Testbed Design Engineering Group Leader

Requisition Id 12399 

 

Overview:  

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is the largest US Department of Energy (DOE) science and energy laboratory, conducting basic and applied research to deliver transformative solutions to compelling problems in energy and security. The Enrichment Systems Engineering Section is seeking a Testbed Design Engineering Group Leader who will support the Enrichment Science and Engineering Division (ESED) within the Isotope Science and Engineering Directorate (ISED) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). ESED serves the nation in two critical areas: advancing enrichment technologies and exploring stable isotope production and applications. The division leverages an elite staff of scientists and engineers with the world-leading capabilities of ORNL to deliver groundbreaking advancements with a variety of applications, from national security to life-saving medical treatments. ESED is the national steward for the research, development, and demonstration of centrifuge technology innovations; advances electromagnetic isotope separations technology; and delivers stable isotopes for medical, industrial, and DOE mission critical applications. The successful candidate will execute these important missions by teaming with ESED’s division director, program managers, and staff to build on a rich history of accomplishments in enrichment science and engineering.

 

As part of our team, you will provide technical leadership and first-line oversight of work assignments that strategically advance enrichment technology testbed design, installation, and upgrade activities. The Testbed Design Engineering Group Leader reports to and works closely with the Enrichment Systems Engineering Section Head to deliver group assignments, advance engineering processes, develop subject matter expertise, and maintain configuration management of testbeds. This position works closely with other ESED Line Managers, project managers, and WBS managers to execute discrete project scope according to approved schedules, budgets, and technical milestones. Additional interfaces will be with principal investigators, engineers, technicians, and other individual stakeholder personnel.

 

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

Leadership:

• Provide technical leadership and guidance to address the mission needs of ESED projects, identifying strategic equipment, software, tools, and processes to promote a high-performance culture.
• Originate and implement design processes which allow the flexibility of safe and efficient R&D efforts complemented with the necessary rigor as projects transition into higher levels of technical maturity.
• Be the technical leader and resource for group members when challenges arise.
• 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.

 

Capability/Staff Development:

• Establish and ensure an open and supportive working environment where staff report issues and concerns without fear of retribution, so that trust permeates the organization.
• Establish an environment where learning never stops, honest mistakes are treated as opportunities to learn, and challenges are welcomed to improve performance.
• Ensure individual performance goals are set, progress evaluated, and timely feedback is provided.
• Identify training and professional development opportunities for staff which support the group’s mission.

 

Project Execution:

• Collaborate with other line and project managers to assemble the best available project teams and technical resources for each design activity.
• Manage group assignments to high performance standards by assessing project execution and being proactive in taking actions to correct or improve performance.
• Work with project leadership and project controls personnel to advise design task durations and schedule logic for existing and future work.
• Deliver design outputs within communicated schedule and budget guidance, ensuring that documentation is accurate, clear, and supports downstream work activities.
• Effectively communicate project status, updates, and design activities to ORNL management and external project sponsor leadership.

 

Technical Contribution:

• Lead activities that advance state of the art enrichment system testbed design, documentation, procurement, installation, and testing personnel.
• Facilitate formal design reviews, by preparing review documents, organizing primary design contributors, and fielding review panel comments to satisfactory resolution.
• Provide techni