Principal Associate Director (PAD) for Computing

We have an opening for the Principal Associate Director (PAD) for Computing. In this key leadership position you report to the Laboratory Director and are a member of the Laboratorys Senior Leadership Team (SLT). You are responsible for managing the labs computing workforce (currently around 1400 employees) and for enhancing the intellectual vibrancy of computing as well as related disciplines and capabilities at the lab. Together with other lab leaders and stakeholders you will help shape the Laboratorys strategic vision and develop and articulate a strategy for the Principal Directorate in support of the institution. You will manage discretionary R&D resources and sustain relationships with government agencies that fund computing R&D.

LLNL is one of the nations premier institutions in advanced computing and currently home to the worlds fastest computer El Capitan. Work conducted by Computing personnel supports a broad spectrum of programs across missions scientific research and operations and includes information technology data science computational mathematics artificial intelligence software engineering high performance computing and much more.

LLNL is one of the nations premier national laboratories applying leading edge science and technology (S&T) to a broad range of national security missions. LLNL is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) operated by Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS) Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) for the U.S. Department of Energys (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration.

The Laboratorys mission is to perform leading edge scientific research and develop technological innovations to ensure the safety security and reliability of the nations nuclear stockpile; support chemical biological radiological nuclear and explosive threat reduction; improve national and international security; strengthen energy and environmental security; assure U.S. leadership in strategic areas of S&T; and enhance the economic competitiveness of the nation. This mission is enabled by the Laboratorys outstanding scientific and engineering capabilities. Today LLNL has a multidisciplinary workforce of approximately 9000 and an annual budget of more than $3.5 billion.

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.

You will

• Partner with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to create and advance strategies to achieve institutional goals.
• Develop and implement strategies for the sustainment and advancement of the computing discipline and capabilities.
• Maintain close partnerships with key stakeholders in government academia and industry including DOE/NNSA.
• Work with lab leadership to address technical and workforce challenges and opportunities in computing with a particular emphasis on AI data science and emerging or next-generation capabilities.
• Collaborate with the SLT on long-term multidisciplinary initiatives in support of the labs future programmatic needs.
• Oversee the Computing directorate budget consistent with Laboratory and DOE fiscal policies and practices.
• Manage Directorate personnel ensuring an effective system for recruiting hiring managing and developing a high-quality scientific staff.
• Provide oversight and personal commitment to safety security environmental stewardship good business practices compliance and equal opportunity.

Qualifications :

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q/SCI-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Ph.D. in a computing or related discipline or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Extensive senior-level experience leading a large-scale mission-oriented research and development organization.
• Expertise and national visibility in areas of advanced computing and its applications.
• Broad knowledge of the DOE/NNSA Laboratory enterprise.
• Demonstrated success in managing scientific programs projects or organizations and promoting creative contributions to solving complex scientific problems.
• Experience leading and managing a large complex technical organization including hiring processes workforce development resource management and strategic planning.
• Ability to manage technical priorities and balance the need to deliver program milestones while maintaining world-class capabilities in computing.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills necessary to explain present direct negotiate influence and coordinate technical or programmatic activities.
• Extensive experience in effectively balancing complex technical budgetary and personnel priorities to achieve desired results.
• Experience ensuring that standards of safety security environmental stewardship and quality assurance are established and appropriately followed.

Qualifications We Desire

• Broad knowledge of national security policy issues.
• Established contacts with the relevant academic national laboratory industry and government communities.

Pay Range

$521580 - $669864

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-Hybrid 

Position Information

This is an At Will Career Indefinite position open to Laboratory employees and external candidates. This key personnel position requires a commitment from you to serve at least two years in this position.

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.  Also you must have the ability to obtain and maintain Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access.  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.

  Wireless and Medical Devices

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

  If you use a medical device which pairs with a mobile device you must still follow the rules concerning the mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas.  Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities require separate 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.

  How to identify fake job advertisements

  Please be aware of recruitment scams where people or entities are misusing the name of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to post fake job advertisements. LLNL never extends an offer without a personal interview and will never charge a fee for joining our company. All current job openings are displayed on the Career Page under Find Your Job of our website. If you have encountered a job posting or have been approached with a job offer that you suspect may be fraudulent we strongly recommend you do not respond.

  To learn more about recruitment scams:  Employment Opportunity

  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.

  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. 

  California Privacy Notice

  The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitles job 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.

  
  

  Remote Work :

  No

  
  

  Employment Type :

  Full-time