Accelerator Design Project Leader (Scientist 5)

Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental & vision

Life insurance

Paid leave

401(k) matching

Tuition assistance

Flexible schedules

Relocation

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) invites applications for an Accelerator Design Project Leader for the LAMP upgrade. The role combines advanced physics design with program management, interfacing with engineering, controls, RF, and safety teams to deliver a high‑reliability front-end upgrade.

The successful candidate will translate physics models into beamline specifications, lead the LAMP design teams, manage budgets and schedules, and represent LANL in collaboration with the project

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a STEM field and 15 years of relevant experience, or equivalent.
• Engineering degree preferred.
• Demonstrated expert-level knowledge in accelerator science and beam physics.
• Proven ability to lead mid-size teams (10–30) to deliver milestones.
• Experience bridging project and line organizations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the physics design of the LAMP accelerator and ensure integration with LANL systems.
• Translate physics models into beamline component specifications.
• Provide accelerator physics design support to the LAMP prototype during design, installation, and operation.
• Direct design team leads and manage budget and schedule.
• Develop requirements with subsystems and interface with systems engineering.
• Present progress to the LAMP technical director and collaborate with project office.

Skills

Accelerator physics

Project leadership

Cross-organizational leadership

Budget and scheduling

Safety culture

Collaboration

Education

Master's degree in STEM

Engineering degree preferred

Job description

What You Will Do

The Accelerator Operations and Technology (AOT) Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is the largest accelerator capability organization within LANL with over 200 employees. AOT is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and improvements to the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) particle accelerator complex. The LANSCE accelerator provides 800-MeV protons used in five separate, but simultaneously operated, user programs. Beam/user operations run 24/7 for roughly seven months of the year with the remaining five months reserved for maintenance and upgrades. Having already achieved CD-0, the LANSCE Accelerator Modernization Project (LAMP) is a $B-class upgrade to the front-end of LANSCE that will replace the existing hardware in the first 100-MeV section of the accelerator with higher reliability and higher performing state-of-the-art accelerator hardware.

What You Will Do

The Accelerator Operations and Technology (AOT) Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is the largest accelerator capability organization within LANL with over 200 employees. AOT is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and improvements to the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) particle accelerator complex. The LANSCE accelerator provides 800-MeV protons used in five separate, but simultaneously operated, user programs. Beam/user operations run 24/7 for roughly seven months of the year with the remaining five months reserved for maintenance and upgrades. Having already achieved CD-0, the LANSCE Accelerator Modernization Project (LAMP) is a $B-class upgrade to the front-end of LANSCE that will replace the existing hardware in the first 100-MeV section of the accelerator with higher reliability and higher performing state-of-the-art accelerator hardware. AOT is looking for an experienced project leader to serve as the Accelerator Design Project Leader (ADPL) for LAMP. This critical leadership role will be responsible for developing the physics design of the LAMP accelerator and ensuring its integration with the rest of the LANSCE accelerator meets all programmatic requirements. In addition, this person will be responsible for translating the physics model into actual beamline component requirements and specifications, and interfacing with and providing accelerator physics design support to the LAMP prototype accelerator as it is designed, installed, and operated. The ADPL will provide technical leadership to the LAMP Beamline and Accelerator Structures Design Team and the LAMP Component Design Team, and will serve as the interface between AOT and the LAMP project office for the LAMP physics design. Some of the expected job duties include: balancing the physics and mechanical constraints of the design, prioritizing the scope of the various sub‑system tasks with the available overall funding while working with line management for securing resources to execute that scope; directing Design Team technical leads; developing requirements in conjunction with other LAMP subsystems, e.g. instrumentation and controls, RF systems, and mechanical engineering; managing budget and schedule; developing and presenting progress reports to the LAMP technical director; and providing support for the LAMP prototype accelerator with modeling and component design during its design, installation, and operations; partnering with systems engineering to develop the interface requirements and ensuring adherence of team members to disciplined operations as well as a fully integrated safety culture. In addition, the successful candidate will foster collaboration within the greater LAMP project and develop healthy cooperation with other LAMP project leaders. As this project is related to significant technological improvements to an existing accelerator facility, the ADPL has a unique opportunity to support team members' career development, including supporting publications and participation in conferences. Learn more about LANSCE: http://lansce.lanl.gov/

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements

• Demonstrated expert‑level knowledge of accelerator science and beam physics.
• Demonstrated ability to direct a moderately sized technical team (10‑30 employees) to efficiently execute project tasks and complete deliverables and milestones on time.
• Demonstrated excellence in leading projects crossing multiple line organizations.
• Demonstrated ability constructively bridge between project and line.
• Demonstrated commitment to disciplined operations.
• Demonstrated commitment to the Laboratory's behavioral competencies (collaborative problem solving, continuous learning, commitment, shared outcome, and trustworthy).
• Demonstrated expert‑level knowledge and commitment to maintaining a safe and secure work environment.

Education/Experience: Position requires a Master's degree in a STEM field from an accredited college or university and 15 years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation. A degree in Engineering preferred.

Desired Qualifications

• Ten years or more of experience in technical leadership.
• Demonstrated success in leading large projects of $10M or more.
• Recognized as a leader in the U.S. accelerator community.
• Experience managing accelerator facilities under DOE Order 420.2D.
• Knowledge of Laboratory, DOE, and NNSA programmatic missions, goals, commitments, and critical issues.
• Experience managing projects under DOE Order 413.3B

Work Environment

Work Location: The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.

Position commitment: Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year.

Note to Applicants: Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China-including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau-as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Where You Will Work

Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:

• PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
• Dental and vision insurance
• Free basic life and disability insurance
• Paid childbirth and parental leave
• Award‑winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
• Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
• Onsite gyms and wellness programs
• Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)

Additional Details

Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.

Clearance: Q (Position will be cleared to this level). Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance. and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.

• Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 for additional information.

New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre‑offer.

Regular position: Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular‑status positions are converted to regular status.

Internal Applicants: Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.

Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with