Electromagnetic Sciences & Cognitive Space Applications Group Leader (R&D Manager 4)

Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 171,000 - 295,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Incentive compensation program

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, NM, seeks a senior scientific and engineering leader to head the ISR-2 Electromagnetic Sciences & Cognitive Space Applications Group. The role guides a ~35-person staff with 15 students, directing remote sensing, space-based sensors, and related systems development to meet mission needs.

You will shape strategy, manage research portfolios and workforce, and ensure safety, security, and excellence in program execution while collaborating with sponsors

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and eight years of directly related experience.
• Active Q clearance and SCI required.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage complex programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic vision and organizational development for ISR-2 Group.
• Oversee technical and administrative operations with sponsors and leaders.
• Mentor staff, drive performance management, and workforce planning.

Skills

Leadership

Management

Technical Knowledge

Communication

Safety & Security

Workforce Planning

Education

Bachelor's Degree in a related field

Job description

What You Will Do

The Intelligence & Space Research (ISR) division seeks a highly motivated, dynamic scientific and engineering leader with experience leading complex research and development organizations to lead the ISR-2 Electromagnetic Sciences & Cognitive Space Applications Group! ISR division has been designing, building, and operating ground-, air-, and space-based measurement and detection systems for 60+ years to provide solutions for some of the most challenging scientific and national security problems facing the nation and the world. The ISR-2 Electromagnetic Sciences & Cognitive Space Applications Group is an innovative, vibrant organization in ISR division which develops and applies emerging science and technology for complex remote sensing problems, from ground to space. With approximately 35 full-time staff and 15 students, ISR-2 is composed of scientists and engineers with backgrounds in space physics, nuclear physics, plasma physics, electrical engineering, and related disciplines. They are engaged in pioneering science missions, developing sensors and systems to detect man-made and naturally occurring electromagnetic phenomena, including nuclear detonations.

The ISR-2 Group Leader will be responsible for establishing and executing a strategic vision that positions the organization for future mission success while maintaining excellence in ongoing program execution. This includes assessing and evolving the group's organization, research portfolio, workforce strategy, and technical capabilities to meet future mission needs. You will lead the group's technical and administrative operations; steward its enduring scientific and engineering capabilities; and work closely with ISR-2 leadership, ISR division leadership, program managers, project leaders, and external sponsors to align people and capabilities with mission needs.

The ISR-2 Group Leader will foster a culture of scientific excellence, innovation, safety, security, accountability, and continuous learning. You will develop and sustain a healthy, high-performing workforce across all career stages through mentorship, performance management, succession planning, recruitment and retention, and student and postdoctoral development. You will create opportunities for scientists and engineers to grow as technical leaders and develop sustainable research portfolios. You will be responsible for strategic workforce planning, performance and salary management, staff development and accountability, and recognition of individual and team accomplishments.

As the ISR-2 Group Leader, you will identify and mitigate technical and organizational risk; collaborate with program managers and project leaders to support successful program execution; and provide a safe and secure working environment using the ISR core values supported by Human Performance Improvement (HPI) and Safe Conduct of Research (SCoR) principles.

R&D Manager 4 ($170,600 - $295,400)

• Proven ability to inspire and lead multidisciplinary teams through complex scientific, engineering, operational, and organizational challenges; build effective cross-organizational collaborations; and implement change to improve organizational effectiveness.
• Demonstrated success fostering a creative, entrepreneurial R&D environment and developing scientists and engineers through mentorship, sponsorship, succession planning, and opportunities to grow as technical and organizational leaders and stewards of sustainable research portfolios.
• Proven ability to establish clear expectations, build accountability, navigate conflict, and effectively lead strong technical personalities toward common organizational and mission objectives.

What You Need

Leadership

• Proven ability to inspire and lead multidisciplinary teams through complex scientific, engineering, operational, and organizational challenges; build effective cross-organizational collaborations; and implement change to improve organizational effectiveness.
• Demonstrated success fostering a creative, entrepreneurial R&D environment and developing scientists and engineers through mentorship, sponsorship, succession planning, and opportunities to grow as technical and organizational leaders and stewards of sustainable research portfolios.
• Proven ability to establish clear expectations, build accountability, navigate conflict, and effectively lead strong technical personalities toward common organizational and mission objectives.

Management

• Demonstrated success managing a technical workforce, including workforce planning, recruitment and retention, staff development, performance management, succession planning, and alignment of people and skills with organizational needs.
• Demonstrated experience balancing mission execution, workforce sustainability, capability development, strategic investment, and sponsor expectations in a complex R&D environment.

Technical Knowledge

• Demonstrated technical leadership and experience relevant to one or more of ISR-2's technical areas-including RF and optical remote sensing; ground, airborne, and space-based sensing systems; space communications and cognitive space applications; signature discovery and propagation; algorithm development; and laboratory and field experimentation-with the breadth to lead multidisciplinary experts, assess technical and safety risk, and steward scientific and engineering capabilities.

Communication

• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and active-listening skills, with demonstrated ability to communicate effectively across technical staff, management, programs, sponsors, and other stakeholders.

Safety and Security

• Demonstrated skill, expertise, and success in workforce safety, security, environment, and health, such as through implementing HPI and/or SCoR principles, or equivalent techniques.
• Demonstrated commitment to mission assurance, protection of sensitive information, and responsible execution of national security missions.
• Ability to obtain Q and SCI clearances is required.

Workplace Culture

• Demonstrated ability to foster a respectful, collaborative, accountable, and high-performing workplace where individuals with varied backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can contribute and succeed.

Education/Experience

Position requires a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution and eight years of directly related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to work broadly across a large organization to influence strategy, resolve cross-organizational challenges, and support successful execution of major programs.
• Demonstrated ability to take a concept from low to high TRL to provide insight and advice on maturing promising capabilities.
• Working knowledge of DOE/NNSA, DoD, NASA, and/or other government agencies.
• Demonstrated success developing sponsor relationships, research opportunities, and sustainable technical portfolios - either directly or by developing and enabling technical staff to do so.
• Advanced degree in a relevant science or engineering field is preferred.
• Active Q clearance and SCI.

Physical Requirements

• Physical movement between buildings located primarily within a half-mile radius, which may include movement across uneven and/or inclined ground.
• Physical movement within large interior facility spaces and corridors.
• Direct or peripheral interaction with hardware, equipment, and instruments in office and laboratory environments.

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.

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/SCI

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.

Incentive Compensation Program

Position is eligible to participate in the Triad Incentive Compensation Program. You must be in an eligible position for a minimum of 3 months, before July 1st and remain in an eligible position as of the end of the fiscal year, September 30th. The annual distribution is prorated based on the number of months in the eligible position.

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 disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process.