Production Engineer

Requisition Id 16193 

­­Overview:  

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking a Production Engineer for our world class radioisotope production program. Supporting the largest radioisotope production and research portfolio within the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science for Isotope R&D and Production, this position will grant you the opportunity to work with rare nuclear materials and ensure the safe and effective execution of nuclear materials processing within nuclear and radiological facilities.

 

This position resides within the Isotope Processing and Manufacturing Division (IPMD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). IPMD is focused on the reliable delivery of radioisotope products to reach quality standards. This work is performed within the unique facilities at ORNL, including the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), and several radiological and nuclear facilities throughout the ORNL campus containing shielded hot cells and gloveboxes.

 

The Production Engineering role is essential to improving system reliability, optimizing production efficiency, and implementing effective risk‑management strategies, all while adhering to organizational standards and meeting stringent customer requirements. The primary responsibility of this position is to support the production of californium-252 (Cf‑252). Work may be performed in a variety of radiological environments, including heavily shielded hot cells, glove boxes, fume hoods, chemical laboratories. Success in this role requires a solid foundation in radiochemistry and hands‑on experience with unit operations such as solvent extraction, ion exchange, dissolution, and precipitation‑filtration for the preparation of target isotopes.

 

Key Responsibilities:

• Production Engineering and Development: Lead the operation, maintenance, and advancement of manufacturing processes. Collaborate with R&D staff to provide valuable operational insights and feedback, managing process variables to uphold product quality. Utilize Lean Six Sigma methodologies to maintain control charts and develop thorough process documentation that defines the chemical processing parameters, operational steps, and associated equipment required for product manufacturing.
• Technical Support and Compliance: Develop and maintain detailed operating procedures and product travelers to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient operation of systems and subsystems. Rigorously follow all program‑specific quality requirements and facility compliance standards.
  • Oversee preparation of equipment and materials for scheduled work, monitor operational progress, and troubleshoot issues to maintain process continuity. Analyze samples and run data to verify proper results and provide technical support for equipment cleanup and waste disposal activities.
  • Operations may involve intervals of high operational demand, and due to continuous operations 24/7 schedule, occasional support during non‑standard hours may be required.
• Equipment and Maintenance: Formulate procedures and plans in partnership with systems engineers and maintenance teams. Provide technical expertise during corrective maintenance activities and post‑maintenance evaluations to ensure equipment performance and reliability. Support systems engineers and maintenance teams by troubleshooting and guiding the operation of processing equipment to maintain safe and efficient performance. Additionally, it contributes to equipment design efforts by offering input on new or upgraded systems when appropriate.
• Training: Collaborate with training specialists to create comprehensive training materials, leveraging your expertise to enrich technical knowledge through on-the-job training programs.
• Quality Control and Improvement: Collaborate closely with the QA/QC team to identify and resolve non‑conformities. Regularly analyze post‑production quality data against program requirements, proactively identifying areas where processes may need improvement or innovation and monitoring for indications of process drift.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning actions, priorities, and interactions with the core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Foster a respectful and inclusive workplace by promoting equal opportunity, supporting effective collaboration, and aligning shared measures of success.

 

Basic Qualifications:

• BS degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field, from an accredited instit