Senior Principal Scientist

Mission Support & Test Services, LLC (MSTS); United States; On-site; USD 148,000 - 229,000; Full time

Job summary

Mission Support & Test Services, LLC (MSTS) seeks a Senior Principal Scientist to lead the design, development, characterization, and fielding of diagnostic systems for the NNSS stockpile stewardship program, including MPTL deployments at LANL.

Required: a calculus-based STEM PhD with 9+ years or a Bachelor's with 14+ years; willingness to travel; U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain DOE Q clearance; pre-employment checks and background investigation apply.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in calculus-based STEM with 14+ years of relevant experience, or Ph.D. with 9+ years.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, characterization, and fielding of diagnostic systems for NNSS stockpile stewardship.
• Collaborate with project lead on deployment at LANL MPTL and other beamline facilities.

Skills

Plasma diagnostics

Fielding dynamics

Cross-disciplinary problem solving

Scientific leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in calculus-based STEM

Ph.D. in calculus-based STEM

Job description

The Stockpile Experimentation and Operations, Technology and Operations (SEO T&O) Directorate is seeking a highly motivated individual with a strong work ethic and willingness to learn to join the Radiography and Imaging Systems Team within the Dynamic Instruments Section of SEO T&O. Dynamic Instruments is comprised of approximately 40 scientists, engineers, and technicians, and is the core for innovative diagnostic design, simulation, fabrication, characterization, and fielding in support of the NNSS’ stockpile stewardship mission.

The Radiography and Imaging Systems Team is specifically responsible for providing novel optical designs based on scientific requirements, diagnostic development for both visible and radiographic imaging and beam line diagnostics and participating in fielding efforts for stockpile stewardship experiments and other applications across the NNSA complex.

We are looking for a Senior Principal Scientist to collaborate with the project lead on the design, development, characterization, and fielding of diagnostic and scientific systems that will be deployed at the Multi Pulse Test Line (MPTL) at Los Alamos National Laboratory and other beamline facilities.

- Minimum Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in calculus-based technical (STEM) field plus at least 14 years relevant experience. Skill building experience must demonstrate either deeper technical specialization or additional cross-disciplinary knowledge. Graduate research experience may be recognized. Or Ph.D. in calculus-based technical (STEM) plus at least 9 years’ relevant experience

• Familiarity developing and fielding plasma diagnostics and dynamic experiments.
• Capable of creating new scientific knowledge and technological solutions, which cross disparate disciplines.
• Nationally recognized as having a full command of the most advanced scientific theories, principles and policy and for published work.
• Demonstrates expertise in entrepreneurial and business aspects of science and technology.
• Able to develop plans for solving the most difficult problems.
• Executes work in a disciplined manner to demonstrate compliance with laws, codes, orders, and MSTS policies and procedures.
• Must be willing and able to travel as required by the job.
• The primary work location will be at Los Alamos Operations, located in Los Alamos, New Mexico.
• 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 and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship, at least 18 years of age. Reference DOE Order 472.2, “Personnel Security”. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Department of Energy Q Clearance (position will be cleared to this level). Reviews and tests for the absence of any illegal drug as defined in 10 CFR Part 707.4, “Workplace Substance Abuse Programs at DOE Sites,” will be conducted. Applicant selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation, required to participate in subsequent reinvestigations, and must meet the eligibility requirements for access to classified matter. Successful completion of a counterintelligence evaluation, which may include a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination, may also be required. Reference 10 CFR Part 709, “Counterintelligence Evaluation Program.”

MSTS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. MSTS is a background screening, drug-free workplace.

Annual salary range for this position is: $147,804.80 - $229,091.20.

Starting salary is determined based on the position market value, the individual candidate education and experience and internal equity.