SEM​/FIB Laboratory Manager

Back to open positionsSEM/FIB Laboratory Manager Mid-Senior Level | Full-time Physical Life Sciences | Livermore, CA | 10/07/2026

Reference #: REF
8908TJob Code: SES.
2 Science & Engineering MTS 2 / SES.
3 Science & Engineering MTS 3

Organization:
Physical and Life Sciences Position Type:
Career Indefinite Security Clearance:
Anticipated DOE Q clearance (requires U.S. citizenship and a federal background investigation)
Drug Test:
Required for external applicant(s) selected for this position (includes testing for use of marijuana)
Medical Exam:
Not applicable
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.

Job Description We have an opening for a SEM/FIB Laboratory Manager to operate, maintain, and advance scanning electron microscopy, focused ion beam, and dual-beam FIB/SEM capabilities. You will support materials characterization, sample preparation, micromachining, imaging, and analytical research for a broad user community. This position is in the Micro Analytical Signatures Group within the Nuclear and Chemical Sciences 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.

You will Operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and support SEM, FIB, and dual-beam FIB/SEM systems for imaging, characterization, micromachining, cross-sectioning, and sample preparation.

Develop, validate, document, and implement safe, repeatable FIB/SEM workflows and preparation methods for complex, scarce, high-value, time-sensitive, radioactive, or radio logically controlled samples.

Perform manipulation, recovery, and characterization, while ensuring compliant handling of radio logically controlled materials.

Diagnose and resolve instrument, software, vacuum, detector, and sample-related issues; coordinate preventive maintenance, repairs, vendor support, service contracts, and laboratory readiness.

Improve throughput, reproducibility, data quality, automation, traceability, and accessibility through new capabilities, image-analysis tools, scripts, and data-processing pipelines.

Establish and maintain microscopy data-management practices, including cataloging, metadata, provenance, backups, retrieval, and long-term preservation.

Manage laboratory operations, documentation, scheduling, inventory, user access, safety, and resource allocation.

Train and assist users; provide technical consultation, SOPs, guides, training materials, and outreach to internal and external collaborators.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.
3 level

Independently lead complex SEM/FIB technical work involving ambiguous requirements, competing priorities, and multiple instrument, sample, workflow, and data-quality considerations.

Develop and implement innovative microscopy, micromachining, imaging, and sample-preparation methods that expand laboratory capability.

Set technical direction for major workflows, including automation, image analysis, machine learning, and microscopy data management.

Serve as a technical authority on experiment design, sample suitability, analytical strategy, capability investments, and resolution of complex instrument or sample-related problems.

Lead laboratory improvements and technology integration to increase throughput, reproducibility, reliability, traceability, and data quality.

Develop advanced training, SOPs, qualification approaches, and technical guidance; mentor users, staff, students, and less-experienced personnel.

Contribute to laboratory strategy, capability planning, technical prioritization, and organizational program objectives.

Qualifications Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. Citizenship.

Bachelor’s degree in materials science, physics, engineering, chemistry, geology, or a related…