NIF Lead Operator Technical Associate

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Mid-Senior Level | Full-time
Engineering | Livermore, CA | 02/12/2026
Reference #: REF
7918W
Job Code: 337.1 Engineering Technical Assoc
Organization: Engineering
Position Type: Career Indefinite
Security Clearance: Anticipated DOE Q clearance (requires U.S. citizenship and a federal background investigation)
Drug Test: Not applicable
Medical Exam: Not applicable Apply Now

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has turned bold ideas into world-changing impact advancing science and technology to strengthen U.S. security and promote global stability.

Our mission spans four critical national security areas nuclear deterrence, threat preparedness, energy security, and multi-domain defense empowering teams to take on the toughest challenges of today and tomorrow. With a culture built on innovation and operational excellence, LLNL is a place where your expertise can make a real impact.

We have an opening for a NIF Lead Operator Technical Associate to work in our National Ignition Facility (NIF). NIF is a large-scale, complex, and integrated facility comprised of the world’s most powerful and energetic laser. Utilizing a prior technical leadership background, coupled with a high-level of engineering or technical expertise, you will be responsible for establishing scope of work, providing innovative technical expertise, leading laser facility experimental operations, facility and system maintenance, and serving as an operations point of contact to support the National Ignition Facility’s (NIF) Shot Operations organization in the NIF & Photon Sciences Directorate.

Due to the vast and varying types of experiments, NIF is a 24/7 operational facility and requires shift flexibility. This position is in the Laser Systems Engineering & Operations (LSEO) Division, within the Engineering Directorate.

In this role, you will

• Lead a technical team responsible for experimental operations, safety, security, and maintenance within NIF, a high-average power/energy laser system.
• Execute experiments using a Graphical User Interface (GUI) system, ensure facility operations procedures are performed, and review experimental progress in partnership with the Shot Director.
• Independently lead the troubleshooting of complex to highly complex technical problems, make technical recommendations for maintenance and repairs, provide oversight, and report results under general direction using discretion and judgment.
• Participate in complex to highly complex operations and maintenance strategies including providing efficiency and productivity recommendations to management as well as deconflicting operational team efforts, organizing process flow and maintaining task schedules.
• Provide innovative technical expertise to scientists, engineers, and high-level technical personnel on a wide variety of lasers, optics, power conditioning, alignment, diagnostics, software, and industrial controls platforms.
• Respond to and lead all facility off-normal events, coordinating emergency response integration with appropriate medical and fire first-responders, security and management.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelor’s degree in science, electronics, electro-optics, mechanical, or industrial engineering, or related field or equivalent combination of education and extensive relevant technical experience.
• Advanced skills, knowledge, and experience leading operations and maintenance activities in a large-scale, complex, and integrated facility.
• Ability to make frequent decisions using independent discretion and judgment to provide…