NIF Alignment Systems Engineering and Maintenance Leader

Company Description

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States’ security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place.

We are dedicated to fostering a culture that values individuals, talents, partnerships, ideas, experiences, and different perspectives, recognizing their importance to the continued success of the Laboratory’s mission.

Pay Range

$182,310 - $277,344 Annually

$182,310 - $231,180 Annually for the SEL.3 level

$218,700 - $277,344 Annually for the SEL.4 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 employee’s 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. 

Job Description

We are seeking a dynamic and accomplished leader to join our team as the Alignment Systems Engineering and Maintenance Leader within the National Ignition Facility and Photon Sciences (NIF&PS) Directorate. In this pivotal role, you will provide both technical leadership and team management for the engineering and maintenance of advanced diagnostic, target, and laser beam alignment systems. You will collaborate closely with a diverse group of physicists, engineers, software developers, designers, and technicians to drive innovation and ensure the reliable performance of critical alignment systems that are integral to NIF’s world-leading laser operations. This position is part of the Laser Systems Engineering & Operations (LSEO) Division within the Engineering Directorate and offers the opportunity to work at the forefront of large-scale, high-impact scientific research.

This position will be filled at either the SEL.3 or SEL.4 level, depending on your qualifications. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if you are selected at the higher level.

In this role you will

• Lead teams, programs, or functions with a technical focus, work independently with minimal direction, use advanced knowledge and team leadership experience, take significant responsibility, and exercise judgment within established policies to monitor workflow, allocate resources, ensure timely completion of projects, and achieve objectives while managing organizational impact.
• Provide technical mentorship and leadership to multidisciplinary teams supporting high-precision alignment hardware for diagnostics, targets, and laser beams.
• Establish, maintain, and ensure quality standards for project deliverables, and guide project teams to execute the process in accordance with sponsor funding and integration expectations.
• Oversee all hardware design enhancements and modifications for alignment systems, ensuring solutions meet evolving program requirements.
• Plan, schedule, and monitor the effectiveness of preventative maintenance and repair activities, ensuring optimal system reliability and availability.
• Analyze system performance, track downtime and response times for critical equipment, and propose innovative solutions to enhance productivity.
• Prepare and present quarterly reliability and availability reports to management, offering actionable insights.
• Lead, guide, and direct teams in the design, prototyping, testing, and commissioning of new alignment equipment and systems.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive design documentation, operational procedures, calibration protocols, and training materials.
• Troubleshoot complex technical issues and resolve complex problems with support from subject matter experts, close problem logs, and provide off-shift support for critical operations as needed.
• Champion a culture of safety, ensuring all activities are performed in accordance with the highest standards of personnel and facility safety, as well as relevant ES&H, security, and business policies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SEL.4 Level

• Lead teams, programs, or functions with a technical focus, operate under consultative direction with substantial authority, use subject matter expertise and significant team leadership experience, and exercise judgment within established policies to monitor workflow, allocate resources, ensure timely completion of projects, independently determine strategies, and achieve objectives while managing orga