Chief Engineer

UT-Battelle; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

UT‑Battelle’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) PFCE Division seeks a Chief Engineer with DOE/DOD facility experience to streamline system operations for the MPEX project. The role focuses on design authority, maintenance scheduling, reliability improvements, and cross‑disciplinary collaboration with fusion energy researchers.

The position requires extensive knowledge of large, integrated technology platforms, RF systems, and safety compliance, with a strong emphasis on lifecycle

Qualifications

• BS degree in electrical engineering, physics or related field with 20+ years of applicable experience.
• Experience with formal project management protocol for large integrated technology platforms.
• Experience in broadcast, military, medical, or scientific applications.
• Experience in designing, specifying, and procuring system components.
• Experience with EM safety considerations and FCC regulations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary design authority for MPEX engineering policies and procedures.
• Coordinate system preventative maintenance and upgrade schedules to align with MPEX scientific mission goals.
• Develop maintenance plans to improve reliability and availability of system equipment.
• Strengthen and standardize engineering discipline across teams.
• Perform failure analysis of MPEX system equipment and propose reliability upgrades.
• Create and maintain documentation including operating procedures for system equipment and ancillary systems.
• Work with a multidisciplinary team of research scientists and engineers in fusion energy research.
• Provide occasional shift support for MPEX operations including call-in and off-normal work hours.
• Ensure a safe and efficient work environment and compliance with ESH&Q procedures and programs.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Skills

Project management

DOE/DOD facilities

System design

EM safety & FCC

RF engineering

Electrical engineering

Procurement

Operations leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, physics or related field

Tools

Oscilloscopes

RF network analyzers

RF power meters

Job description

Overview

The Plasma Facing Components & Engineering (PFCE) Division at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) seeks applications for a Chief Engineer experienced with DOE or DOD scientific experimental operating facilities to develop methods for consistent, efficient, and reliable system operations. As well as develop schedule planning for system maintenance, repairs, and upgrades for the Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX).

The Plasma Facing Components & Engineering (PFCE) Division at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) seeks applications for a Chief Engineer experienced with DOE or DOD scientific experimental operating facilities to develop methods for consistent, efficient, and reliable system operations. As well as develop schedule planning for system maintenance, repairs, and upgrades for the Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX).

MPEX is a linear plasma device under construction at ORNL that enables expanded fusion reactor–relevant material science capabilities, particularly those related to plasma material interaction (PMI) research.

MPEX will deliver steady state plasmas to PMI targets with heat fluxes of 10 MW m-2 and particle fluences of 1031 m-2 for up to 2-weeks. The plasma source and heating (PS&H) systems use 13.56 MHz, 4-9 MHz, and 70 or 105 GHz sources to enable independent control of ion and electron temperatures, facilitating plasma conditions at the target that closely resemble those observed at the divertor region in tokamak-style fusion reactor.

The PFCE division carries out experiment-based research and development work in support of ongoing science and technology research for the U.S. DOE Fusion Energy Sciences Program.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary design authority for MPEX engineering policies and procedures.
• Coordinate system preventative maintenance and upgrade schedules to align with MPEX scientific mission goals.
• Develop maintenance plans to improve reliability and availability of system equipment.
• Strengthen and standardize engineering discipline across teams.
• Perform failure analysis of MPEX system equipment and propose reliability upgrades.
• Create and maintain documentation including operating procedures for system equipment and ancillary systems.
• Work with a multidisciplinary team of research scientists and engineers in the areas of fusion energy research to maintain a high level of scientific productivity.
• Provide occasional shift support for MPEX operations including call-in and off-normal work hours.
• Ensure a safe and efficient work environment and compliance with ESH&Q procedures and programs.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Required Qualifications

• BS degree in electrical engineering, physics or related field with at least 20 years of applicable experience.
• Experience with formal project management protocol for large integrated technology platforms.
• Experience in broadcast, military, medical, or scientific applications.
• Experience in designing, specifying, and procuring system components.
• Experience with EM safety considerations and FCC regulations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in control system theory and techniques.
• 15 years-experience in RF engineering, including high power RF generation and system integration.
• Experience in routine operation of RF systems including high power RF system equipment.
• Experience with RF measurements and the associated test equipment.
• Experience making measurements with test equipment such as oscilloscopes, RF network analyzers, RF power meters and other RF measurement techniques.

This position offers the opportunity to contribute to cutting‑edge fusion energy research at ORNL, supporting critical experimental infrastructure in collaboration with leading scientists and engineers.

Special Requirements

• For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required. Additionally, ORNL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post‑employment background investigation.
• To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.
• If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three‑year residency requirement, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment.

About ORNL

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80‑year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well‑being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on‑site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following:

• Prescription Drug Plan
• Dental Plan
• Vision Plan
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Contributory Pension Plan
• Life Insurance
• Disability Benefits
• Generous Vacation and Holidays
• Parental Leave
• Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Accounts
• Wellness Programs
• Educational Assistance
• Relocation Assistance
• Employee Discounts

Relocation

Moving can be overwhelming and expensive. UT‑Battelle offers a generous relocation package to ease the transition process. Domestic and international relocation assistance is available for certain positions. If invited to interview, be sure to ask your Recruiter (Talent Acquisition Partner) for details.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT‑Battelle is an E‑Verify employer.