Controls Engineering and Maintenance Leader

We are seeking a dynamic and accomplished leader to join our team as Controls Engineering and Maintenance Leader within the National Ignition Facility and Photon Sciences (NIF&PS) Directorate.  In this pivotal role you will guide the Controls Engineering & Maintenance group in operations system upgrades reliability engineering and lifecycle sustainment planning.  In this role you will apply your technical expertise and strategic vision to strengthen the foundation of a premier scientific facility.

As the CEM lead you will provide strategic and technical leadership to a multi-disciplinary team responsible for designing upgrading and commissioning specialized controls systems at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).  You will work closely with CEM teams and collaborate with other programs across the NIF&PS directorate to ensure effective planning execution and continuous improvement of engineering and maintenance activities.  In this role you will drive long term sustainment of critical systems lead facility upgrades to meet evolving mission needs and oversee resource allocation and technical direction to maintain and enhance the groups operational excellence.  This position is part of the Laser Systems Engineering & Operations (LSEO) Division within the Engineering Directorate.

This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work.

You will 

• Lead teams programs or functions with a technical focus operate under consultative direction with substantial authority use subject matter expertise and significant team leadership experience and exercise judgment within established policies to monitor workflow allocate resources ensure timely completion of projects independently determine strategies and achieve objectives while managing organizational impact and pursuing actions to achieve long-term goals.
• Monitor the integrity and configuration of instrumentation detection and alarm systems to anticipate the need for maintenance repair or replacement of components due to aging and degradation. Prepare assessments of system logs and problem reports and brief senior management on the results.
• Develop and implement solutions and approaches to highly complex upgrades and issues in support of commissioning facility operations and maintenance using sound engineering judgment in-depth analysis ingenuity and creativity while ensuring compatibility with existing architectures.
• Plan and direct control system changes from concept through detailed design fabrication testing and field implementation coordinating work across fabrication technicians electrical technicians electrical designers controls engineers and PLC based safety system engineers.
• Prepare and review advanced instrumentation and safety system designs drawings and other documents to describe and provide solutions for highly complex design requirements and engineering problems while ensuring compliance with technical criteria schedules and deliverables.
• Support 24/7 facility operations for assigned systems including rapid response to emergent issues and leadership of after-hours troubleshooting repair and recovery activities to minimize operational downtime and impact to mission.
• Represent the organization through influencing and contributing strategic technical advice and providing subject matter expertise in the analysis sustainment design and maintenance of highly complex systems and components.
• Lead multi-disciplinary teams in developing new ideas modifying approaches and providing highly advanced technical analysis and engineering solutions to successfully maintain the operability of assigned systems including troubleshooting repair modification and operation.
• Provide highly advanced technical guidance and mentorship for early career engineers to facilitate knowledge transfer foster a collaborative environment and support their professional growth within the team.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications :

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelors degree in electrical electronics or instrumentation and controls engineering or related technical field or equivalent combination of education and related technical experience.
• Expert-level knowledge of instrumentation detection or alarm engineering standards and practices.
• Subject matter experience with and advanced level knowledge and skills in the design modification and evaluation of control systems for buildings and facilities.
• Expert-level knowledge of and demonstrated proficiency and experience in developing or reviewing calculations specifications drawings and sketches; determining design criteria for modifications renovations and upgrades on small projects and on occasional larger projects.
• Expert verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively interact and collaborate in a team environment including the ability to identify develop and effectively communicate recommendations to facility and senior management regarding facility and safety equipment modifications.
• Demonstrated proficiency and experience effectively developing work process documents and safety documentation.
• Demonstrated experience working in a multi-disciplinary team environment which includes scientists engineers and technicians with demonstrated ability to effectively manage oversee and deliver multiple projects on budget and schedule often with multiple parallel tasks that require the resolution of conflicting work requirements and prioritization of tasks toward predetermined long-range targets.
• Significant experience with and demonstrated ability to successfully lead and motivate a team in achieving project objectives which include solving highly complex problems defining and verifying requirements and resources and applying project management expertise.
• Expert communication facilitation and collaboration interpersonal and negotiation skills necessary to effectively present explain provide strategic technical advice build consensus and influence senior management external sponsors regulators reviewers and stakeholders.

Qualifications We Desire

• Masters degree in electrical electronics or instrumentation and controls engineering or related technical field.
• Professional Engineering Registration in Electrical or Controls Engineering in California or reciprocity from another state within twelve months.
• Significant experience working with electrical systems as well as significant experience with control systems.
• Proficiency in CAD software (e.g. AutoCAD Creo).

Pay Range

$227430 - $288396 Annually

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 employees 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-Onsite

Position Information

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

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

• Included in 2026 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Our values - visit  Clearance

  This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance.  If you are selected we will initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if you meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. Also all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing.  Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship. 

  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.

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  Remote Work :

  No

  
  

  Employment Type :

  Full-time