Synthetic Biologist/Engineer

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission. SPA: Objective. Responsive. Trusted.

The Joint, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Interagency Division provides expert support services to a range of customers spanning across the Department of Defense, Federal Civilian, and international markets. JOID provides a diverse portfolio of analytical and programmatic capabilities to help our customers make informed decisions on their most challenging issues.

SPA provides critical decision support to enabling and executing a strategy of technological superiority and enabling the delivery and sustainment of secure, resilient, and preeminent capabilities to the warfighter quickly and cost effectively. Our team of experienced military, technical, and operations research analysts is skilled in evaluating military problems, identifying the driving factors, devising innovative approaches, collecting applicable data, developing necessary software tools, and performing thorough and timely assessments to inform technology and acquisition governance decisions to ensure U.S. military forces retain military superiority in the future.

SPA has a near-term need for a Synthetic Biologist (SETA) to provide onsite support in Arlington, VA.

The Biological Technologies Office (BTO) at DARPA is seeking exceptional candidates with advanced synthetic biology engineering expertise to join our dynamic Science Team. We're looking for innovative biological engineers who can apply rigorous engineering principles to biological systems, particularly in the design and implementation of genetic circuits, control systems, and engineered metabolic networks. The candidate will support DARPA Program Managers (PM) in developing revolutionary approaches to engineer predictable, reliable, and scalable biological systems.

As a member of the Science Team specializing in Synthetic Biology Engineering, the primary focus will be to support PMs in developing revolutionary concepts that leverage engineering principles to create robust, tunable biological systems with precise, programmable functions. Will work closely with PMs, providing specialized technical expertise and dedicating time to help them develop and refine their ideas. The role will be to augment the existing SETA teams, collaborating with them to create compelling Program Initiation Pitches (PIPs) that incorporate feedback from peers and leadership.

Required:

2+ years of experience and a Master's degree in Synthetic Biology, Biological Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field with strong emphasis on designing and modeling engineered biological systems.
• Demonstrated expertise in applying engineering principles to biological systems.
• U.S. Citizenship (eligible for DoD Secret clearance).

Desired:

• PhD in Synthetic Biology, Biological Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field with strong emphasis on designing and modeling engineered biological systems.
• Experience with the design and implementation of genetic circuits (oscillators, switches, logic gates), control theory applied to biological systems, feedback loops and homeostatic systems, predictive modeling of genetic circuits and metabolic networks.
• Experience with engineered cell-cell communication systems, signal processing in cellular systems.
• Robust design principles for biological systems, and noise reduction and stability engineering in biological circuits.
• Familiarity with circuit design and modeling software (CelloCAD, GenoCAD), mathematical modeling and simulation tools, and statistical analysis of biological system performance.
• Experience with design-build-test-learn automation platforms such as high-throughput screening and selection systems, or microfluidics and real-time monitoring systems.
• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals and/or patents demonstrating novel engineered biological systems or devices.
• Active DoD Secret clearance.
• Prior experience providing SETA support.