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Adjunct Physics Professor Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Adjunct Physics Professor information

See Virginia salary details

$28

$66

$78

How much do adjunct physics professor jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 27, 2026, the average hourly pay for adjunct physics professor in Virginia is $66.98, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $66.25 and $69.38 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an adjunct physics professor?

An Adjunct Physics Professor is a part-time or contract-based instructor who teaches physics courses at a college or university. They typically focus on teaching rather than research and may be responsible for preparing lectures, conducting labs, grading assignments, and assisting students. Adjunct professors often work on a semester-by-semester basis and may teach at multiple institutions. Their role provides flexibility but may lack job security and benefits compared to full-time faculty positions.

What are the typical responsibilities of an adjunct physics professor?

Adjunct Physics Professors are usually responsible for preparing and delivering lectures, developing course materials, designing assignments and exams, and holding regular office hours to support student learning. They may supervise laboratory sessions, assess student progress, and provide timely feedback on coursework. In addition, adjunct professors often collaborate with full-time faculty and departmental staff to ensure consistency across the curriculum. While workload can vary, adjuncts typically balance teaching responsibilities with other professional commitments, making time management an important aspect of the role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an adjunct physics professor?

To thrive as an Adjunct Physics Professor, you need in-depth knowledge of physics, a graduate degree (usually a Ph.D. or a master's in physics), and experience in teaching or academic instruction. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, online learning platforms (like Blackboard or Canvas), and standard classroom technology is highly beneficial. Strong communication, organizational skills, and the ability to engage and motivate students make candidates stand out. These skills and qualities are essential for delivering effective instruction and fostering student success in higher education settings.

Infographic showing various Adjunct Physics Professor job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 69% Full Time, 29% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 76% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 22% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $139,320 per year, or $67 per hour.

Senior Radar Subject Matter Expert (SME)

Parsons Corporation

Herndon, VA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 8 days ago


Parsons rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 46 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

266th of 450 rated engineering


Job description

In a world of possibilities, pursue one with endless opportunities. Imagine Next!
At Parsons, you can imagine a career where you thrive, work with exceptional people, and be yourself. Guided by our leadership vision of valuing people, embracing agility, and fostering growth, we cultivate an innovative culture that empowers you to achieve your full potential. Unleash your talent and redefine what's possible.
Job Description:
Parsons is looking for an exceptional Senior Radar Subject Matter Expert (SME) to join the growing Spectrum Dominance (SD) Team in Herndon, VA.
At Parsons we are passionate about developing cutting-edge, creative solutions, and fostering a highly sought-out place of employment for many of the brightest minds in the industry. We are a one-of-a-kind mid-tier government contractor providing leading-edge capabilities critical to the future of national security. At Parsons, we have developed a culture of going above and beyond the normal expectations in the delivery of our work. Our clients and employees are the number one reason why we're successful, and that formula won't be changing!
What You'll Be Doing:
  • Lead the conceptualization, modeling, development, integration, and demonstration of new radar capabilities and novel signal processing solutions to address emerging threats and evolving mission requirements.
  • Provide expert-level analysis and guidance on the complexities of peer-state and state-of-the-art radar technologies, including advanced waveform design, electronic protection, countermeasure resilience, and threat-informed capability development.
  • Apply in-depth, hands-on expertise in Digital Signal Processing (DSP) to architect, implement, optimize, debug, and validate sophisticated radar algorithms for detection, tracking, synthetic aperture imaging, moving target indication, and target discrimination.
  • Develop, validate, and extend highly complex physics-based and statistical radar models and simulations; leverage deep understanding of existing models to derive innovative new capabilities, performance enhancements, and risk reduction strategies.
  • Prepare and deliver high-quality technical reports, briefings, drawings, system development schedules, performance specifications, and interface documentation; present results and recommendations to senior government and Parsons leadership.

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or an equivalent technical/scientific discipline specifically related to area of specialty (Advanced degree preferred)
  • Minimum of 15 years of related professional experience
  • TS clearance required (TS/ with SCI eligibility preferred)
  • Radar system design, development, engineering, test, evaluation, and data analysis, with a proven track record of successfully developing and fielding new radar capabilities from concept through demonstration.
    Advanced Digital Signal Processing (DSP) techniques applied to radar, including algorithm architecture, implementation trade-offs, optimization for performance and real-time execution, and troubleshooting complex signal chains.
  • Development, validation, and application of highly complex radar models and simulations to innovate novel capabilities, predict performance, and reduce technical risk.
  • Deep understanding of the complexities of peer-state and advanced radar technologies, including implications for capability development, electronic warfare, and countermeasure design.
  • Systems engineering experience with radar, RF, and C5ISR systems, including requirements development, architecture, integration, and verification.
  • Development of test plans, procedures, and schedules; execution and oversight of laboratory and field tests/demonstrations; and generation of clear, actionable reports.
  • Preparation of technical reports, briefings, system development schedules, performance specifications, and interface documentation, with strong presentation skills for senior management and government stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline with a focus on radar systems, signal processing, or electromagnetic theory.
  • Experience serving as a university adjunct faculty member, lecturer, or professor teaching radar, DSP, electromagnetics, or related subjects.
  • Experience reviewing engineering design documentation and interface control documents (ICDs) as part of formal configuration control and design review processes.
  • Prior experience as a Senior Engineer or Technical Lead providing technical oversight, guidance, and direction to complex radar development programs.
  • Proficiency with modern tools and environments for algorithm development and high-fidelity Modeling & Simulation (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink, Python/NumPy/SciPy, custom C++ radar simulators, or specialized defense M&S frameworks)

Security Clearance Requirement:
An active Top Secret security clearance is required for this position.
This position is part of our Federal Solutions team.
The Federal Solutions segment delivers resources to our US government customers that ensure the success of missions around the globe. Our intelligent employees drive the state of the art as they provide services and solutions in the areas of defense, security, intelligence, infrastructure, and environmental. We promote a culture of excellence and close-knit teams that take pride in delivering, protecting, and sustaining our nation's most critical assets, from Earth to cyberspace. Throughout the company, our people are anticipating what's next to deliver the solutions our customers need now.
Salary Range: $134,100.00 - $241,400.00
Parsons is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected status.
We truly invest and care about our employee's wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest-APPLY TODAY!
Parsons is aware of fraudulent recruitment practices. To learn more about recruitment fraud and how to report it, please refer to https://www.parsons.com/fraudulent-recruitment/.

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