Associate director

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Livermore, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 339,000 - 432,000; Full time

Job summary

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in Livermore, CA, seeks an Associate Program Director for Transformational Technologies and Phase 1s (TTP1). The role leads the TT portfolio within WPD, aligns with SD leadership, and oversees staffing, budget, and collaborations to accelerate design, prototyping, and certification in national security programs.

You will report to the WPD Program Director and coordinate with NNSA, DoD, and external partners to advance transformative technology while

Qualifications

• PhD in Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field is required.
• Active DOE Q clearance or Top Secret clearance with SCI access.
• Extensive knowledge in nuclear weapon physics and design.
• Proven ability to lead interdisciplinary teams and large technical portfolios.
• Experience with strategic planning and senior government interactions.

Responsibilities

• Manage and execute the TT portfolio, roughly $30M in scope.
• Provide technical direction for the development and implementation of the annual WPD Program Plan including staffing and budget allocations.
• Lead and coordinate TT activities supporting assessment and certification capabilities development.
• Support collaborative prototyping and development efforts for potential future Phase 1s.
• Develop leadership skills and opportunities for the next generation of weapon designers.
• Cultivate collaboration within WPD and across SD programs.

Education

PhD in Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field

Job description

Associate Program Director for Transformational Technologies and Phase 1s - Active Security Clearance Required

• Full-time
• Organization: Strategic Deterrence
• Category: Executive
• Employee Referral Bonus: Not applicable
• Job Code 1: TSM.2 Technical Manager 2
• Pre-Employment Drug Test: Required for external applicant(s) selected for this position (includes testing for use of marijuana)
• Pre-Placement Medical Exam: Not applicable
• Security Clearance: Active DOE Q clearance (or active Top Secret clearance) with Sensitive Compartmented Information access

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.

We have an opening for an Associate Program Director for Transformational Technologies and Phase 1s (TTP1). The Associate Program Director will lead and manage the Transformational Technologies and Phase 1s (TTP1) section of the Weapon Physics and Design (WPD) program. Your portfolio anticipates design needs and delivers novel solutions to accelerate the weapons complex’s ability to cycle through design, manufacturing, production, and qualification. This portfolio also includes physics contributions to integrated demonstrator projects. This portfolio delivers technologies to transform approaches to experiments used for assessment and certification activities. These activities develop the integrated capabilities of the future deterrent, and establish the foundation required to transform the nuclear weapon enterprise. You will work with the senior management team of WPD to develop capabilities and partnerships to anticipate and respond to broader National Security challenges, enhancing our technical capabilities and developing our staff. This position will report programmatically to the Program Director for Future Deterrent within WPD in the Strategic Deterrence (SD) Principal Directorate.

In addition, the Associate Program Director for Transformational Technologies will act as the LLNL Funding Stream Point of Contact (FSPOC) for the Stockpile Responsiveness Program (SRP) in NA-115.The SRP effort was established to achieve the following objectives:

(1) Exercise all phases of the nuclear weapons life cycle process.

(2) Transfer capabilities to the next generation.

(3) Demonstrate capabilities through prototyping, flight testing and the development of plans for certification.

(4) Shorten design, certification and manufacturing cycles to minimize time and costs leading to engineering prototype and production.

(5) Exercise process for integration and coordination of NNSA and DoD/DoW.

This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work.

You will

• Manage and execute the TT portfolio, roughly $30M in scope.
• In collaboration with other members of the WPD senior management team, provide technical direction for the development and implementation of the annual WPD Program Plan including staffing and budget allocations.
• Lead and coordinate TT activities supporting assessment and certification capabilities development and establishing the foundation for transformation of the enterprise and experiments.
• Work with the Associate Program Director for Enabling Technologies in Weapons, Technologies and Engineering (WTE) Program to support collaborative prototyping and development efforts useful to potential future Phase 1s.
• Provide opportunities for growth in skills, knowledge and abilities, as well as the development of leadership skills for the next generation of weapon designers.
• Develop and implement strategies to cultivate collaboration and enhance integration within WPD and across other programs in SD.
• Manage and communicate objectives, accomplishments, challenges, and plans to WPD workforce.
• Represent the Program to SD management, in internal and external meetings, working groups, and on special assignments.
• Promote and maintain strong relationships and communications with NNSA, other NNSA laboratories, and DoD/DoW elements associated with nuclear weapons.
• Conduct operations and business management in compliance with LLNS policy and procedures, contract requirements, and applicable laws and regulations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

As FSPOC for SRP you will:

• Coordinate planning and reporting for all SRP-funded activities at LLNL to WPD, WTE, and SD management and to NNSA Federal Program Managers.
• Collaborate with other FSPOCs and SD program managers to integrate and leverage SRP-funded activities to benefit SD programs.
• Work collaboratively across WPD, WTE, Weapons Simulation and Computing (WSC) Programs and supporting organizations to develop the tools necessary to advance our application of materials, tools, and production methods that enable responsive development and rapid demonstration of advanced systems.

• 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. Also, you must have the ability to obtain and maintain Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access.
• PhD in Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field or equivalent level of demonstrated knowledge.
• Extensive knowledge in nuclear weapon physics and design, expertise in a weapon science discipline, and familiarity with SD and the LLNL weapons program.
• Advanced ability to delegate effectively and to build, lead, and motivate complex interdisciplinary teams to work toward programmatic and institutional goals.
• Extensive experience managing and leading a significant technical portfolio, supporting large-scale projects led by others, and a demonstrated ability to deliver results.
• Demonstrated advanced problem solving, analytical, technical, organizational, and management skills, necessary to independently advise, recommend, and approve appropriate actions and implement solutions.
• Experience in strategic planning, and experience in decision-making on matters that significantly affect the ability of the organization and Laboratory to achieve its overall objectives and long-range goals.
• Expert communication skills, both written and verbal, necessary to effectively explain, present, negotiate, advise, and influence all levels of management and government officials.
• Experience sustaining productive relationships with other divisions, directorates, laboratories, NNSA management, other institutions across the DOE and DoD/DoW enterprise, and external advisors and reviewers.
• Familiarity with the Weapon Simulation and Computing (WSC) and Weapon Technologies and Engineering (WTE) programs.

Pay Range

$338,580 - $431,568 Annually

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe 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.

#LI-Onsite

Position Information

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

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2026Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)

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. Also, you must have the ability to obtain and maintain Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access. Please note that your current active Q or Top Secret clearance with DOE or another agency does not guarantee DOE SCI access approval; if you are denied access, you may be subject to reinvestigation of your existing Q or Top Secret Clearance.

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.

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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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