Nuclear Materials Group Leader - NNSS - Active Clearance Required

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Las Vegas (NV); Hybrid; USD 155,100 - 231,120; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedules

Career development opportunities

Inclusive workplace

Health and wellness programs

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking laboratory dedicated to enhancing national security! As a Nuclear Materials Group Leader, you'll lead a talented team in complex project management and engineering design, ensuring safety and operational excellence. This role offers the chance to influence strategic decisions and mentor the next generation of scientists in a collaborative environment. With competitive pay and the potential for hybrid work, this is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact in a vital field. If you're ready to take on this challenge, we invite you to apply and be part of something greater!

Qualifications

• Active DOE Q-level clearance or Top Secret clearance required.
• Significant experience in National Security projects needed.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and strategic direction to a multi-disciplinary team.
• Monitor performance and ensure compliance with safety standards.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Problem Solving

Communication Skills

Technical Expertise in Nuclear Operations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree or PhD in Engineering

Tools

Project Management Tools

Job description

Nuclear Materials Group Leader - NNSS - Active Clearance Required

• Full-time
• Job Code 2: SEL.5 Science & Engineering TSL 5
• Job Code 1: SEL.4 Science & Engineering TSL 4
• Pre-Employment Drug Test: Required for external applicant(s) selected for this position (includes testing for use of marijuana)
• Pre-Placement Medical Exam: A job-related pre-placement medical examination may be required
• Security Clearance: Active DOE Q clearance (or active Top Secret clearance)

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States’ security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place.

We are dedicated to fostering a culture that values individuals, talents, partnerships, ideas, experiences, and different perspectives, recognizing their importance to the continued success of the Laboratory’s mission.

Pay Range for Las Vegas, NV – Nevada National Security Site

$155,100 - $231,120 Annually for the SEL.4 Level
$186,096 - $277,312 Annually for the SEL.5 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.

We have an opening for a Nuclear Materials Group Leader with responsibilities for administratively leading a group of professional and technical personnel to support programmatic activities at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). Your team will provide a combination of engineering design, project management, certification, qualification and support to activities such as subcritical experimental programs, stockpile surveillance, and modernization program certification. This position is an administrative group leader in the Defense Technologies Engineering Division (DTED), within the Engineering Directorate. DTED supports the Strategic Deterrence (SD) Program. This position is in Nevada at the NNSS. As a group leader, your responsibilities will complement your assigned programmatic activities.

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.

Depending on your assignment, this position may offer a hybrid schedule, blending in-person and virtual presence. You may have the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week.

You will

• Provide leadership, supervision, and technical and strategic direction, guidance, and support in accomplishing highly complex project/program goals and objectives to a multi-disciplinary team of technical staff.
• Collaborate with Project Leaders to lead, carry out, and/or coordinate recruiting, hiring, training, career development, and performance and salary management activities as needed to meet programmatic staffing, employee development, and performance related needs, including providing career counseling, mentoring, and coaching, and monitoring employee performance goals.
• Establish project objectives and strategies for technical team, guiding workload planning for multiple projects among group members, assigning work, remaining aware of highly complex technical goals, problems, and solutions; managing many parallel tasks requiring the resolution of conflicting work requirements and the prioritization of tasks to meet pre-determined targets, while also balancing time and budget constraints.
• Foster and uphold the program’s mission, vision, and values through leadership of the Nuclear Material team personnel.
• Monitor performance required to meet programmatic milestones and deliverables, respond to unexpected operational setbacks, and lead and advise on corrective actions when necessary.
• Ensure team compliance with all safety and operational standards, while also making certain that safety related Laboratory and Directorate policies are understood, applied, and followed.
• Lead and engage in thoughtful engineering peer reviews and design reviews to ensure the technical excellence of our designs and our workforce.
• Mentor other personnel.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SEL.5 level

• Determine, build, and deliver strategic planning efforts and succession planning on long range goals.
• Influence strategic technical decisions made by senior management and external customers based on technical expertise.
• Mentor staff across the organization, including other mentors.
• Serve as an organization spokesperson and senior technical expert for Laboratory management and/or as an external advisor for customers and sponsors.

Qualifications

• 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 the time of hire.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical field, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Significant experience working on National Security projects and flexibility to work in different technical areas.
• Subject matter expertise in nuclear facility operations and safety basis documentation.
• Significant leadership experience and demonstrated ability to successfully lead work, and a team with diverse backgrounds, in a technical or scientific environment.
• Advanced level problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop and implement effective solutions for highly complex technical challenges.
• Expert written and verbal communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills to effectively work in a technical team environment, with the demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams, collaborate with diverse stakeholders, advise senior management and/or external sponsors, as well as promote and maintain productive relationships across programs and directorates.
• Advanced level organizational skills, and advanced knowledge and significant experience with project management tools and techniques, including work planning, scheduling, cost estimating, analyzing and managing financial data, and project reporting.

Additional qualifications at the SEL.5 level

• Expert knowledge of, and extensive experience in, weapon related work such as systems engineering, project management, nuclear facility operations and safety basis documentation, and nuclear weapon certification.
• Extensive experience in the leadership of technical projects, project planning, and execution.
• Expert communication, facilitation, and collaboration skills to effectively influence senior management and/or external stakeholders as needed.
• Extensive experience breaking down abstract, high-level requirements to specific technical development approaches and requirements, and outlining project tasks and milestones to meet such requirements.
• Extensive experience leading complex personnel management issues, innovative workforce development activities, and policy initiatives.

Qualifications We Desire

• Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering.
• Advanced knowledge of nuclear weapons complex sites and operations, National Laboratory policies and practices, and applicable NNSA orders.

Position Information

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

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2025 Best 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.

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.

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.