Packaging Scientist (NWS 00951)

North Wind Services LLC; Livermore (CA); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401(k) with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Paid leave

Job summary

North Wind Services LLC seeks a Packaging Scientist to support the DOE Packaging Certification program at LLNL in Livermore, CA. The role is hybrid with on-site emphasis and occasional remote work, focusing on SARPs review, course development, and expert guidance in radiation packaging and transport.

Requirements include a relevant bachelor's degree and strong background in radiation modeling, statistics, and software development (Python/C/C++/FORTRAN).

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., physics, statistics, nuclear engineering).
• Experience modeling radiation source terms relevant to SARPs.
• Working knowledge of evaluated nuclear data for transport calculations.
• Ability to develop open-source scientific software using Python and C/C++.
• Strong background in statistics and numerical methods for validation.
• Experience developing and delivering technical course materials.
• Strong technical writing and communication skills.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and collaborate across labs.

Responsibilities

• Review SARPs and perform independent confirmatory analysis of calculations.
• Develop and teach DOE Packaging courses, including review methods.
• Provide expert adjudication on radiation packaging and transport issues.
• Tailor courses to audience needs and emerging industry requirements.
• Identify gaps and contribute proposals for new courses and benchmarks.
• Improve course materials and train new staff on DOE Packaging.
• Perform all other job duties as assigned.

Skills

Radiation modeling

Statistics

Deterministic transport calculations

Open-source software development

Technical writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., physics, nuclear engineering)

Tools

Python

C/C++

FORTRAN

Job description

Location: Livermore, CA
Title: Packaging Scientist (NWS 00951)

THIS POSITION IS SHORT TERM, MAX 1000 HOURS PER CALENDAR YEAR

North Wind Services (NWS) is a high performing, low risk company with a successful history of contributing to their client's missions. NWS executes and manages a wide range of technical services such as environmental investigation and restoration, construction, demolition, radioactive and hazardous waste management, public communication/involvement, information management, health and safety, industrial hygiene, and emergency response/HAZMAT services.

North Wind Services is actively seeking individuals who can contribute to national security within the science, technology, and engineering fields as part of our supplemental labor team at vital federal research and development installations supporting the Department of Energy. Qualified applicants must be a US citizen, at least 18 years of age, and able to meet pre-employment requirements including any required physicals, drug screen, and/or background investigation to satisfy clearance requirements from the Department of Energy.

Successful candidates will be employees of NWS supporting the missions of their federal client, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in Livermore, CA. Pay, benefits, Human Resources, and employment management functions are all provided by NWS. As an NWS employee working at LLNL, within the client's environment, you will complete day-to-day tasks, with direction from technical personnel directly employed by LLNL.

The Environment, Safety and Health (ES&H) Directorate has an opening in the Nuclear Criticality Safety Division within the Nuclear Safety Functional Area for a Packaging Scientist. In this role, the successful candidate will collaborate closely with the Radiation Packaging and Transportation Team Lead to support the Department of Energy (DOE) Packaging Certification Program and related activities within ES&H.

The successful candidate will work with students and subject matter experts across multiple national laboratories to develop technical course materials and support Safety Analysis Report for Packaging (SARP) reviews. The successful candidate will review technical documentation, perform analytical calculations, prepare written reports, and coordinate findings with the Radiation Packaging and Transportation Team Lead. The position is primarily based on site in Livermore and follows a hybrid work model, with occasional opportunities to work remotely. Work will be conducted with minimal supervision in a team focused on nuclear safety, packaging, and transportation.

This position may require schedule flexibility, including overtime, shift work, and/or weekend work, depending on project needs. The selected candidate must successfully complete required on-site training modules to qualify for specific work assignments.

Essential Duties:

• Review Safety Analysis Reports for Packaging (SARPs) and related documentation provided by applicants and perform independent confirmatory analysis of calculations that are in submitted SARPs.
• Develop and teach DOE Packaging courses, including the annual Methods for Reviewing SARPs and Performing Confirmatory Analysis.
• Review existing regulations and standards and provide subject matter expert-level adjudication of radiation packaging and transportation issues that directly address one or more subject areas within each SARP.
• Understand student/audience/customer needs in order to improve existing DOE packaging courses and develop new courses and lecture materials that address emerging needs within the industry.
• Identify gaps and improvements that can be made and assist the Radiation Packaging and Transportation Team Lead in developing proposals to address emerging needs within the industry (e.g., new courses, developing benchmarks to validate SARP calculations, developing new packaging technologies).
• Improve existing course material, and train new employees on how to teach DOE Packaging Certification courses.
• Perform all other job duties as assigned.

Essential Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Bachelor's degree, or current enrollment in a bachelor's degree program, in a relevant discipline (e.g., physics, statistics, computer science, nuclear engineering, or a related field).
• Experience modeling radiation source terms (e.g., (,n) neutron production, fission neutron and gamma emission) relevant to the shielding and criticality subject areas of SARPs.
• Working knowledge of evaluated nuclear data and its use in deterministic and/or Monte Carlo radiation transport calculations.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, verify, and document open-source scientific software for nuclear applications using Python, C/C++, and/or FORTRAN.
• Strong background in statistics, uncertainty quantification, and numerical methods applicable to independent confirmatory analysis and the development of benchmarks to validate SARP calculations.
• Experience developing and delivering technical course materials, including lab curriculum, exams, homework, and recitation sections.
• Demonstrated technical writing and communication skills, including peer-reviewed publications and invited presentations to national laboratories and universities.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and collaborate with subject matter experts across multiple national laboratories and universities.
• Ability to quickly learn SARP regulations and standards (e.g., 10 CFR Part 71, DOE O 460.1) and apply them to technical reviews.

Special Requirements

Pre-Placement Medical Exam: A job-related pre-placement medical examination may be required.

Pre-employment drug test: External applicants selected for this position will be required to pass a post offer, pre-employment drug test.

Anticipated Government Clearance Level: Q (position will be cleared to this level). Applicants who are selected will be subject to a federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matters. In addition, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing. Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold multiple citizenships (U.S. and another country), you may be required to renounce your non-U.S. citizenship before a DOE L or Q clearance will be processed/granted.

North Wind offers a competitive pay and benefits package to include health, life, and disability insurance benefits, 401(k) with company match, generous paid leave, and tuition reimbursement for eligible employees. As a company, we are committed to employee wellness, professional development, and work-life balance. We value safety, reliability, and commitment to our people. For more information about benefits or hiring philosophy, visit the North Wind Career Opportunities Page.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The nature of those accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact our Helpline +1.208.528.8718 or use the Request for Reasonable Accommodation form to get assistance.

North Wind is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic data, religion, or other legally protected status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitles job applicants, employees, and non-employee workers to be notified of what personal information NW collects and for what purpose. The Employee Privacy Notice can be accessed here: https://northwindgrp.com/wp-com .