Leidos is looking for a chemical engineer to support the evaluation of novel and legacy energetic materials and formulations at its Picatinny, NJ location. Primary responsibilities to include setup, operation and optimization of continuous flow processes, such as continuous flow synthesis reactors, continuous crystallizers, continuous separators and other continuous flow equipment. The engineer will also be expected to perform product isolation and characterization work, such as filtration and operation of analytical tools including but not limited to NMR, IR, Raman and UV/Vis spectroscopy. 

Primary Responsibilities

• Analyze data on the synthesis of molecules of interest to the U.S. Army, and execute research protocols in support of research, development, and production objectives.
• Interact with outside customers, vendors, and researchers to support contracted and subcontracted projects.
• Test, evaluate, troubleshoot, repair, maintain, install, and calibrate equipment for continuous processing.
• Create, evaluate and analyze DOEs for the optimization of continuous processes.
• Support acquisition of new equipment through market research, purchase, and installation.
• Establish standard operating procedures for the safe and effective operation of material testing.
• Collect, organize, and perform data analysis, and verify/correct data entry.
• Maintain clear and accurate logbooks, generate material balances; collect and record detailed observations about experiments.
• Assist with preparation of technical reports, summaries, posters, data presentation, and protocols.
• Present work being conducted at program reviews, conferences and other venues.
• Maintain compliance with established laboratory health and safety guidelines, as well as established methods/procedures.

Basic Qualifications

• Candidate must have completed a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or related fields.
• Skills should include a foundational and theoretical understanding of general scientific principles.
• Candidate must be well organized and self-motivated.
• Candidate must have strong competencies with Excel and other Microsoft office tools
• Hands-on experience with laboratory experimental procedures.
• Experience with mass balances, chemical reactor design and selection, and DOEs.
• Effective written and verbal communication. Must be able to work in a team-based environment.
• US citizenship required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with other analytical methodologies, such as GC-MS and HPLC/UPLC preferred.
• Familiarity with crystallization processes is a bonus.
• Knowledge of reaction calorimetry and reaction characterization/quantification preferred.
• Experience with modeling software (i.e. Dynochem™ , Aspen™) and its application to finding optimal parameters for chemical reactions and recrystallization a major plus.

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:

Pay Range:

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.