Applied Scientist

Company Description

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 an Applied Scientist to support and lead modeling and experimental investigation of radiation effects on nuclear materials. In this role, you will be a key member of an interdisciplinary team studying the mechanical effects associated with rapid energy deposition from x-rays, neutrons and high-explosive shocks, and how these effects may impact complex mechanical structures.

You will be responsible for integrating experimental data with advanced modeling and simulation workflows to develop and validate physics‑based material models for radiation and shock environments. The role requires hands‑on involvement across the full experimental lifecycle— including the design, build, and fielding of experiments, implementation of advanced diagnostics, data analysis, and communication of results to management, sponsors, and external agencies. You will also travel as necessary to interact with sponsors and customers.

This position is in the Physics Division.

This position requires full‑time on‑site presence due to the nature of the work.

This position will be filled at either level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.

• Integrate experimental and simulation data to develop and validate advanced material models for extreme environments.
• Design, build, and field experimental platforms, collaborating with technical staff and utilizing advanced diagnostics such as time‑resolved X‑ray imaging, photonic Doppler velocimetry, digital image correlation, and other measurement techniques.
• Develop and automate scientific data analysis workflows using Python, MATLAB, and high‑performance computing environments.
• Lead the full experimental lifecycle, including experimental design, experiment execution, data analysis, and communication of results to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Author technical reports, research publications, and present findings at scientific meetings, sponsor briefings, and management reviews.
• Maintain an awareness of technical literature in assigned areas.
• Prepare written analyses and verbal briefings that capture and communicate research results.
• Travel as necessary to interact with sponsors and customers.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Serve as a technical specialist in formal and ad hoc groups assembled to address pressing applications in national security.
• Lead and develop new areas of scientific inquiry.
• Mentor and help develop staff.

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q‑level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• MS in Applied Science, Physics, Materials Science/Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Chemistry, or a closely related field, or the equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Broad experience integrating experimental results with computational modeling and simulation for material model development and validation.
• Broad expertise designing, building, and executing dynamic experiments using advanced diagnostics (e.g., X‑ray imaging, photonic Doppler velocimetry, digital image correlation, high‑speed instrumentation).
• Proficiency with hydrocodes and multiphysics simulation tools (e.g., ARES, ABAQUS, LS‑DYNA, ALE3D) and familiarity with radiation transport and X‑ray modeling techniques.
• Proficient scientific computing and data analysis skills (Python, MATLAB), including workflow automation and version control (e.g.,…