Associate Criticality Safety Engineer - Active Clearance Required

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Livermore (CA); Hybrid; USD 122,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedules

Job summary

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is seeking an Associate Criticality Safety Engineer to contribute to design, development, and testing of nuclear equipment with fissionable materials. The role supports the DOE Nuclear Criticality Safety Program and LLNL's NCSD in a flexible, hybrid work arrangement.

You will perform safety evaluations, inspections, and data analysis, collaborating with engineers, facility staff, and researchers to ensure robust criticality safety controls.

Qualifications

• DOE Q-level or Top Secret clearance by hire.
• Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering, Physics or related field.
• Fundamental knowledge of nuclear facilities or similarly regulated environments.
• Ability to apply analytical and problem-solving skills using established methods.
• Familiarity with radiation transport software is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Assist with criticality safety evaluations per DOE-STD-3007 and LLNL procedures.
• Perform walk-through inspections and support annual reviews and safety documents.
• Provide technical support to engineers and facility staff within a team.
• Analyze data, prepare calculations, and contribute to technical work products.
• Travel to the Nevada National Security Sites as needed.
• Conduct Fundamentals of Criticality Safety training courses.

Skills

Verbal and written communication

Interpersonal skills

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering, Physics, or related field

Master's degree in Nuclear Engineering, Physics, or related field

Tools

COG

MCNP

GEANT

SCALE

Job description

Company Description

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has turned bold ideas into world-changing impact advancing science and technology to strengthen U.S. security and promote global stability.

Our mission spans four critical national security areas nuclear deterrence, threat preparedness, energy security, and multi-domain defense empowering teams to take on the toughest challenges of today and tomorrow. With a culture built on innovation and operational excellence, LLNL is a place where your expertise can make a real impact.

Job Description

We have an opening for an AssociateCriticality Safety Engineer within the Environment, Safety, and Health (ESH) Directorate. You will contribute to the design, development, and testing of nuclear equipment and systems for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) operations with fissionable materials. You will also contribute to projects and task assigned to LLNL supporting the Department of Energy (DOE) Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP). This position is in the Nuclear Criticality Safety Division (NCSD).

This position offers a hybrid schedule, blending in-person and virtual presence. You will have the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week.

You will

• Assist with criticality safety evaluations in conformance with DOE-STD-3007 and LLNL administrative procedures and support the review of new or proposed changes to existing equipment or operating procedures.
• Perform walk-through inspections and assist with basic annual reviews of operations and work authorization/work control documents and support the review of safety procedures and documents for consistency with criticality safety evaluations and adequate implementation of criticality safety controls.
• Perform technical/scientific assignments of limited complexity using established methods and procedures under general direction, and provide technical support to engineers, scientists, and facility staff as a member of a team in scientific research and development projects and/or ongoing operations.
• Gather, organize, and assist in analyzing data and information in support of the work activities, and help prepare documents, calculations, recommendations, corrective action documentation, designs, or related technical work products.
• Contribute to solutions for routine or limited-complexity problems using standard techniques and established practices, supporting project and organizational goals.
• Travel to the Nevada National Security Sites as needed.
• Conduct Fundamentals of Criticality Safety training courses.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• 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 Degree in Nuclear Engineering, Physics, or closely related scientific discipline (e.g., mechanical/systems engineering, nuclear physics, particle physics, radiochemistry) or equivalent combination of education and prior relevant experience.
• Fundamental knowledge of and some academic, internship, research, or work experience in a nuclear facility, nuclear reactor, chemical, high hazard, radiological operation, or similarly regulated technical environment.
• Ability to apply fundamental technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills to assigned work using established methods and procedures.
• Familiarity with personal computers and exposure to radiation transport software such as COG, MCNP, GEANT, or SCALE is desirable.
• Experience modeling the Inherently Safe Subcritical Assembly (ISSA) and performing pulsed-neutron experiments.
• Experience performing reactor kinetics calculations and developing custom radiation transport code modules for specific experiments.
• Experience modeling critical and subcritical benchmark experiments in COG, MCNP, OpenMC.
• Ability to assist with preparing technical documents and calculations following established protocols and guidance.
• Basic familiarity with DOE orders, national consensus standards, and engineering practices is desirable.
• Proficient verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.
• Ability to document and explain assigned technical or operational work results to supervisors, project leads, and team members.
• Ability to reprioritize and change programmatic direction depending on emergent requests and in collaboration with a variety of multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications We Desire

• Master's Degree in Nuclear Engineering, Physics, or closely related scientific discipline or equivalent combination of education and prior relevant experience.
• Experience in criticality safety including preparing criticality safety evaluations and implementation of criticality safety controls.
• Knowledge of LLNL's policies, procedures, and practices.
• Knowledge of and/or experience with DOE STD-3007 and ANSI/ANS-8 Series Consensus Standards.

Pay Range:$121,830 - $154,500 Annually

This is the lowest to highest salary range in good faith we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. 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.

Additional Information

#LI-Hybrid

Position Information

This is a Flexible Term appointment, which is for a definite period not to exceed six years.If final candidate is a Career Indefinite employee, Career Indefinite status may be maintained (should funding allow).

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2026Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• FlexibleBenefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Our values - visithttps://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 useand/or possession ofmobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area whereyou are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile devicein your possession. This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.

Ifyou useamedical device, whichpairs with a mobile device,you must still follow the rules concerningthe mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas. Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities requireseparate 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.

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