Controls Software Engineer

We have an opening for a Controls Software Engineer to design implement test deploy and commission front-end and embedded controls software for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) the largest and most energetic laser in the world. The NIF Integrated Computer Control System (ICCS) is a large-scale highly distributed data-driven control system spanning hundreds of front-end processors supervisory servers framework services and hardware interfaces. ICCS directly controls and coordinates laser target-area diagnostic sensor and facility equipment to safely reliably and repeatably execute the more than two million operations required for each NIF experiment. You will work in a multidisciplinary team environment to develop ICCS applications for a unique large-scale experimental physics facility. This position is in the National Ignition Facility Computing (NIFC) Division within the Computing Directorate.

This position offers a hybrid schedule blending in-person and virtual presence. You will have the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week. 

This position will be filled at either the SES.1 or SES.2 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.

You will

• Design implement test deploy commission and maintain controls software used by operators to control NIF equipment while adhering to established design and development conventions.
• Perform software engineering using object-oriented analysis design and programming techniques and actively participate in design and code reviews.
• Execute the full software development lifecycle from requirements definition through implementation manual and automated testing deployment and commissioning.
• Apply configuration management on all development artifacts.
• Develop analyze and troubleshoot software that interfaces directly with hardware devices sensor systems diagnostics control-system infrastructure and vendor-provided APIs.
• Work closely with physicists engineers technicians operations staff and software team members to translate experimental operational and facility requirements into reliable deployed controls software.
• Deliver assigned software scope on schedule to support facility operations commissioning activities and program milestones.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities at the SES.2 level

• Independently collaborate with physicists engineers technicians operations staff and software leads to gather requirements identify dependencies resolve interface questions and support deployed controls applications.
• Provide solutions to moderately complex hardware/software integration problems across distributed controls diagnostics timing data acquisition device coordination and facility operations.
• Contribute to technical direction for assigned controls-software components lead focused design or code review activities.

Qualifications :

• Eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelors degree in computer science computer engineering or a related field or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Experience with object-oriented design and development of multi-threaded and distributed applications in Java C or comparable object-oriented languages.
• Experience implementing algorithms control logic or device-state models
• Skilled in all aspects of software project life cycle: requirements design implementation integration test and deployment.
• Familiarity with software configuration management tools version control systems and defect tracking tools (e.g. Git Jira).
• Ability to effectively manage concurrent technical tasks with competing priorities.
• Experience applying creativity and sound technical judgment to difficult problems.
• Effective interpersonal skills necessary to interact with all levels of personnel with the ability to work independently in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills to prepare present and document technical information.

Additional qualifications at the SES.2 level

• Familiarity with designing developing and deploying software that interfaces with a variety of hardware controls such as motors actuators sensors digitizers and oscilloscopes.
• Broad experience working effectively under limited direction with customers to gather requirements and support deployed applications in a collaborative multidisciplinary team environment.
• Broad experience applying effective analytical and problem-solving skills to moderately complex problems.

Qualifications We Desire

• Masters degree in computer science computer engineering or related field.
• Understanding of computer networking and electrical engineering concepts relevant to sensors actuators instrumentation signal interfaces and industrial control circuits with hands-on experience developing and troubleshooting control systems software that interfaces with laboratory or industrial hardware through network serial fieldbus instrument-control protocols or vendor-specific APIs.
• Experience developing testing or deploying software in Linux-based environments using instrumentation logs protocol analyzers vendor diagnostic tools and measurement equipment to isolate hardware/software interface issues.

Pay Range

$121830 - $154500 Yearly at the SES.1  level

$146340 - $185544 Yearly at the SES.2 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 :

#LI-Hybrid

Position Information

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

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

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• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
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  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. 

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  Remote Work :

  No

  
  

  Employment Type :

  Full-time