Senior Design Physicist - Active Security Clearance Required

Senior Design Physicist - Active Security Clearance 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.

We have an opening for a Design Physicist who is an exceptional physical scientist or engineer with a background in fields such as plasma physics, radiation transport, atomic physics, nuclear physics, physical chemistry, condensed matter physics, computational physics, or hydrodynamics. Our national-security mission encompasses aspects of computational, theoretical, and experimental physics associated with the complex processes of nuclear explosives. Under limited direction, you will be responsible for advancing our understanding and developing methodologies for important national-security challenges. This position is in the Design Physics Division within the Strategic Deterrence Directorate.

This position may offer a hybrid schedule, which includes the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week, after a probationary period. The specifics of the hybrid schedule, including the exact number of days required in the office and virtual work options may vary based on the needs of the team and the organization.

This position will be filled at either level 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:

• Design and provide analysis of complex experiments exploring the physics of nuclear explosives.
• Simulate weapons phenomena and perform weapons assessment and certification tasks using physical models in computer codes. Participate in the assessment of foreign nuclear weapon systems.
• Present and disseminate research results at scientific conferences and in peer-reviewed publications, in both open and classified environments, internal and external to LLNL. Positively represent the Program and Laboratory demonstrating advanced verbal and written skills. Responsibilities may also include interacting with external stakeholders, both at NNSA and across the broader interagency, via offsite assignments.
• Develop expertise in interrelated fields of physics important to weapons assessment and certification.
• Lead independent work conducting applied physics research. Lead and mentor staff as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Lead top quality research in relevant areas of physics and engineering. Problem-solve and make decisions necessary to independently address challenging problems.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities at the SES.4 Level:

• Assess the highly complex physics interactions that take place in a nuclear explosion.
• Design and provide in depth analysis of experiments exploring the physics of nuclear explosives. Define and implement stockpile stewardship for specific weapons systems.
• Simulate weapons phenomena and perform highly advanced weapons assessment and certification tasks using physical models in computer codes.

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.

PhD in physics, engineering, or related field or equivalent combination of education and related experience.

Significant experience conducting applied physics research.

Record of completing outstanding research in relevant areas of physics and engineering.

Significant experience with advanced computer-based design and analysis of experiments.

Aptitude for mastering new fields of physics; a record of creativity, physical insight, and breadth of understanding in advanced applications of complex physical processes.

Significant experience in using advanced computational facilities for applied physics analysis.

Advanced verbal and written communication and presentation skills necessary to author advanced technical and scientific reports, publications, invited papers, and to deliver scientific presentations.

Significant experience working effectively independently and in a multidisciplinary, team-research environment. Demonstrated self-motivation and initiative in addressing challenging problems.

Substantial experience presenting and disseminating highly advanced research results at scientific conferences and peer-reviewed publications, in open and classified environments, internal and external to LLNL. Substantial experience communicating results of work with external sponsors.

Substantial experience developing innovative methods to expand knowledge of interrelated fields of highly advanced physics important to weapons assessment and certification.

Substantial experience setting specific strategies and/or directing multi-disciplinary teams to achieve program goals.

Subject matter expert knowledgeable of highly advanced concepts to include experience and ability to lead independent work conducting applied physics research in one or more of the following fields: plasma physics, radiation transport, atomic physics, nuclear physics, and hydrodynamics.

Significant experience with highly advanced computer-based design and analysis of highly complex experiments.

Extensive experience at the expert level in the development of principles, theories, concepts, and techniques relevant to applied physics research.

Pay Range: $175,530 - $267,060

$175,530 - $222,564 Annually for the SES.3 level $210,630 - $267,060 Annually for the SES.4 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.