Scientist II

Job Description

Mission Support and Test Services, LLC (MSTS) manages and operates the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Our MISSION is to help ensure the security of the United States and its allies by providing high-hazard experimentation and incident response capabilities through operations, engineering, education, field, and integration services and by acting as environmental stewards to the Site’s Cold War legacy. Our VISION is to be the user site of choice for large-scale, high-hazard, national security experimentation, with premier facilities and capabilities below ground, on the ground, and in the air. (See NNSS.gov for our unique capabilities.) Our 2,750 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 International Inc. (Honeywell), Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (Jacobs), and HII Nuclear Inc.
  
  

Responsibilities

The Radiological Control Department is looking for an individual with a strong attention to detail to work as a Health Physicist I/II. This Health Physicist will be responsible for ensuring the implementation of the Radiological Control program while supporting the execution of work. They will be able to contribute under supervision to matters of operational health physics and be able to learn and apply health physics concepts when asked to participate on small to medium projects related to radiological protection. In this role you have the ability to balance responsibilities with multiple organizations as you will have assignments that directly support both MSTS and the Joint Laboratory Operations Nevada (JLON).

Key Responsibilities

• Contributes to solutions of problems and issues with well-defined scope and moderate complexity, utilizing a well-defined set of technologies. Solutions use established standards, practices and procedures as well as technical knowledge to address problems and complete tasks. Solutions may require evaluation of standards and processes.
• Contribute to radiological safety/protection analyses and calculations and apply methods and techniques for acquiring, analyzing, and processing radiological data.
• Help in the preparation of radiological safety/protection documents including procedures, survey plans, radiological work permits and technical guidance documents.
• Aid in the implementation of functional elements of radiological protection programs to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) orders, and corporate requirements.
• Consult with more senior health physicists, supervisors, and departmental representatives on radiological control matters to ensure work procedures are incompliance with the Tennant Organization’s (MSTS, LLNL or LANL) core processes, and governmental requirements.
• Contribute to assigned projects that involve Tennant Organizations (MSTS, LLNL and LANL) including audits, dose investigations, and incident remediations.
• Attend staff meetings and planning/scheduling meetings relevant to radiological safety/protection issues.
• Review packages and plans, as assigned, to ensure necessary requirements are incorporated into work controls.
• Contribute to management assessments and gather data for program metrics, performance indicators, and dashboards to aid in the determination of radiological protection effectiveness and compliance trends.
• Perform other duties assigned by Management.
• Develop deeper understanding of radiological detection functionality and use
• Author radiological technical and procedural documents.
• Execute functional elements of the radiological protection program.
• Analyze more complex monitoring and other surveillance data and assist in report preparation.
• Interface with management, projects, external agencies, and emergency response functions.
• Complete special projects with limited supervision to meet internal and external customer expectations.
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a calculus-based (STEM) field, plus at least 2 years’ relevant experience. Skill building experience must demonstrate either deeper technical specialization or additional cross-disciplinary knowledge. Graduate research experience may be recognized.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in physical science or in a biological science with a minimum of 20 semester hours in physical science preferred.
• 0-2 years relevant experience in radiation safety/protection.
• Must possess effective oral and written communications skills and demonstrated ability to write technical reports.
• Must possess planning/organizational skills and initiative.
• Must be able to employ independent judgment and apply professional knowledge to ensure that assignments are completed efficiently, accurately, and on time.
• Must possess interpersonal communication skills to deal with contacts in an effective, positive, and professional manner.
• Must possess mathematical skill and ability to understand complex data, terminology, procedures, laws, and regulations.
• Must have experience in software programs such as Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Bachelor’s or graduate degree from an accredited college or university in physical science or in a biological science with a minimum of 20 semester hours in physical science.
• 2-5 years relevant experience in radiation safety/protection
• Internship or some experience with radiation detection equipment.
• Knowledge of regulatory agencies (DOE, NRC, EPA) helpful but not required.
• Proficiency in radiation principles, safety regulations, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• The primary work location will be at the Nevada National Security Site (located 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada)
• Work schedule will be 4/10s Monday through Thursday (subject to change).
• 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: $83,075.20 - $124,612.80.

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