Associate Program Leader for Weapons Nonproliferation Active Clearance Required
Livermore, CA - USA
Job Summary
We have an opening for an Associate Program Leader (APL) for Weapons Nonproliferation (WN) in the Nonproliferation Research and Development (NPRD) this role you will support NPRDs mission to perform innovative research that develops forefront capabilities and expertise to detect foreign nuclear weapons development and testing verify arms control and nonproliferation agreements counter nuclear proliferation and terrorism and respond to nuclear incidents.
The Weapons Nonproliferation program area consists of a multi-disciplinary team that utilizes expertise in nuclear weapons design production and testing to enable more effective detection location and characterization of foreign nuclear weapons production activities. This program area also involves developing U.S. capabilities for independent monitoring of foreign nuclear weapons stockpiles and related activities such as assembly transportation storage dismantlement and delivery system integration in support of warfighting intelligence and nonproliferation missions targeting vertical addition this program area ensures that technical competencies relevant to foreign nuclear weapons development are sufficient for future nonproliferation challenges.
As the APL for WN you will be responsible for staffing and mentoring ensuring consistency and quality and enabling delivery of technical products across the WN portfolio. You will work closely with technical leads across NPRD and play a key role in setting program strategy and direction prioritizing resources to develop new capabilities and reporting progress and milestones. The APL for WN will also work with relevant APLs in the Space Science and Security Program to facilitate development of technologies suitable for integration into space monitoring systems. As part of the NPRD leadership team you will work with the Program Leader and the other APLs to enable and sustain a culture of collaboration and innovation throughout the program.
This position is within the Global Security Principal Directorates Nuclear Threat Reduction (N) Program and will programmatically report to the Program Leader (PL) for NP. While some funding for sponsor engagement is available from Global Security for this position most of your assignment will be funded through direct programmatic work.
This position will be filled at either the SEL.4 or SEL.5 level depending on your qualifications. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if you are selected at the higher level.
In this role you will
- Provide expert technical leadership managerial and budgetary oversight and quality assurance for weapons nonproliferation within the NPRD portfolio. Serve as an interface and coordinate with stakeholders both internal and external to LLNL.
- Lead and coordinate a multi-disciplinary team to apply expertise on nuclear weapons design production and testing and to deliver technical products for WN applications. Facilitate integration across NPRD as part of the leadership team fostering collaboration and teamwork.
- Materially contribute as a technical expert within the WN and broader NPRD portfolio. Identify guide and develop new programmatic and research opportunities within the NPRD mission area. Support experimental activities through coordination with internal and external facilities.
- Maintain and ensure appropriate quality standards including reviewing coordinating and approving deliverables publications and presentations. Promote and maintain a positive image of the Laboratory and strong internal/external customer relationships by ensuring project and program objectives and commitments are met successfully.
- Provide career development support to new and existing staff including mentoring on a variety of topics ranging from specific technical areas to project/program management and leadership.
- Support the Program Leader (PL) and the other APLs and technical leads in the development of strategic and program plans annual budgeting and execution while balancing programmatic priorities resource availability staffing security and safety.
- Serve as the primary liaison between WN and the Space Science and Security Program to facilitate development of technologies suitable for integration into space monitoring systems.
- Coordinate WN activities with other relevant activities throughout N Program the Laboratory and the broader Nuclear Security Enterprise both domestically and internationally.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Additional job responsibilities at the SEL.5 level
- Develop and integrate innovative cross-cutting capabilities and advancements for weapons nonproliferation serving multiple programmatic missions.
- Influence strategic vision and implementation plans for senior management and external stakeholders to meet the broad needs of the U.S. nonproliferation mission.
- Champion new processes and cultivate relationships for personnel recruiting training mentoring development and retention. Encourage and enable integration of staff across varying programmatic areas of NPRD N Program and the larger GS and LLNL communities.
- Cultivate mutually beneficial partnerships with external organizations including academic institutions national laboratories government agencies and experimental facilities.
Qualifications :
- This position requires an active DOE Q-level clearance or active Top-Secret clearance issued by another U.S. government agency at the time of hire and must have the ability to obtain and maintain SCI access.
- Masters degree in physical science engineering computer science or related discipline or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
- Subject matter expert knowledge and expert application in one or more areas related to design production and testing of nuclear weapons including nuclear physics/engineering and/or code development.
- Extensive experience in one or more areas related to design production and testing of nuclear weapons including experimental operations involving highly complex field work.
- Subject matter expert knowledge of operational applications of foreign weapons production detection to problems of national and international concern.
- Highly advanced leadership communication and team-building skills to develop and nurture effective relationships work effectively with partners at other organizations and laboratories across multiple technical disciplines and program functions lead collaborative multi-disciplinary teams and represent NPRD/WN activities to internal and external sponsor stakeholders and all levels of management.
- Substantial experience managing multiple projects of evolving and varying priority including advanced delegation skills.
- Demonstrated ability to foster an effective environment for teams to achieve programmatic and institutional goals.
- Significant experience cultivating successful and productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Additional qualifications at the SEL.5 level
- Ph.D in physical science engineering computer science or related discipline or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
- Expert knowledge of nuclear weapons production and experience as a nuclear weapons development subject-matter expert and practitioner.
- Expert knowledge and extensive experience in detection instrumentation and characterization techniques with application to the nuclear weapons nonproliferation mission.
- Extensive experience and ability to lead assessments and analyses of foreign nuclear weapons production concerns and threats.
- Expert ability and extensive experience to develop innovative concepts and to provide leadership management technical vision and strategic planning for weapons nonproliferation activities.
- Demonstrated ability to establish and enable opportunities for integration collaboration and program development with the internal LLNL Science and Technology community as well as the broad external Science and Technology community in support of the nonproliferation mission.
- Expert-level leadership and communication skills to provide guidance and support for senior management decisions and planning processes.
Desired Qualifications
- Experience engaging in work at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) with a strong understanding of site policies and procedures.
- Knowledge of current NPRD experimental activities at the NNSS.
- Familiarity with LLNLs mission values and operational procedures.
Pay Range
$227430 - $346140 Annually
$227430 - $288396 Annually for the SEL.4 level
$272970 - $346140 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 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 :
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
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 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. Also you must have the ability to obtain and maintain Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access. Please note that your current active Q or Top Secret clearance with DOE or another agency does not guarantee DOE SCI access approval; if you are denied access you may be subject to reinvestigation of your existing Q or Top Secret Clearance.
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
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