We have an opening for an Associate Section Manager for Capabilities, Target Diagnostic Engineering and Science. This work will take place within the National Ignition Facility & Photon Science (NIF&PS) Directorate, home to the world’s most energetic laser. It is an exciting time to join the team that achieved fusion ignition in December 2022, a historic moment in science, opening up new physics regimes and setting the stage for new fusion energy possibilities.
You will lead a 30-person team of engineers, scientists, and technicians responsible for developing and upgrading experimental target diagnostic systems in the NIF Target Area. Your responsibilities will include design ownership and technology support for a large (100+) suite of precision target diagnostics used to measure x-ray, optical and nuclear signals from NIF experiments in support of programmatic deliverables. This position is in the Laser Systems Engineering & Operations (LSEO) Division, within the Engineering Directorate.
In this role at the SEL.4 level, you will
- Oversee the management of the execution of x-ray, optical, and nuclear diagnostics projects, including determining and pursuing courses of action essential to obtaining desired outcomes, and managing internal sponsor expectations and funding for a complex portfolio.
- Oversee the management of the team of engineers, technicians, and designers to develop novel diagnostic architectures and radiation hardened operational systems capable of acquiring data in NIF’s high unique and demanding neutron and x-ray environment.
- Manage highly complex interfaces between key internal stakeholders such as lead scientists, system responsible scientists, shot operations, controls, facilities, laser alignment, and shot data systems to ensure high quality development, assembly, qualification, integration, and data acquisition of target diagnostics to support NIF’s missions.
- Represent target diagnostic interests in working group interactions with other associate section managers, including participation in the improvement of the Safety Security Quality And Efficiency (SSQE).
- Actively interface with, report to, and negotiate with NIF senior management and/or internal/external customers/sponsors about the progress and performance of diagnostics on NIF, ensuring that program risks and requirements are communicated in an effective and timely manner.
- Oversee the management of the integration of key R&D technologies that improve target diagnostic performance towards NIF’s strategic and mission objectives.
- Review technical and scientific progress, and monitor performance for projects inside target diagnostics to ensure that the defined goals, objectives, and timelines are being met , and participate in the design review process for target area systems to ensure that defined goals, objectives, and requirements are appropriately addressed.
- Manage many parallel tasks requiring the resolution of conflicting work requirements and the prioritization of tasks to meet pre-determined targets.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
In addition at the SEL.5 level, you will
- Propose and lead innovative initiatives to enhance the tactical execution of R&D capabilities development in support of NIF target diagnostics, including partnering with leading internal and external collaborators to integrate cutting-edge technologies for high radiation, high precision, and ultrafast data acquisition.
- Influence NIF’s operational SSQE execution through strategic portfolio planning and directorate-wide interactions with other associate section managers.
- Mentor, train, and coach other programmatic group leaders in the execution of their duties, particularly the acceptance of risk, work induction, the IPRB design review process, and the Work Authorization Point process.
- Serve as technical contact and organization spokesperson and representative for the program at meetings, briefings, design reviews, and committees both internal and external to the Laboratory, as well as to address workforce needs, safety, security, technical quality, and project management.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship
- Bachelor’s degree in physics, nuclear engineering, or other technical area, or the equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
- Significant experience leading multidisciplinary engineering, technology, and science teams in the design, calibration, characterization, qualification, and integration of highly complex technical systems, especially involving mechanical, electrical, nuclear, photonic, and/or controls systems.
- Extensive experience planning and monitoring the performance of multimillion dollar budgets and portfolios.
- Extensive knowledge of, and experience in, complex systems engineering, project management, work control, work authorization, risk assessment and acceptance, and data acquisition.
- Expert communication, facilitation, collaboration, and problem-solving skills necessary to lead cooperative multi-disciplinary teams, present highly complex technical information, and influence at multiple levels of the organization from individual contributors through to senior management and internal stakeholders in partner organizations.
Additional qualifications at the SEL.5 level
- Expert knowledge of physics or engineering, particularly in delivering High Energy Density (HED) diagnostic systems.
- Expert communication, facilitation, collaboration, and problem-solving skills necessary to deputize for senior management and direct an organization, lead next generation designs, build cooperative multi-disciplinary teams, and interact with management and customers/sponsors on a wide variety of management level technical and highly complex issues.
- Extensive highly advanced systems engineering experience including risk management, system architecting, decision analysis, and/or the integration of highly complex cyber-physical systems in an operational environment.
- Extensive experience and demonstrated ability to apply technical decision-making at an Authorizing Individual (AI) level of the organization, including the successful handling of multiple intangible factors in a highly over constrained environment.
Qualifications We Desire
- Significant experience in integrating and operating highly complex systems in a rigorous operating environment including developing and implementing creative solutions to a diverse range of highly complex problems.
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Position Information
This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.
Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?
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.
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