W80-5 Engineering Group Leader - Active Security Clearance Required

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Livermore (CA); Hybrid; USD 227,000 - 346,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LI-Hybrid

Flexible schedules

Job summary

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, located in Livermore, CA, seeks a W80-5 Engineering Group Leader responsible for leading a professional team in the W80-5 warhead development program. You will oversee engineering design, project management, certification, qualification, and production support within the DTED and WTE programs.

Hybrid work options may apply; occasional in-person and remote work is possible.

Qualifications

• Active DOE Q-level clearance or Top Secret clearance at hire.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Significant experience with design engineering, NSE processes, certification and qualification work.
• Subject matter knowledge of nuclear warhead engineering, systems, and design.
• Experience with project management tools and techniques including planning, scheduling, cost estimating, and scope management.
• Strong communication, facilitation, negotiation, and collaboration skills to interact with senior management and sponsors.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and direct group personnel; participate in performance reviews and salary processes.
• Recruit, hire, and onboard staff to meet program staffing needs for the W80-5.
• Provide safety and security leadership and collaborate with project principals on work assignments.
• Uphold DTED and LLNL mission, vision, and values through W80-5 leadership.
• Lead design reviews to ensure technical excellence and workforce quality.
• Monitor progress to meet milestones; implement corrective actions as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Engineering knowledge

Nuclear warhead design

Communication

Stakeholder collaboration

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Master’s degree in Engineering

PhD in Engineering

Job description

W80-5 Engineering Group Leader - Active Security Clearance Required

Mid-Senior Level | Full-time
Engineering | Livermore, CA | 08/26/2026
Reference #: REF8769W
Job Code: SEL.4 Science & Engineering TSL 4 / SEL.5 Science & Engineering TSL 5
Organization: Engineering
Position Type: Career Indefinite
Security Clearance: Active DOE Q clearance (or active Top Secret clearance)
Drug Test: Required for external applicant(s) selected for this position (includes testing for use of marijuana)
Medical Exam: A job-related pre-placement medical examination may be required

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has turned bold ideas into world-changing impact advancing science and technology to strengthen U.S. security and promote global stability.

Our mission spans four critical national security areas nuclear deterrence, threat preparedness, energy security, and multi-domain defense empowering teams to take on the toughest challenges of today and tomorrow. With a culture built on innovation and operational excellence, LLNL is a place where your expertise can make a real impact.

Job Description

We have an opening for a W80-5 Engineering Group Leader with responsibility for leading a group of professional and technical personnel in the execution of the W80-5 warhead development program. Your team will provide a combination of engineering design, project management, certification, qualification, and support to production agencies for the W80-5 nuclear warhead. This position is in the Defense Technologies Engineering Division (DTED), supporting the Weapon Technologies and Engineering (WTE) Program.

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.

This position will be filled at eitherlevel 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.

In this role you will

• Supervise, provide technical and administrative direction, guidance, support, mentoring, coaching, and promote teamwork for group personnel. Participate in performance reviews, ranking, and salary management processes.
• Recruit, hire, and onboard new staff as needed to meet programmatic staffing needs for the W80-5.
• Provide technical, safety, and security leadership to Group personnel and activities and collaborate with project principals and group personnel in defining employee work assignments.
• Foster and uphold the mission, vision, and values of DTED and LLNL through leadership of W80-5 personnel.
• Lead and engage in thoughtful engineering design reviews to ensure the technical excellence of our designs and our workforce.
• Monitor performance required to meet programmatic milestones and deliverables and lead corrective actions where necessary.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SEL.5 level

• Influence strategic technical decisions made by senior management and external stakeholders based on nuclear weapon design expertise.
• Mentor staff across the organization, including other mentors. Advise across the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) as an expert in weapon design engineering, 6.X lifecycle processes, Production Agencies (PAs), Product Realization Teams (PRTs), and product realization, certification, and qualification work.
• Serve as an organizational spokesperson on behalf of Laboratory management and/or peers in the NSE representing the Laboratory in NEP design and project engineering.

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 field, or equivalent level of education and related experience.
• Significant experience with design engineering, NSE product realization processes and stakeholders, certification, and qualification work.
• Subject matter knowledge of nuclear warhead engineering, systems, and design.
• Expertise with project management tools and techniques, including work planning, scheduling, cost estimating, analyzing, and managing scope and budgets.
• Expert communication, facilitation, negotiation, and collaboration skills, necessary to present to, explain to, and advise senior management and/or external sponsors.
• Ability to promote and maintain productive relationships across directorates, with other laboratories and NSE partner sites, and with personnel from external entities.
• Effective leadership, interpersonal, organizational, and supervisory skills to lead personnel, write performance appraisals, and actively participate in ranking and hiring activities.

Additional qualifications at the SEL.5 level

• Accomplished record in weapon design and product realization.
• Expert communication, facilitation, and collaboration skills necessary to effectively present, explain, influence, and advise senior management and external sponsors.
• Extensive experience and expert weapon design engineering knowledge to foster advancements that may have impact beyond the Laboratory and the Nuclear Security Enterprise.

Qualifications We Desire

• Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering.
• Broad knowledge of Laboratory policies and practices and applicable NNSA orders.

Pay Range

$227,430 - $346,140 Annually
$227,430 - $288,396 Annually for the SEL.4 level
$272,970 - $346,140 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.

Additional Information

#LI-Hybrid

Position Information

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

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2026Best 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.

Wireless and Medical Devices

Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the useand/or possession ofmobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area whereyou are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile devicein your possession. This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.

Ifyou useamedical device, whichpairs with a mobile device,you must still follow the rules concerningthe mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas. Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities requireseparate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.

Pre-Placement Medical Exam

A job related pre-placement medical examination may be required.

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.

We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitlesjob applicants, employees, and non-employee workers to be notified of what personal information LLNL collects and for what purpose. The Employee Privacy Notice can be accessed here .

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