We have an opening for an Associate Section Manager for Operations, 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 operating and maintaining experimental target diagnostic systems in the NIF Target Area. Your responsibilities will include operational ownership and maintenance 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 Materials and Radiation Effects projects, including determining and pursuing courses of action essential to obtaining desired outcomes, and managing internal sponsor expectations and funding for a highly dynamic portfolio.
- Oversee the management of the team of responsible system engineers, technicians, and designers to provide 24/7 operational support for the configuration, assembly, calibration, qualification, installation, maintenance, and data acquisition and analysis of all NIF’s target diagnostics.
- Manage highly complex operational interfaces between key internal stakeholders such as principal physics investigators responsible for NIF shots, Target Area Operators, Target Diagnostic Operators, the Target Diagnostic Factory, and shot data systems to ensure seamless delivery, setup, and data acquisition of target diagnostics to support NIF’s shot schedule.
- Represent target diagnostic interests in working group interactions with other associate section managers for operations, 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 and development of the target diagnostics preventative maintenance program including development of highly advanced methods and metrics to track progress towards strategic goals.
- 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. Mentor, train, and coach other programmatic group leaders in the execution of their duties.
- 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 operational support for NIF target diagnostics.
- Influence NIF’s operational SSQE execution through strategic portfolio planning and directorate-wide interactions with other associate section managers for operations.
- 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,
- 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 integration, operation, and maintenance 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.
- Significant experience 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.
- Extensive knowledge of, and experience in, complex work control, radiological and safety systems, data acquisition and security systems, risk assessment, and quality assurance.
- 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.
- Ability to support a team that is responsible for 24/7 facility operations of target diagnostics, including fielding off-hours/at-night calls and providing onsite presence to resolve highly complex technical issues.
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 innovative operations, 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 include 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.
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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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