and simulated data sets.
• Perform data analysis, model validation, uncertainty assessment, and performance characterization for algorithms and systems.
• Create efficient implementations of scientific algorithms in MATLAB, Python, or similar high-level languages.
• Design experiments consistent with numerical simulation validation in order to optimize application of both techniques
• Document methods, results, and assumptions clearly for technical peers, program leadership, and customers. Deliver comprehensive technical assessments, simulation frameworks, and vulnerability briefings to senior defense leadership and interagency stakeholders.
• Work collegially within a talented multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and software developers.
• Interface directly with customers and other stake holders to align scientific findings with national security priorities.

Required Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship is required
• Candidate must possess an active TS/SCI, or a Top Secret clearance with a current SSBI, and be eligible to obtain a TS/SCI w/ poly level clearance
• Requires highest knowledge and mastery of highly advanced technologies, scientific principles, theories and concepts. Viewed as a subject matter expert and within the field by peers within and outside the organization.  Typically requires Ph.D. or Master’s degree in Physics, Applied Physics, Geophysics, Structural Engineering-Physics, or a closely related quantitative STEM field with over 15 years of relevant experience.  Relevant experience is defined as research, development, or technical analysis experience within a defense or security context.
• Experience developing, analyzing, or validating physics-based models, simulations, or scientific algorithms.
• Excellent analytical, mathematical, and problem-solving skills.
• Fluency in MATLAB, Python, or a similar high-level scientific computing language.
• Ability to translate physical concepts into algorithms, simulations, and quantitative analyses.
• Proven track record of innovation, technical problem solving, and achieving results in a research or engineering environment.
• Strong documentation and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience supporting DTRA, DIA, Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), or USSOCOM counter-threat missions.
• Experience working in the Intelligence Community with classified information
• Prior military experience or experience in conducting field evaluations to determine vulnerabilities or weaknesses in communication infrastructure.
• Understanding of multi-phase, real gas phenomenology, including electromagnetic and chemical combustion effects
• Advanced knowledge of structural mechanics, dynamic material properties, high-strain-rate physics, and the modeling of complex systems under extreme stress.
• Demonstrated proficiency in high-performance computing and numerical analysis, using physics-based simulation software to characterize structural responses
• Experience with modeling and simulation of physical systems, , or related data-intensive applications.
• Experience programming in C/C++ or developing efficient production-quality scientific software.
• Experience with statistical analysis, estimation theory, optimization, machine learning, or uncertainty quantification.
• Comfortable with public speaking and/or customer presentations.

#ASBA

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

July 31, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $154,050.00 - $278,475.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.