Flight Test Mission Engineer

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Livermore (CA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 236,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site

Flexible schedules

Job summary

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, CA, is seeking a Mission Execution Engineer to support the Flight Test Group with rapid development of in-field assets such as autonomous rafts, UAS, and camera systems. You will design, fabricate, test, and troubleshoot mechanical-electrical systems, while driving process improvements to support deployment and recovery of mission-critical assets.

This full-time on-site role requires travel and a DOE Q clearance; you will collaborate across

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• Experience developing program plans, schedules, milestones, and deliverables.
• Ability to coordinate roles, responsibilities, resources, and priorities across multiple organizations.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain DOE Q clearance.

Responsibilities

• Support mission operations multiple times each year, with travel 25%–45%, including deployments.
• Coordinate and contribute across LIDSS disciplines to align people, equipment, and schedules.
• Serve as decision support during missions and escalate issues as needed.
• Provide mission readiness assessments and communicate risk levels to sponsors.
• Ensure equipment planning, shipping, and field readiness in collaboration with Field Lead.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Electrical engineering

Project planning

Cross-functional coordination

Sponsor relationships

Mission execution

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Job description

Mid-Senior Level | Full-time
Engineering | Livermore, CA | 09/03/2026
Reference #: REF8812G
Job Code: TSS.3 Technical Services & Ops MTS 3 / TSS.4 Technical Services & Ops MTS 4
Organization: Engineering
Position Type: Career Indefinite
Security Clearance: Anticipated DOE Q clearance (requires U.S. citizenship and a federal background investigation)
Drug Test: Required for external applicant(s) selected for this position (includes testing for use of marijuana)
Medical Exam: A job-related pre-placement medical examination may be required

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 aMission Execution Engineerto support the Flight Test Group. The Flight Test Group is a fast-paced, cross-disciplinary team that specializes in rapid development of reliable in-field deployable assets including autonomous rafts, UAS, and camera systems. You will be well-rounded with a broad range of knowledge and engineering experience but also have specific experience with mechanical-electrical system design, fabrication, testing, and troubleshooting. You will have a focus on process improvement and design upgrades to support the deployment and recovery of assets used for mission support. This position is in the Defense Technologies Engineering Division (DTED)/Weapon Technologies and Engineering (WTE) Program, supporting the Strategic Deterrence (SD) Principal Directorate.

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

This position will be filled at either level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.

In this role you will

• Support mission operations multiple times each year, with travel expectations of 25% to 45%, including occasional deployments of two to six weeks in remote locations.
• Supports mission planning, coordination, execution tracking, and delivery of mission objectives
• Coordinate and contribute across all LIDSS disciplines (Mission Execution, optics, analysis, development, etc.), ensuring alignment of people, equipment, schedules, and deliverables
• Serves as the decision support and escalation point during missions, ensuring issues are resolved quickly and mission objectives remain on track
• Support sponsor communications by providing mission readiness assessments, including clear communication of readiness status (e.g., Green/Yellow/Red) and associated risks
• Partners closely with the Field Lead to ensure all required equipment is properly planned, shipped, and available in the field, acting as a cross-check for completeness and readiness
• Ensures timely and accurate delivery of data review packages and all other relevant reports and analysis
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the TSS.4 level

• Works directly with sponsors to help them better understand Flight Test capabilities and determine mission deliverables, when necessary.
• Works with sponsors to identify key players, define roles and responsibilities, and coordinate with appropriate personnel to resolve open or lingering issues.
• Develops an in-depth understanding of all technical facets of mission support, ranging from communications systems to ship selection requirements for chartering
• Understands analytical reports and ensures they meet final deliverable requirements.
• Maintains a complete understanding of the various mission types, identifies process improvements, and advocates for funding to develop technical solutions that reduce mission risk.
• Maintains sponsor relationships during off-mission periods to provide support as needed and instill confidence in the team’s ability to support new mission requirements at any time.

Qualifications

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. Citizenship.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Experience developing program plans, schedules, milestones, and deliverables
• Ability to coordinate roles, responsibilities, resources, and priorities across multiple organizations
• Knowledge of budgeting, funding processes, and resource allocation
• Ability to develop a working understanding of technical mission requirements and support systems
• Skill in building and maintaining strong sponsor and customer relationships
• Ability to identify inefficiencies and recommend process improvements to enhance mission or program success

Additional qualifications at the TSS.4 level

• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex programs from initiation through completion
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills, with the ability to address open or lingering issues effectively
• Experience reviewing reports and ensuring final deliverables meet requirements and expectations
• Able to develop repeatable processes and mentor personnel to improve overall group efficiency.

Qualifications We Desire

• PMP Certification
• The ability to maintain a positive attitude in the face of adversity
• Ability to manage changing priorities and support evolving mission requirements
• Experience identifying program risks, developing mitigation strategies, and resolving issues proactively
• Strong problem solving skills with demonstrated ability to analyze complex problems, identify practical solutions, and implement effective courses of action in a timely manner.

Pay Range:

$154,950 - $235,692 Annually

$154,950 - $196,476 Annually for the TSS.3 level
$185,850 - $235,692 Annually for the TSS.4 level

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting; pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage. 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-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 a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance. If you are selected, wewill initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if youmeet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. Also, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing. Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship.

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.

Pre-Placement Medical Exam

A job related pre-placement medical examination may be required.

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