Nuclear Criticality Safety Research Member

Nuclear Criticality Safety Research Staff Member

• Full-time
• Organization: ESH and Quality
• Category:
  Environmental, Safety & Health
• Job Code 2: SES.
  3 Science & Engineering MTS 3
• Employee Referral Bonus:
  Not applicable
• Job Code 1: SES.
  2 Science & Engineering MTS 2
• Pre-Employment Drug Test:
  Required for external applicant(s) selected for this position (includes testing for use of marijuana)
• Pre-Placement Medical Exam:
  Not applicable
• Security Clearance:
  Anticipated DOE Q clearance (requires U.S. citizenship and a federal background investigation)

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 Nuclear Criticality Safety Research Staff Member in the Nuclear Criticality Safety Division within the Environment, Safety, and Health Directorate. We are seeking creative and flexible individuals who meet the scientific requirements and whose skills are aligned with the research mission of the national Nuclear Criticality Safety Program.

This position requires interaction with professional colleagues inside and outside of the laboratory.

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.

This position is eligible for a hybrid work environment combining on-site presence and the ability to work some days from home.

• Collaborate in the moderately complex to complex design, modeling, and analysis of laboratory critical and subcritical experiments. Evaluate experimental benchmarks for the International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP).
• Collaborate in the development of radiation measurement instrumentation and measurement of radiation fields.
• Design and oversee fabrication of equipment as required.
• Develop experimental procedures as required and guide them through safety and management reviews.
• Qualify as a Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer and assist in performing criticality safety evaluations of laboratory work.
• Publish research results in peer-reviewed scientific or technical journals and present results at external conferences, seminars, and/or technical meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Function as a Principal Investigator for complex critical and subcritical experiments, leading the design, execution, and benchmarking phases of the project.
• Develop proposals for novel projects from existing and new sponsors.
  • Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
  • Bachelor's Degree in Nuclear Engineering, Physics, or closely related scientific discipline or equivalent combination of education and prior relevant experience.
  • Broad experience with radiation transport methods, such as MCNP, SCALE, GEANT, COG, Serpent, OpenMC etc.
  • Comprehensive experience in computational physics and working knowledge of one or more programming languages (Python, FORTRAN, C++, etc).
  • Demonstrated proficient verbal and written communication skills necessary to author technical and scientific reports, proposals, publications and deliver scientific presentations.
  • Ability to work under limited direction as well as in multidisciplinary research teams.
  • Ability to provide moderately complex to complex analyses and develop unique technical solutions.

• Significant experience conducting and analyzing complex experiments involving nuclear material.
• Experience as an ICSBEP user, evaluator, or reviewer.

• Masters or Doctorate in Nuclear Engineering, Physics, or closely related discipline.

$146,340- $185,544

Annually at the SES.
2 Level

$175,530- $222,564 Annually at the SES.
3 Level

This is the lowest to highest salary range in good faith we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. 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.

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

• Included in 2026
  
  Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible schedules (
  * depending on project needs)

This position requires a Department of Energy…