Chief Scientist

Position Title: Chief Scientist

Date Reviewed: 09/10/2024

Position Reports To: Chief Operations Officer

FLSA Designation: Exempt

Supervises Others: Yes

EEO Job Category: First/Mid-Level Officials and Managers

Home Office Location: Tucson, AZ

Pay Range: DOE

Hybrid/Remote Option: Hybrid

FTE: 1.0

Position Summary

Since its inception in 2004, Geost has been committed to solving mission-critical space domain and ISR challenges for DOD, IC, and commercial customers. Our vision is to revolutionize the space-based payload market with innovative and novel designs for space, terrestrial, and airborne environments. As we grow our operations in Tucson, AZ and Chantilly, VA, we remain dedicated to the collaborative and innovative culture that is the foundation of our business. Geost is an operating unit of LightRidge Solutions.

Geost seeks a highly capable Chief Scientist who will serve as the senior level Scientific representative. The ideal candidate will possess technical leadership and provide direction to the business.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a small staff of scientists (science team), ensuring their work is aligned with the company’s strategy and values. 
• Develop the scientific objectives for the science team covering discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of product(s) aligned with the company’s portfolio. 
• Develop the strategy for the build out of internal technical capabilities and/or leverages external contract research organizations.
• Oversee the preparation of science team input to technical proposals, standards, and project plans.
• Conduct or acquire cost analysis for development projects; prepare or delegate preparation of schedule of project completion dates.
• Identify, recommend, and implement new technologies and systems to improve organizational processes, decision-making, and competitiveness.
• Maintain knowledge of emerging technologies and trends in engineering and development related to the organizations industry.
• Collaborate with the company’s technical executive leadership to develop and meet organizational goals while supplying expertise and guidance on projects, operations, and systems.
• Provide guidance on scientific matters with regulatory agencies, scientific and engineering.
• Ensure that departmental decisions such as staffing, development, organization, hardware acquisitions, engineering tools, and facilities are in line with the organizations business plan and vision.
• Ability to support on-site work, as
• Ability to support travel or off-site work, as
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Recruit, interview, hire, and train management staff in the department.
• Oversee the daily workflow of the department.
• Provide constructive and timely performance evaluations.
• Handle discipline and termination of employees in accordance with company policy.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in scientific or engineering discipline.
• An active U.S. Government Security Clearance or the ability to obtain a Clearance. Current SSBI is preferred.
• 20 years of relevant experience.
• Strong organizational leadership skills.
• Extensive experience in working with stakeholders to create hiring strategies to develop quality teams.
• Experience in recruiting scientists, engineers, and contributors.
• Previous working experience in algorithm development, modeling & simulation, hardware and software design and developing customer-orientated products.
• Strong knowledge of all engineering disciplines.
• Knowledge of industry trends, best practices, and change management.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Excel, Word, and Project.
• Track record of organization and self-motivation with the ability to perform tasks with minimal oversight.
• Sound problem-solving skills.
• High degree of professionalism, responsiveness, and attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in scientific or engineering discipline.

Physical Requirements

A qualified candidate must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily. If requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position, absent undue hardship.

• Must be able to constantly operate a computer and other office productivity machinery for a majority of the shift.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for a majority of the shift.
• Must be able to occasionally move materials and/or equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Must be able to complete tasks in a noisy environment.

Geost reserves the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

Benefits

Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits including, but not limited to:

• Health benefits
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Basic life with AD&D
  • Short term disability
  • Long term disability
  • Ancillary (Voluntary life with AD&D, accident, critical illness, hospital, and pet)
  • Spending accounts (HSA, FSA, and DCFSA)

• Paid time off
• Holidays
• 401(k)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Leaves (Parental, pregnancy, and military)
• Potential bonus

Geost is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Geost is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact recruiting@geost.com.

Pay Transparency: The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)