Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Agentic Modeling, Simulation & Wargaming

Working with an assigned senior research mentor, the fellow will formulate research questions, design experiments, and independently code, test, and demonstrate focused proofs of concept using approved unclassified information. The appointment combines original research with development in systems engineering, mission analysis, and sponsor engagement. Prior defense employment, an existing clearance, and independent wargame leadership are not prerequisites; however, familiarity with the National Security space and/or a keen interest are critical to for the long-term success of the candidate.

The fellowship includes dedicated research exploration and values reproducible methods and well-supported negative findings. Outputs may include models, prototype software, technical papers, and presentations, subject to release approval. Production engineering, operational support, and responsibility for entire sponsor programs are outside the baseline scope; promising prototypes may transition to additional developers and specialists.

This position is a contingency hire based on a contract award expected to begin execution on or about November 01st, 2026.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Work with an assigned senior research mentor to develop research questions, hypotheses, evaluation criteria, and a feasible work plan; propose original investigations and contribute to an individual development plan.
• Design, code, test, debug, document, and demonstrate prototype models, simulation components, data integrations, and analytical applications. Take a bounded concept through implementation and iterative evaluation.
• Develop and evaluate generative agent-based simulations and human-supervised agentic workflows, including agent behavior, task decomposition, tool use, constraints, logging, and human review.
• Design experiments and sensitivity studies; assess effects of prompts, model selection, stochastic variation, data quality, and assumptions. Compare results with baselines or reference cases and document limitations.
• Use Python and supporting development tools for data preparation, APIs, simulation execution, and analysis. Use approved AWS or comparable environments within agreed access controls and compute budgets.
• With engineering mentorship, translate research into mission threads, conceptual models, requirements, interfaces, and evaluation plans; preserve traceability from assumptions and implemented logic to findings.
• Contribute scenarios, evaluation logic, data collection, and prototype demonstrations to analytical wargames or tabletop studies, with guidance from experienced game designers and mission specialists.
• Participate in approved, unclassified discussions with government stakeholders; ask clarifying questions, demonstrate technical work, and brief findings and limitations with increasing independence.
• Maintain version-controlled code, tests, experiment records, and technical documentation. Prepare research briefs, presentations, and manuscripts or publication-quality material where release is authorized.
• Manage agreed tasks and milestones, report progress, identify risks early, and collaborate in technical reviews. Use approved coding assistants responsibly and independently verify generated code when such tools are used.

Required Education, Certification, Skills, Capabilities

• Demonstrated research and modeling capability through doctoral work, publications, research engagements, or substantial technical projects. No minimum years of post-Ph.D. employment are required.
• Ability to build, test, debug, and explain functioning analytical software or research prototypes. Working Python proficiency, or strong proficiency in another relevant language with demonstrated ability to become productive in Python quickly.
• Experience with agent-based modeling, system dynamics, generative agents, or related computational modeling; working understanding of agentic AI and ability to investigate and verify model behavior.
• Ability to design experiments, evaluate evidence, conduct sensitivity analysis, and maintain reproducible code and research records; practical familiarity with APIs, version control, debugging, and testing.
• Experience using cloud tools such as AWS, or demonstrated ability to learn approved environments quickly while following data-handling, access, and resource-use requirements.
• Ability to structure open-ended problems, learn new mission domains, communicate clearly with technical and nontechnical audiences, and independently execute agreed work while responding constructively to review.
• Completed Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering, another engineering discipline, Operations Research, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, or a related technical field by the fellowship start date. Doctoral research and relevant project work count as experience.

Desired Education, Certification, Skills, Capabilities

• Experience with large language model agents, multi-agent simulations, prompt or model sensitivity, uncertainty analysis, and evaluations of AI-generated behaviors or outputs.
• Experience using AI coding assistants or agentic development tools for prototyping, testing, debugging, and documentation, with independent verification and appropriate protection of code and data.
• Experience with cloud-hosted prototypes, automated data pipelines, databases, APIs, interactive applications, or simulation/game software.
• Familiarity with systems or mission engineering, requirements, model-based systems engineering, analytical wargaming, or national security applications. Prior employment in these areas is not required.
• Experience communicating research to external partners, preparing publications or proposals, collaborating across disciplines, or demonstrating working capabilities.

Postdoctoral Research & Professional Development

The fellow and an assigned senior research mentor will establish a written research and individual development plan with milestones and regular technical and career-development reviews. The plan includes research exploration, systems/mission engineering and wargaming development, and authorized publications, presentations, and government engagement. Approved research and professional-development activities are part of the paid work plan. This fixed-term appointment may be extended subject to funding, performance, and HR approval. It can build qualifications for future VT-ARC research or systems/mission engineering positions. Any subsequent role requires an available opening, funding, demonstrated qualifications, applicable access requirements, and the appropriate hiring process; conversion or a particular level is not guaranteed.

Primary Work Location

Arlington, VA / National Capital Region; U.S. based remote work may be considered and approved for this position. However, location and onsite attendance will be agreed before appointment, subject to HR, security, and program requirements.

Special Work Conditions

Limited, preapproved travel may be needed for research collaboration, demonstrations, workshops, or professional development. Scope, schedule, and authorized work hours will be agreed in advance. Approved research tools and compute resources will be provided or funded by VT-ARC.

Security

An active security clearance is not required at the time of hire. Fellowship work will be limited to approved unclassified information and authorized systems. All work remains subject to applicable data-handling, privacy, export-control, and program-access requirements. However, the selected candidate must meet employment authorization and applicable background-screening requirements. Clearance sponsorship will be pursued subject to authorized sponsorship and government adjudication; clearance or a specific processing timeline is not guaranteed.