Senior Principal Scientist

Job Description

The Stockpile Experimentation and Operations, Technology and Operations (SEO T&O) Directorate is seeking a highly motivated individual with a strong work ethic and willingness to learn to join the Radiography and Imaging Systems Team within the Dynamic Instruments Section of SEO T&O. Dynamic Instruments is comprised of approximately 40 scientists, engineers, and technicians, and is the core for innovative diagnostic design, simulation, fabrication, characterization, and fielding in support of the NNSS’ stockpile stewardship mission.

The Radiography and Imaging Systems Team is specifically responsible for providing novel optical designs based on scientific requirements, diagnostic development for both visible and radiographic imaging and beam line diagnostics and participating in fielding efforts for stockpile stewardship experiments and other applications across the NNSA complex.

We are looking for a Senior Principal Scientist to collaborate with the project lead on the design, development, characterization, and fielding of diagnostic and scientific systems that will be deployed at the Multi Pulse Test Line (MPTL) at Los Alamos National Laboratory and other beamline facilities.

Responsibilities

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Devise solutions that are comprehensive in all aspects and exhaustive at all levels, including cross-disciplinary approaches and applications towards beamline diagnostic development.
• Initiates collaboration with LANL staff and leads collaboration to achieve local mission execution.
• Responsible for directing and operating the operation of diagnostic equipment such optical imaging equipment such as cameras and lens systems, oscilloscopes, lasers, function generators, delay generators, fiber optic inspection and cleaning equipment, etc.
• Oversee, lead and conduct research, data compilation, and data analysis related to beamline diagnostics.
• Assist in leading the design, research, and deployment of new beam line diagnostics or upgrading current systems.
• Serve as a discipline specific subject matter expert to other scientists, engineers, and management, both internal to the NNSS and with external collaborators.
• Coordinate work efforts through interaction with peers, project leaders, supervisors/managers, both internal to the NNSS and external collaborators
• Develops new initiatives for additional scopes of work.
• Define and develop technical proposals.
• Help ensure the team meets defined deliverables and stays within the planned scope of work.
• Report project statuses, issues, and results to relevant management teams.
• Lead the fielding of optical and electrical diagnostics at large facilities.
• Foster a work environment that supports open communication and trust.
  
  

Qualifications

• Minimum Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in calculus-based technical (STEM) field plus at least 14 years relevant experience. Skill building experience must demonstrate either deeper technical specialization or additional cross-disciplinary knowledge. Graduate research experience may be recognized.
• Or Ph.D. in calculus-based technical (STEM) plus at least 9 years’ relevant experience
• Familiarity developing and fielding plasma diagnostics and dynamic experiments.
• Capable of creating new scientific knowledge and technological solutions, which cross disparate disciplines.
• Nationally recognized as having a full command of the most advanced scientific theories, principles and policy and for published work.
• Demonstrates expertise in entrepreneurial and business aspects of science and technology.
• Able to develop plans for solving the most difficult problems.
• Executes work in a disciplined manner to demonstrate compliance with laws, codes, orders, and MSTS policies and procedures.
• Must be willing and able to travel as required by the job.
• The primary work location will be at Los Alamos Operations, located in Los Alamos, New Mexico.
• Pre-placement physical examination, which includes a drug screen, is required. MSTS maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
  

MSTS is required by DOE directive to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants offered employment with MSTS are also subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment. In addition, Applicants for employment must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship, at least 18 years of age. Reference DOE Order 472.2, “Personnel Security”. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Department of Energy Q Clearance (position will be cleared to this level). Reviews and tests for the absence of any illegal drug as defined in 10 CFR Part 707.4, “Workplace Substance Abuse Programs at DOE Sites,” will be conducted. Applicant selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation, required to participate in subsequent reinvestigations, and must meet the eligibility requirements for access to classified matter. Successful completion of a counterintelligence evaluation, which may include a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination, may also be required. Reference 10 CFR Part 709, “Counterintelligence Evaluation Program.”

MSTS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. MSTS is a background screening, drug-free workplace.

Annual salary range for this position is: $147,804.80 - $229,091.20.

Starting salary is determined based on the position market value, the individual candidate education and experience and internal equity.

About Us

Mission Support and Test Services, LLC (MSTS) manages and operates the Nevada National Security Sites (NNSS) for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The NNSS is an enterprise of special-purpose, multi-mission, high-hazard experimentation facilities delivering technical and service solutions in partnership with the National Laboratories. Our collaborative work supports the government’s most important national security missions. (See NNSS.gov for our unique capabilities.) Our 3,000 professional, craft, and support employees are called upon to innovate, collaborate, and deliver on some of the more difficult nuclear security challenges facing the world today.

• MSTS offers our full-time employees highly competitive salaries and benefits packages including medical, dental, and vision; both a pension and a 401k; paid time off and 96 hours of paid holidays; relocation (if located more than 75 miles from work location); tuition assistance and reimbursement; and more.
• MSTS is a limited liability company consisting of Honeywell Aerospace, Amentum, and HII Nuclear Inc.