Principal Technologist

Mission Support and Test Services; California (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Pension plan

401(k)

Paid time off

Relocation assistance

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Mission Support and Test Services (MSTS) is seeking a Principal Technologist at the Special Technologies Laboratory in Santa Barbara, CA. This role blends hands-on mechanical and electrical work with problem-solving to develop and deploy advanced prototype systems for fast-paced R&D projects.

You will collaborate with scientists and engineers, build and test one-of-a-kind systems, and adapt to evolving requirements while contributing to iterative design improvements and novel fabrication

Qualifications

• Associate degree in a related field with 9+ years of related experience, or a high school diploma with 11+ years.
• Primary work location at STL in Santa Barbara, CA.
• Work schedule negotiable; 5-8, 9-80, or 4-10 weeks.
• Pre-placement physical examination, including a drug screen, and MSTS substance abuse policy.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Assemble, integrate, and modify prototype systems across mechanical, electrical, and sensor components.
• Fabricate custom parts and fixtures in a machine shop, including machining, drilling, tapping and finishing.
• Plan and conduct work involving component fabrication with judgment on techniques and procedures.
• Support field deployment and data collection, including setup, operation, and troubleshooting of sensing systems.
• Create resolutions and improvements across mechanical and electrical systems and adaptable designs.
• Develop new approaches to maintenance, operations, or testing.
• Perform conventional machine shop work and explore novel techniques like 3D printing.

Skills

Mechanical assembly

Electrical systems

Prototyping

Machining

Fabrication

Problem solving

Education

Associate degree

High School diploma

Tools

CNC machining

Machining equipment

Job description

Job Description

Mission Support and Test Services, LLC (MSTS) manages and operates the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Our MISSION is to help ensure the security of the United States and its allies by providing high-hazard experimentation and incident response capabilities through operations, engineering, education, field, and integration services and by acting as environmental stewards to the Site's Cold War legacy. Our VISION is to be the user site of choice for large-scale, high-hazard, national security experimentation, with premier facilities and capabilities below ground, on the ground, and in the air. (See NNSS.gov for our unique capabilities.) Our 2,750+ professional, craft, and support employees are called upon to innovate, collaborate, and deliver on some of the more difficult nuclear security challenges facing the world today.

• MSTS offers our full-time employees highly competitive salaries and benefits packages including medical, dental, and vision; both a pension and a 401k; paid time off and 96 hours of paid holidays; relocation (if located more than 75 miles from work location); tuition assistance and reimbursement; and more.


• MSTS is a limited liability company consisting of Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell), Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (Jacobs), and HII Nuclear Inc.

Responsiblities

The Special Technologies Laboratory (STL) is seeking a highly capable Principal Technologist to support the assembly, fabrication and deployment of advanced prototype systems in a fast-paced R&D environment. This role blends hands-on technical work with problem-solving across mechanical and electrical domains. You will work closely with scientists and engineers to build, modify and test one-of-a-kind systems, often under evolving requirements. Success in this role requires adaptability, craftmanship and curiosity.

Located in Santa Barbara, California, the Special Technologies Laboratory is a key satellite location within the NNSS and is responsive to NNSA nuclear security mission requirements and broader national security objectives. At STL "problem solving is in the DNA," using a diverse team of experts composed of scientists, engineers, technicians, facilities specialists, academic collaborators, and professional support staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Assemble, integrate, and modify prototype systems spanning mechanical, electrical and sensor components in support of R&D efforts.


• Fabricate custom parts and fixtures in a machine shop environment, including machining, drilling, tapping and finishing operations.


• Plans and conducts work, often in the fabrication of components, that requires judgment in the evaluation, selection, application, adaptation, and modification of standard techniques, guidelines, procedures, and criteria.


• Support field deployment and data collection activities, including setup, operation and troubleshooting of sensing systems in operational environments


• Create and ensure effective resolutions and improvements across mechanical and electrical systems, adapting quickly to changing requirements and contributing to iterative design improvements.


• Devises new approaches to maintenance, operations, or testing of mechanical or electronic systems.


• Performs work that involves conventional practices including conventional machine shop techniques, and is able to utilizes novel and emerging techniques, such as mechanical part printing, to meet specialized fabrication needs.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in field related to the position plus at least 9 years' progressive related experience or High School diploma plus 11 years' progressive related experience.


• The primary work location will be at the Special Technologies Laboratory (STL) located in Santa Barbara, CA.


• Work schedule for this position will be negotiated with the supervisor; employees can work 5-8, 9-80, or 4-10 work-weeks.


• Pre-placement physical examination, which includes a drug screen, is required. MSTS maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing.


• Must possess a valid driver's license.

MSTS is required by DOE directive to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants offered employment with MSTS are also subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment. In addition, Applicants for employment must be able to obtain