Senior R&D Technical Staff

Requisition Id 12848 

Overview:  

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has an extraordinary 80-year history of solving the nation’s biggest problems. We have a dedicated and creative staff of over 6,000 people! Our vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) is to cultivate an environment and practices that foster diversity in ideas and in the people across the organization, as well as to ensure ORNL is recognized as a workplace of choice. These elements are critical for enabling the execution of ORNL’s broader mission to accelerate scientific discoveries and their translation into energy, environment, and security solutions for the nation.

 

We are currently seeking world class scientific staff for the Nuclear Nonproliferation Division (NND) within the National Security Sciences Directorate (NSSD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The NSSD conducts research and development to confront some of the nation’s most difficult security challenges and adversaries. In addition to nuclear nonproliferation, our directorate also houses science and technology (S&T) leadership in cybersecurity and cyber-physical resiliency, data analytics, geospatial S&T, and high-performance computing for sensitive national security missions. We draw on the Laboratory’s outstanding facilities and work closely with leading researchers in other S&T areas at the lab such as nuclear and chemical sciences and engineering, nuclear fuel cycle and reactor systems, modern nuclear instrumentation and controls, applied materials, advanced manufacturing and intelligent systems, biosecurity, transportation, modeling and simulation, and computing. The Nondestructive Measurement Science and Technology (NMST) Group in the Safeguards and Treaty Verification Section focuses on research, development, and application of nondestructive assay systems, data acquisition technologies, and analysis methods that support international safeguards, domestic material control and accounting, operational safety for material processing, waste measurement, and nuclear material security protocols.

 

The NMST Group is seeking a Senior R&D Technical Staff member to develop and apply innovative solutions to complex nuclear material measurement problems both domestically and abroad. This position affords the unique opportunity to work with a group of talented professionals and help establish ORNL as a premier R&D organization by enabling true impact on critical national security missions through a team-based approach and commitment to excellence.

We are seeking an experienced engineer with demonstrated competency and extensive knowledge of NDA (or its components) and how it is applied across the nuclear fuel cycle.

 

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Initiate, lead and perform independent and impactful safeguards-related R&D on an ongoing basis.
• Lead program development activities through sponsor engagements, preparation of proposals and white papers, participation in workshops, etc.
• Develop and implement plans to exploit new opportunities and/or expand existing efforts (i.e.) advanced reactors.
• Ensure all work is carried out safely, securely, and in compliance with ORNL policies, standards, and procedures.
• Exemplify a commitment to excellence in research, operations, and community engagement, and work cooperatively to leverage scientific capabilities across ORNL.
• Establish collaborations, professional society leadership and involvement, and organize technical events to advance the reputation of NMST and the standing of the group as a whole
• Deliver instructional curricula regarding safeguards approaches and application to a variety of audiences.

 

All team members deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

 

Basic Qualifications:

• BS in physics, nuclear engineering, or a related field and eight (8) years of relevant experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Experience leading technical projects and teams as principal investigator.
• Experience developing and deploying safeguards methodologies/NDA equipment in nuclear facilities.
• Experience using and repairing gamma-ray and neutron detectors common to safeguards and security applications. 
• Proven track record and recognition of technical expertise across international organizations.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated knowledge of nuclear fuel cycle and