Inertial Confinement Fusion Project Engineer

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Livermore (CA); Hybrid; USD 146,000 - 223,000; Full time

Job summary

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) seeks Project Engineers to support Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) experiments at the National Ignition Facility. You will translate science goals into executable plans, coordinate interfaces, and ensure safe, effective execution of ICF campaigns within the Laser Systems Engineering & Operations Division.

The role involves liaison work among experimental teams, physicists, and NIF groups, with potential hybrid work after probation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of engineering principles and systems-level methods.
• Experience with project planning, scheduling, change control, risk management, configuration management, and related tools.
• Strong collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Gather stakeholder requirements and develop, manage, and track detailed experimental plans, schedules, readiness, and execution for ICF campaigns.
• Coordinate multiple simultaneous experimental campaigns and facilitate planning and implementation.
• Identify and close technical, schedule, resource, and readiness gaps across organizations.

Skills

Engineering principles

Project planning

Scheduling

Risk management

Cross-functional collaboration

Verbal and written communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

Project management tools

Job description

• Full-time
• Job Code 2: SES.3 Science & Engineering MTS 3
• Employee Referral Bonus: $1500
• Job Code 1: SES.2 Science & Engineering MTS 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: Anticipated DOE Q clearance (requires U.S. citizenship and a federal background investigation)

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 are seeking Project Engineers to support Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) Science within the Weapon Physics and Design (WPD) program to execute high-quality experiments on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The NIF is the world’s most energetic laser facility, enabling groundbreaking experiments in fusion including reaching fusion ignition and high-energy-density (HED) science.

You will serve as a technical and systems-level integrator among experimental teams, physicists, NIF expert groups, and supporting organizations. This role translates scientific objectives into executable experimental plans, coordinates complex interfaces, identifies and closes technical and schedule gaps, and enables safe and effective execution of NIF experiments. You will work as a liaison between various NIF stakeholder groups and program scientists in all aspects of the experimental lifecycle to enable the successful execution of experiments at the NIF. This position is in the Laser Systems Engineering & Operations Division within the Engineering Directorate.

This position may offer a hybrid schedule, which includes the flexibility to work from home one or moredays per week, after a probationary period. The specifics of the hybrid schedule, including the exact number of days required in the office and virtual work options may vary based on the needs of the team and the organization.

This position will be filled at eitherlevel 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

• Work under limited direction with moderate responsibility, use comprehensive knowledge, and exercise independent judgment to determine methods and recommend improvements within established frameworks and contribute to the fulfillment of project and organizational goals.
• Gather stakeholder requirements and develop, manage, and track detailed experimental plans, schedules, target availability, readiness, and execution for ICF campaigns.
• Coordinate multiple simultaneous experimental campaigns and facilitate planning and implementation.
• Identify and help close technical, schedule, resource, and readiness gaps across Target Fabrication, Diagnostics, NIF operations, the NIF User Office, and Physics organizations.
• Work directly with designers and experimentalists to translate concepts and designs into executable plans and communicate requirements to internal organizations and suppliers.
• Schedule and coordinate technical reviews and design reviews for experimental campaigns
• Track progress, risks, changes, decisions, and corrective actions; communicate status and proposed scope or schedule changes to Campaign Leaders, team members, and management.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities at the SES.3 Level

• Function independently with minimal direction, taking significant responsibility and using advanced knowledge and judgment to establish objectives, prioritize parallel tasks, allocate resources, and collaborate in the development of innovative methods/technology to guide the completion of projects and contribute to the development of organizational goals.
• Independently integrate requirements, interfaces, schedules, risks, resources, and operational constraints into a coherent project execution strategy.
• Build consensus on complex target design specifications and resolve issues involving diagnostic use, target and diagnostic alignment, target fielding, requested laser beam profiles, and related interfaces.
• Identify systemic gaps across organizations and drive actions to closure, escalating risks and decisions when necessary.
• Lead technical reviews, design reviews, and readiness reviews for high-impact shots.
• Provide periodic technical and execution updates to ICF program leadership, Campaign Leaders, and management.
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans for new target-fielding, diagnostic, or other experimental capabilities required by ICF program.
• Provide assessments and recommendations to management on scope, schedule, technical risks, readiness, resource needs, and tradeoffs.
• Represent ICF teams as a primary technical contact in internal and external technical forums, as appropriate.

Qualifications

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, or an equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of engineering principles and systems-level methods for solving moderately complex to complex problems.
• Comprehensive experience with project planning, scheduling, change control, risk management, configuration management, and related project management tools.
• Broad application and experience developing and implementing engineering solutions across a diverse range of technical problems.
• Experience monitoring performance against milestones and deliverables and coordinating corrective actions.
• Ability to coordinate work, dependencies, and goals across multiple simultaneous projects.
• Effective interpersonal, consensus-building, and collaboration skills in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills, including presenting technical information and communicating status, risks, decisions, and recommendations.

Additional Qualifications for SES.3 level

• Advanced knowledge and significant experience in engineering design, analysis, fabrication, testing, systems engineering, process improvement, or configuration management.
• Significant experience leading project teams, technical reviews, or multidisciplinary working groups to accomplish technical goals.
• Advanced verbal and written communication and leadership skills, including the ability to provide assessments and recommendations to management.

Qualifications we Desire

• Master’s degree in engineering or a related technical field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
• Knowledge of engineering hardware design, fabrication, assembly, integration, and testing.
• Experience with systems engineering, requirements management, interface control, or configuration management.
• Experience supporting complex experimental facilities, scientific programs, national laboratories, or large-scale technical projects.
• Familiarity with high-energy-density physics, inertial confinement fusion, laser systems, diagnostics, target systems, or related experimental operations.

Pay Range

$146,340 - $222,564 Annually
$146,340 - $185,544 Annually for the SES.2 level
$175,530 - $222,564 Annually for the SES.3 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-Hybrid

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.

We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

Reasonable Accommodation

Our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please use our online form to submit a request.

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