Associate Criticality Safety Engineer

We have an opening for an Associate Criticality Safety Engineer within the Environment Safety and Health (ES&H) Directorate. You will contribute to the design development and testing of nuclear equipment and systems for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) operations with fissionable materials.  You will also contribute to projects and task assigned to LLNL supporting the Department of Energy (DOE) Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP). This position is in the Nuclear Criticality Safety Division (NCSD).

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. 

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

You will 

• Assist with criticality safety evaluations in conformance with DOE-STD-3007 and LLNL administrative procedures and support the review of new or proposed changes to existing equipment or operating procedures.
• Perform walk-through inspections and assist with basic annual reviews of operations and work authorization/work control documents and support the review of safety procedures and documents for consistency with criticality safety evaluations and adequate implementation of criticality safety controls.
• Perform technical/scientific assignments of limited complexity using established methods and procedures under general direction and provide technical support to engineers scientists and facility staff as a member of a team in scientific research and development projects and/or ongoing operations.
• Gather organize and assist in analyzing data and information in support of the work activities and help prepare documents calculations recommendations corrective action documentation designs or related technical work products.
• Contribute to solutions for routine or limited-complexity problems using standard techniques and established practices supporting project and organizational goals.
• Travel to the Nevada National Security Sites as needed.
• Conduct Fundamentals of Criticality Safety training courses.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities at the SES.2 level 

• Serve as the principal investigator or technical lead for critical or sub-critical benchmark experiments.
• 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.

Qualifications :

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelors Degree in Nuclear Engineering Physics or closely related scientific discipline (e.g. mechanical/systems engineering nuclear physics particle physics radiochemistry) or equivalent combination of education and prior relevant experience.
• Fundamental knowledge of and some academic internship research or work experience in a nuclear facility nuclear reactor chemical high hazard radiological operation or similarly regulated technical environment.
• Ability to apply fundamental technical analytical and problem-solving skills to assigned work using established methods and procedures.
• Familiarity with personal computers and exposure to radiation transport software such as COG MCNP GEANT or SCALE is desirable.
• Ability to assist with preparing technical documents and calculations following established protocols and guidance.
• Basic familiarity with DOE orders national consensus standards and engineering practices is desirable.
• Proficient verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.
• Ability to document and explain assigned technical or operational work results to supervisors project leads and team members.
• Ability to reprioritize and change programmatic direction depending on emergent requests and in collaboration with a variety of multidisciplinary teams.

Additional qualifications at the SES.2 level 

• Experience handling or performing experiments with fissile material.
• Experience with computer-based design and analysis of experiments with knowledge of modeling in particle transport codes such as COG MCNP GEANT or SCALE.
• Experience conducting training and independently giving guidance to programs.

Qualifications We Desire

• Masters Degree in Nuclear Engineering Physics or closely related scientific discipline or equivalent combination of education and prior relevant experience.
• Experience in criticality safety including preparing criticality safety evaluations and implementation of criticality safety controls.
• Knowledge of LLNLs policies procedures and practices.
• Knowledge of and/or experience with DOE STD-3007 and ANSI/ANS-8 Series Consensus Standards.

Pay Range: $121830 - $185544 Annually

$121830 - $154500 Annually at the SES.1 Level

$146340 - $185544 Annually at the SES.2 Level

This is the lowest to highest salary range in good faith we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. 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