The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) is a Federally-Funded Research and Development Center supporting the Department of War (DoW) 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.
An opportunity now exists in our Cost Analysis and Research Division (CARD) for a Research Associate. Candidates should be interested in working on a diverse set of emerging problems using advanced analytic techniques to derive data-driven insights for our sponsors. Work at IDA is conducted in a team environment and often involves a multi-disciplinary approach. Researchers work closely with each other and are in frequent contact with government sponsors. Consequently, strong communications and interpersonal skills will be greatly valued.
Responsibilities:
IDA is seeking a Research Associate to join the Cost Analysis and Research Division (CARD). Research Associates directly contribute to IDA research efforts as part of diverse and interdisciplinary research teams. The candidate for this position will support various analyses within CARD and may also work with analysts from other divisions at IDA. A Research Associate in CARD will likely be asked to:
Minimum Job Qualifications:
We support transparency, equity, and fairness in our compensation program and provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range based on data-driven market analysis for each position. While it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range, a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this role is $68,681-$109,890 Individual salary within this range will be commensurate with the incumbent’s experience, unique skills and qualifications, and other relevant factors.
IDA (Institute for Defense Analyses) – a not-for-profit corporation headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia just outside Washington, DC – operates three Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) in the public interest: the Systems and Analyses Center, the Science and Technology Policy Institute, and the Center for Communications and Computing.
Sponsors rely on IDA for dispassionate, fact-based, and scientifically rigorous research and advice to inform their decisions. Since 1956, IDA’s basic mission has remained unchanged – bring the best scientific, technical, and analytic talent to bear on issues critical to U.S. National security, in a research environment free of commercial or shareholder interests where objectivity and the public interest are foremost.
The work produced by IDA’s FFRDCs is characterized by unquestioned objectivity and high quality. Because of our unique relationship with our Government sponsors, IDA enjoys unusual access to highly classified and sensitive government and corporate proprietary information. We adhere to a strict regime for avoiding conflicts of interest. We are thus in the position of offering outsider perspectives on important issues with insider access to information.
Our diverse mix of professionals possesses expertise in a broad range of technologies and systems combined with deep knowledge of costs, policies, operations, and organizational matters. IDA continually renews and evolves its staff, integrating those newly educated in the latest advances in research with seasoned veterans of acquisition management, policy-making, and operational leadership roles in government and defense-related organizations. The exceptional creativity, determination, and commitment to service that IDA researchers bring to their work are the foundation of IDA’s excellence.
