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Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States' security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place.

We are committed to a diverse and equitable workforce with an inclusive culture that values and celebrates the diversity of our people, talents, ideas, experiences, and perspectives. This is important for continued success of the Laboratory's mission.

Pay Range

$159,330- $204,636 Annually for the SES.3 level

$191,220- $245,544 Annually for the SES.4 level

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. Many factors are taken into consideration when setting starting pay including education, experience, the external labor market, and internal equity.

We have an opening for an Actinide Component Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support the Weapon Technologies and Engineering (WTE) program, primarily supporting the Stockpile Surveillance Group and Aging & Lifetimes (A&L) Program, as well as various other Actinide research efforts at LLNL. You will apply your technical expertise in actinide surface chemistry to support stockpile sustainment activities related to weapons core surveillance and assessments. SMEs are expected to understand how their component or subsystem meets the design intent, certification process, and mission functions given the surveillance and storage history, acceptable STS conditions, aging mechanisms, trends and models, chemical compatibilities, and other topical areas. You will hold primary responsibilities for contributing your expertise to the LLNL stockpile annual assessment review, working with the production agencies (PAs) as a Special Nuclear Materials SME for engineering evaluations for the modernization and enduring programs, and participating in additional technical reviews. You will be a central interface for your component across all systems and will work with other SMEs, scientists, designers, and system and component surveillance engineers to consolidate the understanding of your component's metallurgy, chemistry, compatibility, design philosophy, history, engineering, manufacturing and surveillance processes, and maintain and develop predictive performance models. The SME serves as Nuclear Weapons Enterprise's single point of contact for all issues associated with a particular component or subsystem. You will be expected to maintain close integration with personnel and efforts involved in A&L and component related Surveillance Programs, including managing and informing component related A&L projects. This position is in the Materials &Analytical Spectroscopy/Spectrometry group of the Materials Science Division.

This position will be filled at either the SES.3 or SES.4 level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.

You will

• Serve as the primary technical contact on your component's surveillance and modeling for WTE.
• Present the surveillance data and interpretation as the actinide component SME for the Annual Assessment process.
• Serve as the Design Agency's delegated authority and interface to the PAs for approval of and changes to procedures related to your component; this includes frequent travel to the production plants.
• Understand the materials science specific to your component and related components to assure and communicate current analyses and recommend new measurements, tests, and diagnostics targeted at increasing our ability to predict future states.
• Coordinate complex program requirements and deliverables for the Weapon System Program Managers.
• Communicate capabilities and new opportunities to a broad range of stakeholders, including Aging and Lifetimes Program and other campaigns and programs within LLNL.
• Serve as an integral member of an interdisciplinary team responsible for conducting and supporting research to model and simulate material properties and responses under stockpile relevant conditions.
• Prepare written analyses and verbal briefings that capture and communicate research results as well as periodic progress reports.
• Publish research results in peer-reviewed scientific or technical journals and present results at external conferences, seminars and/or technical meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.4 level

• Nationally recognized expert in an area of actinide, gas chemistry, surface chemistry or related field.
• Nationally recognized subject matter expert in component aging or predictive modeling including the influence of aging on critical performance parameters and quantitative methods to measure aging signatures and their influence on performance.
• Nationally recognized subject matter expert in component design processes, metallography, or materials testing.

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• PhD in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics or a related field, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Significant experience in the areas of actinide chemistry, gas chemistry, surface science, and/or related field including the influence of aging on critical performance parameters and quantitative methods to measure aging signatures and their influence on performance.
• Significant experience with stockpile processes, including assembly, surveillance, disassembly and inspection, materials testing and/or data analysis.
• Advanced knowledge of databases, spreadsheets and/or modeling techniques and the ability to maintain and interpret large data sets of testing, performance, and surveillance results.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills necessary to deliver presentations and prepare written reports.
• Significant experience in interfacing and negotiating with a diverse set of scientists, engineers, and other technical and administrative staff to implement a defined goal related to your scientific or technical expertise.
• Ability and willingness to travel to the PAs (estimated 10 to 20% time on travel) to witness and approve production and surveillance processes and/or present technical content for review or collaborations.

Additional qualifications at the SES,4 level

• Nationally recognized expert in an area of actinide, gas chemistry, surface chemistry or related field.
• Nationally recognized subject matter expert in component aging or predictive modeling including the influence of aging on critical performance parameters and quantitative methods to measure aging signatures and their influence on performance.
• Nationally recognized subject matter expert in component design processes, metallography, or materials testing.

Qualifications We Desire

• Experience with actinide safety and/or research and development technical expertise.
• Experience with weapon safety and/or research and development technical expertise.
• Ability to model complex systems from sparse data and limited existing literature.
• An active Q-level clearance or equivalent.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Position Information

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

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2024 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA) - visit
• Our core beliefs - visit
• Employee engagement - visit

Security Clearance

This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance.If you are selected, wewill initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if youmeet 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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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.

We invite you to review the Equal Employment Opportunity posters which include EEO is the Law and Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision.

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 to submit a request.

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