Behavioral Science Expert - Personnel Testing and Assessment
Company: Leidos
Location: Seaside
Posted on: April 2, 2026
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Job Description:
Leidos Health & Services Sector is seeking a Behavioral Science
Expert to support the Department of Defense’s personnel testing and
assessment mission by providing senior behavioral science
leadership across research, psychometrics, test development, and
evaluation activities. The role contributes directly to the
development, administration, and continuous improvement of
assessments used to classify and select individuals for military
service. This job posting is in anticipation of future work The
contract provides comprehensive scientific, analytic, and
operational support to the DoD for the development, administration,
evaluation, and continuous improvement of its personnel testing and
assessment programs. Support includes behavioral science research,
psychometric analysis, test development, operational test
administration, data collection, statistical modeling, and
technical assistance for computer-based and paper-and-pencil
testing systems—including the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude
Battery (ASVAB), language proficiency tests, and other
accession-related assessments. The contractor delivers research
studies, analytic products, test specifications, scoring
algorithms, technical documentation, and system support to ensure
the validity, reliability, fairness, and operational effectiveness
of DoD’s testing enterprise used to classify and select individuals
for military service. Key Responsibilities: Apply psychological
principles to DoD personnel issues. Develop and refine tests (like
the ASVAB) for selection, classification, and career guidance,
considering behavioral indicators. Use metrics to inform policy and
understand personnel trends. Lead conceptualization of advanced
assessment research and measurement models. Provide expert
oversight of psychometrics, validation, and construct development.
Advise leadership on emerging behavioral science trends affecting
assessment programs. Ensure scientific rigor and quality across
behavioral science deliverables. Mentor senior and junior
behavioral staff. Required Qualifications: Uniquely skilled and
nationally known experts in a behavioral science field as
demonstrated through publications, conference presentations,
committee participation, and professional society leadership (APA,
SIOP, NCME, AERA). Education: Ph.D. in a behavioral science field
(e.g., Psychology, Cognitive Science, Industrial-Organizational
Psychology, Educational Measurement, Human Factors) Experience: 15
years relevant experience in large-scale assessment programs,
particularly high-stakes, high-volume testing environments. Prior
experience leading psychometric design, test lifecycle management,
and validity research for adaptive, hybrid, or multidimensional
assessments. Demonstrated success influencing executive-level
stakeholders, scientific review boards, and policy-making entities.
Experience leading interdisciplinary teams of psychometricians,
behavioral scientists, analysts, and software engineers. Skills:
Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong attention
to detail and a commitment to accuracy. Ability to work
collaboratively in a team environment. Demonstrated ability to work
independently as a member or leader of a team. Demonstrated ability
to plan, prioritize, and manage own work and the work of others.
Demonstrated commitment to meeting high standards for product and
service quality. Desire to learn and develop inventive methods that
respond to client needs. Ability to establish methodological
vision, guide long-term research strategy, and oversee complex
behavioral science initiatives involving measurement, validation,
and policy integration. Ability to present complex technical
information to senior DoD leadership, interagency groups, and
scientific panels with clarity and authority. Ability to integrate
behavioral science, psychometrics, analytics, and technology to
support adaptive testing innovations. Security Clearance: Must
possess or be able to obtain a DoD Common Access Card (CAC) and
successfully complete a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
fingerprint check and a National Agency Check with Written
Inquiries (NACI) check. US Citizenship is required. Location: This
position is eligible for 75% remote work with occasional on-site
work as required by customer and/or contract needs. Candidate must
be located or willing to relocate within commuting distance of
Seaside, CA. Preferred Qualifications: Experience working with or
within the DoD. Familiarity with DTAC and its mission and
objectives. Knowledge of military accession, recruiting, and
classification processes. Mastery of Item Response Theory (IRT),
Classical Test Theory (CTT), multidimensional models, test
equating, scaling, form construction, and automated item assembly.
Expert understanding of APA, AERA, NCME testing standards; Human
Subjects Protection; and defensible documentation practices. 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: January 14, 2026 For U.S. Positions: While
subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably
anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least
3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days
after the original posting date as listed above. Pay Range: Pay
Range $154,050.00 - $278,475.00 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.
Keywords: Leidos, Salinas , Behavioral Science Expert - Personnel Testing and Assessment, Science, Research & Development , Seaside, California
