Program Group Leader for Subcritical Experiments Engineering - Active Clearance Required - job 1 of 2

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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 dedicated to fostering a culture that values individuals, talents, partnerships, ideas, experiences, and different perspectives, recognizing their importance to the continued success of the Laboratory’s mission.

Pay Range

$218,700 - $332,772 Annually

$218,700 - $277,344 Annually for the SEL.4 level

$262,410 - $332,772 Annually for the SEL.5 level

This is the lowest to highest salary in good faith we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. Pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage.  An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

We have an opening for a Program Group Leader (PGL) to lead and manage the Subcritical Experiments Engineering Group (SCEEN) within the Hydrodynamic and Subcritical Experiments (HSE) program element in the Weapons Physics and Design (WPD) program. The SCEEN PGL will oversee the budget and lead the team of engineers to enable the execution of subcritical experiments including SCE device engineering, vessel engineering, and timing and firing engineering.  The SCEEN PGL will interface with the Nuclear Materials group as well as outside organizations to ensure material and fabrication of the SCE devices. The PGL must also interface with LANL on current and future vessel availability and strategies. The SCEEN will also interface with the Hydro Engineering PGL to coordinate the representation and interface with the mechanical designers, drafters, and LLNL machine shops on schedules and priorities. This position will report programmatically to the Associate Program Director for HSE within the WPD program in the Strategic Deterrence (SD) Principal Directorate. This position administratively resides in the Defense Technologies Engineering Division within the Engineering Directorate.

Depending on your assignment, this position may offer a hybrid schedule, blending in-person and virtual presence. You may have the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week.

This position will be filled at either level depending on your knowledge, skills, and experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if you are selected at the higher level.

You will

• Oversee the budget (~$10M) for SCE engineering activities using independent judgment.
• Develop and administer budget, allocate resources, select methods and approaches to achieve objectives, develop and direct work schedules, assign tasks, monitor work flow to achieve established goals and objectives, and ensure projects and tasks are completed on schedule.
• Provide technical leadership and direction to the staff on all engineering activities for subcritical experiments and to solve highly complex problems.
• Interface with external partners at Los Alamos National Laboratory, the National Nuclear Security Sites (NNSS), and the Nevada Filed Office (NFO), to enable the device, vessel, and timing and firing engineering.  
• Provide leadership in the development of current and future strategies to build SCE devices.
• Manage, mentor, and motivate the engineering staff in career planning, technical development, and growth.
• Participate in reviews for the LLNL Subcritical Experiments Proposal Committee, and in the National SCE council meetings as needed.
• Influence and implement strategic decisions made by senior management and external customers.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SEL.5 level

• Exercise independent judgment to provide advanced technical leadership and solutions to highly unusual, complex, and sensitive problems and assist in developing innovative methods/technologies that contribute to the execution of current and future subcritical experiments. Solutions require in-depth analysis of multiple tangible and intangible factors. 
• Perform high level goal setting and strategic planning, directing the accomplishment of project/program goals and objectives, determining methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria, and ensuring that deliverables are met. 
• Lead and act as senior technical and operational expert for subcritical experiments.
• Serve on internal/external scientific/technical committees and act as a spokesperson when needed, and influence strategic technical decisions made by senior management and external customers.

• This position requires an active Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance or active Top-Secret clearance issued by another U.S. government agency at the time of hire.
• Bachelor’s in Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field or equivalent combination of education and significant related experience.
• Demonstrated ability and significant experience teaming and partnering effectively to lead technical cross-disciplinary and cross-laboratory teams to work toward programmatic and institutional goals.
• Expert problem solving, analytical, technical, organizational, and management skills, necessary to independently advise, recommend, and approve appropriate actions and implement solutions to highly complex problems.
• Ability and flexibility to reprioritize and change programmatic direction depending on emerging requests and priorities and to resolve conflicting work requirements.
• Significant engineering experience, including the manufacture of highly complex explosive devices, confinement vessels, and/or timing and firing systems.
• Expert facilitation, collaboration, problem-solving, and communication skills, both written and verbal, necessary to effectively explain, present, negotiate, and provide strategic technical advice,  to all levels of management and government officials.
• Significant experience fostering productive relationships with other divisions, directorates, laboratories, and other institutions across the Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Defense (DoD) enterprise, and external advisors and reviewers.

Additional qualifications at the SEL.5 level

• Extensive experience managing and leading a significant technical portfolio, supporting large-scale projects led by others, and a demonstrated ability to successfully deliver impactful results.
• Expert level knowledge of, and extensive experience in strategic planning and defining and decision-making on significantly impactful matters relative  to a program’s ability to achieve its overall objectives and long-range goals.
• Extensive experience applying in-depth analysis skills and expertise in state-of-the-art principles, theories, concepts, and technologies.

Qualifications We Desire

• Master’s degree or higher in Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field.
• Familiarity with WPD missions.  
• Extensive knowledge of building hydrodynamic and subcritical devices.
• Experience with performing experiments at the NNSS.
• Substantial experience sustaining productive relationships with other divisions, directorates, laboratories, NNSA management, other institutions across the DOE enterprise, including LANL and the Nevada Field Office. 

#LI-Hybrid

Position Information

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

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2025 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Our values - visit https://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

Security Clearance

This position requires an active Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance or active Top Secret clearance issued by another U.S. government agency at time of hire. 

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.

Wireless and Medical Devices

Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the use and/or possession of mobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area where you are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile device in your possession.  This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.  

If you use a medical device, which pairs with a mobile device, you must still follow the rules concerning the mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas.  Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities require separate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.

Pre-Placement Medical Exam

A job related pre-placement medical examination may be required.

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