R&D Manager 4

Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nuclear Systems Group (NEN-5) within the Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation (NEN) Division is seeking a Group Leader to provide strategic leadership and business management of approximately 30 employees with an annual budget of $12M. The group delivers design, modeling, and software development solutions to critical national security needs.

The role emphasizes building strong teams, promoting a safety culture, coordinating across divisions, and guiding long‑term research directions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or physical science with 8+ years related experience.
• Experience leading technical teams and managing budgets.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Q clearance.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and business management for ~30 staff with a $12M budget.
• Develop and sustain teams, coordinate inter‑team collaboration.
• Set goals for long‑term sustainability and expanded research directions.
• Serve on the Division management team to shape strategic priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Strategic planning

People management

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in engineering or physical science

Job description

What You Will Do

The Nuclear Systems Group (NEN-5) within the Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation (NEN) Division is seeking a Group Leader who will provide strategic leadership and business management of approximately 30 employees with an annual budget of $12 M. The group provides technical design, systems analysis and software development solutions that meet national security needs by addressing critical risks, supporting strategic decision‑making, enhancing safeguards, and countering emerging threats. NEN‑5 conducts modeling, simulation, and implementation of technical solutions across these domains.

• Design and testing support for special purpose reactors for small reactor applications including the development of advanced multi‑physics computational methodologies.
• Weapons stockpile modeling and analysis supporting strategic decision making for the nuclear weapons stockpile and NNSA Complex.
• Develop software applications to support material accountancy activities, safeguards and nonproliferation data analysis and business systems.
• Technical analysis of proliferation and terrorism risks to inform security policies and practices for materials in nuclear fuel cycles.

You Will

• Embody and actively promote a robust safety and security culture, continuous learning, and questioning attitude for the group and collaborators.
• Prioritize and sustain a respectful, and positive group culture.
• Develop effective teams, coordinate inter‑team collaboration, and identify and address emergent personnel issues.
• Provide leadership in updating and implementing the goals aimed at long‑term sustainability and expanded research directions.
• Develop a resilient and capable workforce to maintain and grow NEN‑5 leadership in key nuclear system domains.
• Serve as part of the NEN Division management team, collaborating to set strategic direction and priorities for the Division.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements

Leadership

• Experience recruiting, mentoring, developing, and supervising technical staff.
• Experience facilitating timely and high‑quality technical work conducted by diverse teams at all career levels.
• Demonstrated ability to develop an organizational strategy and integrate work across multiple disciplines.
• History of active participation in business management such as tracking funding and understanding programmatic objectives.
• Ability to proactively engage a group or team to achieve technical or operational objectives.

Safety and Security

• Record of commitment to safety, security, and regulatory compliance in the workplace.
• Demonstrated ability to foster a learning safety and security culture.

Collaboration and Communication

• Excellent personnel management skills, including demonstrated experience leading technical teams and evidence of commitment to teamwork, professional development, encouraging open communications, and resolving conflicts among personnel.
• Demonstrated effective written and oral communication skills including professional communication, and publishing technical reports or journal articles.

Technical Competence

• Demonstrated technical expertise in a technical discipline relevant to the group's capabilities and missions.
• Ability to gain sufficient working knowledge of the range of the group's technical activities to serve as an ambassador and advocate for the group with other line organizations and program offices.
• Experience in leadership of technical projects, programs, teams, or other organizations as demonstrated by successful planning, management, and delivery.

Clearance

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Q clearance.

Education and Experience

Position requires a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution in engineering or physical science discipline plus 8 years related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience building collaborative relationships across organizational boundaries and technical disciplines.
• Experience proposing, developing, and sustaining research programs.
• Demonstrated experience working with U.S. Government stakeholders (e.g., NNSA, DOE‑NE, DOD, NASA, and commercial partners) and partnering with LANL program offices.
• Knowledge of classification and export control guidance in one or more nuclear system domains of the Group.
• Advanced Engineering or Physical Science degree.
• Active Q Clearance.
• Active SCI Clearance or ability to obtain one.

Note to Applicants

Along with your resume, please submit a cover letter that specifically addresses each job requirement.

Work Location

The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.

Position Commitment

Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year.

Eligibility Restrictions

Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China—including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau—as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents (“green card” holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Where You Will Work

Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:

• PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
• Dental and vision insurance
• Free basic life and disability insurance
• Paid childbirth and parental leave
• Award‑winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
• Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
• Onsite gyms and wellness programs
• Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)

Additional Details

Directive 206.2 – Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.

Clearance

Q clearance required. Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter.

• Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 for additional information.

New‑Employment Drug Test

The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new‑employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre‑offer.

Regular Position

Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular‑status positions are converted to regular status.

Internal Applicants

Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.

Incentive Compensation Program

Position is eligible to participate in the Triad Incentive Compensation Program. You must be in an eligible position for a minimum of 3 months, before July 1st and remain in an eligible position as of the end of the fiscal year, September 30th. The annual distribution is prorated based on the number of months in the eligible position.

Equal Opportunity

Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to [e-mail] or call (505)-__-6947.