Maintenance Engineering Lead

We are seeking a dynamic and accomplished leader to join our team as the Maintenance Engineering Lead within the National Ignition Facility and Photon Sciences (NIF&PS) this pivotal role you will provide both technical leadership and team management for the engineering maintenance reliability and sustainment of specialized optics processing systems and supporting infrastructure within the Optics Materials Science & Technology (OMST) organization. You will collaborate closely with a diverse group of engineers technicians designers craft personnel operations staff project managers and vendors to drive innovation and ensure the reliable performance of critical OMST systems that support world-class optics processing capabilities. This position is part of the Laser Systems Engineering & Operations (LSEO) Division within the Engineering Directorate and offers the opportunity to work at the forefront of large-scale high-impact scientific and national security mission support.

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

In this role 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.
• Provide technical mentorship and leadership to multidisciplinary teams supporting OMST facilities infrastructure and specialized optics processing systems.
• Establish maintain and ensure quality standards for project deliverables and guide project teams to execute the process in accordance with customer funding facility requirements and integration expectations.
• Oversee hardware and system design enhancements upgrades and modifications for OMST equipment and infrastructure ensuring solutions meet evolving programmatic and operational requirements throughout the systems lifecycle.
• Provide input to the management team on solutions that enhance the reliability maintainability and productivity of OMST equipment and systems.
• Lead guide and direct teams in the design prototyping testing commissioning and sustainment of new and upgraded OMST equipment and systems.
• Assess strategic technical needs and lead strategic initiatives to develop and implement new engineering maintenance and reliability methodologies including recommending process improvements serving as subject matter expert and providing technical advice.
• Design and execute studies tests or experiments to further strengthen OMST system capabilities reliability and performance using highly advanced principles theories and concepts.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive design documentation maintenance procedures operating instructions calibration protocols and training materials.
• Troubleshoot highly complex technical issues and resolve highly complex problems with support from subject matter experts close problem logs and provide off-shift support for critical operations as needed.
• Champion a culture of safety ensuring all activities are performed in accordance with the highest standards of personnel and facility safety as well as relevant ES&H security and business policies.
• 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 Mechanical Engineering Electrical Engineering Physics or a closely related technical field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Demonstrated leadership skills with a track record of successfully managing and guiding multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Subject matter expert knowledge and significant experience with highly complex industrial manufacturing facility or process systems including maintenance upgrades controls and system integration.
• Significant experience in systems engineering reliability engineering equipment sustainment or maintenance engineering including the use of computer-based control monitoring or data acquisition systems.
• Proven ability to analyze and interpret highly complex technical data manage multiple projects and set priorities effectively.
• Expert verbal and written communication facilitation and interpersonal skills enabling effective collaboration technical presentations and the ability to provide clear advice to management.
• Recognized subject matter expertise knowledge and experience in the design operation sustainment or upgrade of highly complex technical systems or infrastructure with the ability to lead the application and development of highly advanced associated principles theories and concepts.
• Extensive experience conducting technical evaluations tests or experiments in complex research industrial or production environments and/or supporting large-scale system operations maintenance or production.
• Expert level collaboration and negotiation skills necessary to explain influence and advise all levels of technical staff program management and/or external stakeholders.

Qualifications We Desire

• Graduate degree (MS or Ph.D.) in Mechanical Engineering Electrical Engineering Physics or equivalent advanced knowledge.
• Experience supporting large-scale facility operations specialized manufacturing systems optics processing systems or mission-critical infrastructure.
• Familiarity with cleanliness-controlled safety-conscious or high-consequence operational environments.

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

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  Remote Work :

  No

  
  

  Employment Type :

  Full-time