Solid State Pulsed Power Technical Lead

Company Description

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has turned bold ideas into world-changing impact advancing science and technology to strengthen U.S. security and promote global stability. 

Our mission spans four critical national security areas nuclear deterrence, threat preparedness, energy security, and multi-domain defense empowering teams to take on the toughest challenges of today and tomorrow. With a culture built on innovation and operational excellence, LLNL is a place where your expertise can make a real impact.

Job Description

We have an opening for a Solid State Pulsed Power (SSPP) Technical Lead supporting the LLNL Advanced Sources and Detectors (ASD) Scorpius team of the Strategic Deterrence (SD) Directorate. You will be responsible for technical scope and recommendations regarding the SSPP level 3 (L3) subsystem of ASD Scorpius, the main L3 subsystem on which LLNL is the leading laboratory. ASD Scorpius is a Major Item of Equipment (MIE) being procured and built on behalf of the Department of Energy (DOE)  through a collaboration of 3 laboratories and one site which are part of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). You will interface regularly with the technical leads of other ASD Scorpius L3 subsystems from multiple laboratories, the LLNL ASD team, and the Los Alamos project office, to coordinate activities, procurements, and knowledge transfer across sites. You will be responsible for technical recommendations and quality of the delivery of your assigned L3 subsystem. Significant travel to the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) and project participant laboratories is required for effective integration and project oversight. This position administratively reports to the National Security Engineering Division (NSED) within the Engineering Directorate.

This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work.

You will 

• Be the primary decision-maker and technical evaluator of >$100M in procurements in support of the SSPP L3 subsystem and associated in house tasks/labor. Partner with control account managers (CAMs) to set technical strategies and priorities, establish and maintain subsystem objectives, requirements, scope, schedule, and budget, integrating plans from multiple participating institutions including Sandia National Laboratory (SNL), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). qq
• Provide advanced technical direction and project leadership to team members in the execution of work scope with a focus on defining, developing, and executing complex procurements and commissioning experiments which involve hardware fabrication, testing, qualification, deployment, and integration with other subsystems.
• Provide advanced technical direction and supervision for the delivery of solid state pulsed power (SSPP) local controls and the global timing system for ASD Scorpius, along with integration into NNSS-owned Global Controls.
• Apply advanced systems engineering and project management principles to $200M+ of highly complex scope in a graded manner to balance resources with identified risk.
• Mentor assigned resources across institutions and collaborate with teams of scientists, engineers, designers, technicians, coordinators, and procurement personnel to achieve project goals and shape technical capability across the program.
• Communicate project status regularly to the LLNL Senior Team Lead (STL), the LANL project office, specifically the Technical Director, as well as the LANL Project Director, the Project Manager, and the Federal Project Director. Provide briefings as requested.
• Travel frequently for project management of multi-laboratory teams and experiment execution in Nevada and New Mexico as needed.
• Maintain and ensure quality standards for deliverables which includes overseeing quality assurance/ quality control team for procurements and in-house hardware and software builds.
• Provide general management and personal commitment to the goals of Integrated Safety Management and in, compliance with all ES&H regulations. 
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q level security clearance which requires U.S. Citizenship.
• Master’s degree in Physics, Engineering, or related area, or the equivalent combination of education and previous relevant experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following disciplines: accelerator systems, pulsed power electronics, or high-voltage systems, including design, fabrication, and testing.
• Extensive experience and knowledge in project management of complex, technical projects (especially R&D) including organizing, managing, and tracking scope, schedule, and budget and assessing and managing project risk.
• Substantial experience in formal engineering design review processes.
• Extensive experience developing and implementing creative solutions to a diverse range of complex problems and leading corrective actions where necessary.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively develop, lead and manage a multi-disciplinary project team of engineers, scientists, designers, technicians, and coordinators across multiple institutions.
• Extensive experience interacting and cooperating with all levels of management, including external project sponsors.
• Expert communication, facilitation, and collaboration skills necessary to effectively present, explain, influence, and advise senior management and/or external sponsors, including policy makers, external customers/sponsors, and a broader community of experts.
• Ability to travel for effective integration and project oversight.

Qualifications We Desire

•  PhD in engineering, physical science, or related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Knowledge of project management, personnel management, and Earned Value Management System (EVMS) and DOE Order 413.3b. 
• Experience fielding experiments and or collaborating with teams from NNSS, Nevada Nuclear Security Site.
• Knowledge of LLNL financial systems.
• Experience establishing integrated safety management via work control processes at LLNL.
• Certification as a Project Management Professional.

Pay Range

$272,970 - $346,140 Annually

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting.  An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Additional Information

#LI-Onsite

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2026 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Our values - visit https://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

Security Clearance

This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance.  If you are selected, we will initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if you meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. Also, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing.  Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship. 

Pre-Employment Drug Test

External applicant(s) selected for this position must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test. This includes testing for use of marijuana as Federal Law applies to us as a Federal Contractor.

Wireless and Medical Devices

Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the use and/or possession of mobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area where you are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile device in your possession.  This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.  

If you use a medical device, which pairs with a mobile device, you must still follow the rules concerning the mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas.  Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities require separate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.

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To learn more about recruitment scams: https://www.llnl.gov/sites/www/files/2023-05/LLNL-Job-Fraud-Statement-Updated-4.26.23.pdf

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

Reasonable Accommodation

Our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory.  If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please use our online form to submit a request. 

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