Commissioning Startup and Testing Principal Engineer

Mission Support and Test Services, LLC (MSTS) manages and operates the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).  Our MISSION is to help ensure the security of the United States and its allies by providing high-hazard experimentation and incident response capabilities through operations, engineering, education, field, and integration services and by acting as environmental stewards to the Site’s Cold War legacy.  Our VISION is to be the user site of choice for large-scale, high-hazard, national security experimentation, with premier facilities and capabilities below ground, on the ground, and in the air. (See NNSS.gov for our unique capabilities.) Our 2,750+ professional, craft, and support employees are called upon to innovate, collaborate, and deliver on some of the more difficult nuclear security challenges facing the world today.   

• MSTS offers our full-time employees highly competitive salaries and benefits packages including medical, dental, and vision; both a pension and a 401k; paid time off and 96 hours of paid holidays; relocation (if located more than 75 miles from work location); tuition assistance and reimbursement; and more.  
• MSTS is a limited liability company consisting of Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell), Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (Jacobs), and HII Nuclear Inc.

The Infrastructure Directorate is looking to hire two Principal Engineers to be part of its Commissioning Startup and Testing Department. 

The Commissioning Startup and Testing Department serves as a critical link between the construction/installation phase and the operational phase, ensuring that new systems are ready for safe and efficient operation.  The Commissioning Startup and Testing Engineer will be responsible for assisting projects with ensuring all equipment and facilities constructed by Mission Support and Test Services (MSTS), LLC are installed correctly, and they function as expected.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct or lead research; develop and design new instrumentation, equipment, and procedures for testing and solving problems; present papers; and keep abreast of new technological developments, methods or materials while keeping management informed of important new advances.
• Serve as consultant to less experienced engineers, providing practical advice on implementation of solutions for organizational goals.
• Develop project specific startup and commissioning plan.
• Participate in engineering design reviews to support development and adequacy of testing strategies and acceptance criteria. 
• Oversee facility Startup and Integrated System Testing.
• Development of test procedures and test execution plans.
• Coordinate testing schedules with Project Managers.
• Oversee performance of testing providing technical assistance and approvals.
• Integrate record activities to determine adequacy of startup and commissioning efforts.
• Devise solutions to highly complex technical problems of broad scope. Solutions may require resolving conflicting customer expectations and design requirements, utilizing unconventional technology and materials, and cross-disciplinary integration.
• Coordinate complex projects including team members external to MSTS. Focuses on projects of substantial complexity and broad scope, requiring interdisciplinary coordination.
• Interpret and adapt guidelines for specific cases.
• Evaluate processes, procedures, and work instructions to improve performance.
• Prepare work statements for complex subcontracts and procurements, evaluates bids and makes recommendation for awards.
• Provide expertise on operational goals.
• Define customer needs and develops technical proposals.
• Direct the work of contractors and suppliers by ensuring their efforts are integrated and focused on established objectives.
• Ensure team’s processes and deliverables comply with laws, codes, orders, and MSTS policies and procedures.
• Develop and present education or training in applicable discipline.

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) required for Civil, Mechanical and Electrical engineering degrees
  • Or, Calculus-based STEM bachelor’s degree in engineering
  • Or, for Architects, Certification from the National Council or Architectural Registration Board (NCARB)
  • Or Professional Engineer license
• Plus at least 9 years’ relevant experience. Skill building experience must demonstrate either deeper technical specialization or additional cross-disciplinary knowledge; graduate research experience may be recognize
• Previous experience in heavy industrial startup, construction, or capital projects experience within the DOE/NNSA is pre